The Desktop Alert that Outlook displays by default when new email arrives can be a major distraction and productivity drain. Yes, you may see just enough of the message content to recognize that it may be important. But it may take you several minutes to completely refocus on a task that has been interrupted.

These steps will help you manage your alerts.

Turn off Desktop Alert in Outlook 2013 and 2016

  1. Open Outlook.
  2. Click the File tab.
  3. Click Options.
  4. In the Outlook Options window, click Mail.
  5. On the right side, in the Message Arrival section, choose the options that match your preferences.
  6. Click OK.