If you simply select a mailbox from the Navigation Pane, Outlook will automatically select the topmost message in that mailbox. Since I use Preview Pane reading and I have "Mark Unread after 0 seconds" set, it then marks that message as read.

In fact, if I have an empty Inbox, Outlook will automatically select and mark read any new emails that come in! Even if I have Outlook hidden.

I find this behavior so frustrating. Why can't Outlook just not select messages at all automatically.

Please don't respond with these two suggestions, neither of which work.
1. Don't use the preview pane
2. Set "Mark Read When Selection Changes"

They don't work because I want to use the preview pane, and I want the items that _I_ select to be marked read when _I_ select them. I just want Outlook to stop selecting things for me.

Thanks for any help, or any commiseration with my frustration.

I also use the reading pane, when I open a folder Outlook selects the newest message but does not mark it as read until I click on it. Here are my settings, try it.

File-> Options-> section Mail-> section Outlook Panes-> Reading Pane

unchecked - mark items as read when viewed in the reading pane
checked - Mark item as read when selection changes

Thank you for your response, but as I indicated that is not what I want. I _want_ messages to be marked as read when I read them in the Reading Pane. I just don't want them to show up in the Reading Pane unless I choose them to be there.