how to update Outlook Classic subfolders my Gmail webbrowser account

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how to update Outlook Classic subfolders my Gmail webbrowser account

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how to get Outlook Classic subfolders to be copied up to my Gmail webbrowser when the subfolder has been renames but not changed in gmail web browser

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Answer 1

Jade Ng 16,030 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello Skip,

Thank you for reaching out. I would first like to make sure I understand your scenario correctly.

Are you referring to renaming a subfolder in Outlook Classic, similar to what is shown in my screenshot?

Untitled

For comparison, I tested this scenario with a Gmail account configured through IMAP in Outlook Classic. I renamed a subfolder in Outlook Classic to “changed the subfolder name”, and the renamed subfolder was synchronized and displayed with the same name in Gmail on the web.

If this is the same scenario you are experiencing, could you please check the following setting on your Gmail account:

Sign in to Gmail using your web browser.
Open Settings > See all settings > Labels.
Locate the affected label/subfolder.
Make sure Show in IMAP is enabled for both the relevant parent label and the affected subfolder, as applicable.

Untitled

After confirming the setting, return to Outlook Classic and allow the account to synchronize again.
Please then check whether the renamed subfolder is reflected in Gmail on the web.

If the issue still persists after trying the steps above, or if I have misunderstood your scenario, please reply in the comments below with additional details, and I will be happy to assist you further.

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Jade Ng 16,030 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-15T02:14:26.6366667+00:00

Hello Skip,

I hope everything is going well on your end.

I’m following up on the support thread we've been working through together. I wanted to check in and see if the information I shared in my previous answer helped clarify the issue you were experiencing.
Skip 0 Reputation points

2026-10-15T07:39:21.8866667+00:00

hi Jade
I understood your scenario and yes all the labels and sub-labels were ticked with SHOW & IMAP in the Gmail web browser.

the problem is dome of those labels have not accepted the name change made in the Outlook Classic on my laptop so although all of the subfolders in my Outlook classic have files in them that is not the case with the "labels" in Gmail on the web. I am trying to find out how to get my Outlook Classic to get the Gmail web browser to update its labels to what is on my laptop Outlook.
the aim of this is so I can move all my emails across to Outlook Classic on my new laptop via my Office 365.

when I first opened 365 modern Outlook on my new laptop it put 11,400 emails in archive and didn't copy the emails that should be in the correct titled labels down to the subfolder.
There is obviously a syncing issue from my old laptop up to the web to guide web browser gmail as to where the emails should go
hope that makes sense
thanks for looking into this for me. much appreciated
cheers "Skip"
Jade Ng 16,030 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-15T08:11:31.7466667+00:00
Hello Skip,

Thank you for your response.

Since you have already confirmed that Show in IMAP is enabled for the affected Gmail labels and sub-labels, let’s first try manually updating one of the affected folders in Outlook Classic to see whether Outlook can push the latest folder information.

Please try the following:

In Outlook Classic

Select the Send/Receive tab at the top.

Select Update Folder.

Allow the synchronization to complete, then sign in to Gmail on the web and check whether the folder name and the emails within that folder are now reflected correctly.

If the folder still does not synchronize correctly, the next step I would recommend is testing with a new Outlook profile.

For reference, please refer to: Create a profile in classic Outlook for Windows

If my answer helped you resolve your issue, please consider clicking it Yes. This helps others in the community find solutions more easily.

Please feel free to reply below if you have any update or further concern.

I am looking forward to your response!
Skip 0 Reputation points

2026-10-15T13:16:50.84+00:00

hi Jade yes it worked for one subfolder but then not for the next one. I am not sure how creating a new profile will help as I need to get web gmail to recognise and update the "labels" (subfolders) in classic outlook so it will download the same folder tree into the new laptop classic outlook

thanks for you help "skip"