Programmatically retrieve unread messages from the Inbox

This example retrieves unread email messages from the Outlook Inbox and displays the number of items.

Applies to: The information in this topic applies to VSTO Add-in projects for Outlook. For more information, see Features available by Office application and project type.

Example

C#

private void ThisAddIn_Startup(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    Outlook.MAPIFolder inbox =
        this.Application.ActiveExplorer().Session.GetDefaultFolder
        (Outlook.OlDefaultFolders.olFolderInbox);

    Outlook.Items unreadItems = inbox.
        Items.Restrict("[Unread]=true");

    MessageBox.Show(
        string.Format("Unread items in Inbox = {0}", unreadItems.Count));
}

VB

Private Sub ThisAddIn_Startup(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Startup
    Dim inbox As Outlook.MAPIFolder = _
        Me.Application.ActiveExplorer().Session.GetDefaultFolder(Outlook.OlDefaultFolders.olFolderInbox)

    Dim unreadItems As Outlook.Items = _
    inbox.Items.Restrict("[Unread]=true")

    MsgBox(String.Format("Unread items in Inbox = {0}", unreadItems.Count))
End Sub

Related content

• Work with mail items
• Get started programming VSTO Add-ins
• How to: Programmatically create an email item
• How to: Programmatically send email
• How to: Programmatically perform actions when an email message is received