What do the Outlook icons mean?

Outlook holds a lot of icons to indicate different item types and other item properties. Below you’ll find a long list of these icons and their meaning.


E-mail

iconUnread Message
message-iconUnread Signed Message
message-iconUnread Encrypted Message
message-iconRead Message
message-iconRead Signed Message
message-iconRead Encrypted Message
message-iconDraft
message-iconSending Message
message-iconForwarded Message
message-iconForwarded Signed Message
message-iconForwarded Encrypted Message
message-iconReplied on Message
message-iconReplied on Signed Message
message-iconReplied on Encrypted Message
message-iconOut Of Office Message
message-iconMessage Recall Request
message-iconMessage Recall Failure Report
message-iconMessage Recall Successful Report
message-iconMultimedia Message (can I get a repro?)
message-iconDelivery Report
message-iconNon Delivery Report
message-iconMessage Deleted Without Being Read Notice
message-iconMessage Read Notice
message-iconSecure Receipt
message-iconPost
message-iconReplied on Post
message-iconMessage Holds (Receipts) Tracking Tab (Outlook 2003 and previous)
message-iconMessage Holds (Receipts) Tracking Tab (Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2010)

Meeting Messages

meeting-iconMeeting Request
meeting-iconAccepted Meeting Request
meeting-iconCancelled Meeting Request
meeting-iconCan I get a repro?
meeting-iconDeclined Meeting Request
meeting-iconTentative Meeting Request

Calendar

calendar-iconRecurring Item
calendar-iconException to Recurring Item
calendar-iconData Conflict
calendar-iconStart Time of an Appointment or Meeting
calendar-iconEnd Time of an Appointment or Meeting
calendar-iconAll Day Event
calendar-iconScheduled Meeting
calendar-iconPrivate Item
calendar-iconA Reminder is Associated with this Item
calendar-iconA Meeting Workspace is Associated with this Item
calendar-iconA File Attachment is Associated with this Item
calendar-iconMore Items

Contacts

contact-iconContact
contact-iconContact with Journaling enabled
contact-iconDistribution List (Outlook 2003 and previous)
contact-iconDistribution List / Contact Group (Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2010)

Tasks

task-iconTask
task-iconDelegated Task
task-iconReceived Task
task-iconRecurring Task
task-iconAccepted Task
task-iconDeclined Task
task-iconTask Request

Journal

For an overview of journal items click here.

Folders

iconMain mailbox store (holds the Outlook Today screen)
iconExtra data store such as pst-file, mailbox, Public Folders, SharePoint etc…
iconInbox
iconDrafts
iconSent Items
iconDeleted Items
iconJunk E-mail
iconOutbox
iconFolder
iconShared folder in your mailbox
folder with blue arrows on topShared folder you are connected to and thus not in your own mailbox (more info)
iconSearch Folder
iconInactive Search Folder (click on it to activate)
iconConflicts folder in Sync Issues
iconFailures folder in Sync Issues
iconRSS Feeds
iconCalendar
iconContacts
iconTasks
iconNotes
iconJournal

General

iconHigh Importance
iconLow Importance
iconAttachment
iconUnresolved
icon1 Off; something is screwed up
iconSticky Note

Security (icon shown in Message)

security-iconInvalid Signature
security-iconEncrypted
security-iconValid Signature
security-iconUnknown Signature
security-iconSignature Warning

Flags (Outlook 2003)

flag-iconNo Follow Up Flag
flag-iconRed Follow Up Flag
flag-iconBlue Follow Up Flag
flag-iconYellow Follow Up Flag
flag-iconGreen Follow Up Flag
flag-iconOrange Follow Up Flag
flag-iconPurple Follow Up Flag
flag-iconFollow Up Completed

Non-Native (added via custom forms or add-ins)

iconAppointment created via the Live Search Maps Add-In for Outlook
iconArchived message via an Exchange level archiving solution
iconSpam message indicated via a 3rd party anti-spam solution