How to Change Outlook Layout

Let your creativity speak through your layouts!

Modifying the Outlook layout is important for customizing the interface to your requirements. It also adds a unique touch to your email experience. Are you bored with your old Outlook layout and wish to enhance your experience with a new one? In this guide, we’ll tell you how to change the Outlook layout. Get ready to unlock the visual potential of your email!

How to Change Outlook Layout

How to Change Outlook Layout

Whether you want a more contemporary appearance or more capabilities, customizing the Outlook layout provides an aesthetically pleasing and specialized solution to meet your specific needs. You can prioritize and arrange email elements according to your workflow with a tailored layout, which improves productivity and makes navigating easier. So, check out these methods to change your Outlook view or layout:

Method 1: Choose Different Existing View

Follow the steps mentioned below to change the Outlook layout by choosing a different existing view:

1. Open Outlook and click on the View tab.

2. In the Current View tab, select Change View

3. Choose Compact, Single, or Preview according to your preference.

Choose either Single, Preview or Compact.

Method 2: Create New View

Follow the steps mentioned below to change the Outlook layout by creating a new view:

1. Go to the View tab.

2. Click on Change View > Manage Views…

3. Click on New and select the view type you want.

Note: You can also type the view type in the text box under New View.

select the view type

4. Choose your desired options and click on OK.

5. In the Advanced View Settings dialog box, click on the options you want and click on OK.

That’s it! Now, your Outlook layout will be changed.

Also Read: How to Recover Deleted Draft in Outlook 365

Method 3: Add Columns to the View

Follow the steps mentioned below to change the Outlook layout by adding columns to the view:

1. Go to View > Change view > Manage Views…

2. Now, create a new view and click OK in the Manage All Views dialog box to open the Advanced View Settings dialog box.

3. Select Columns…

Click on columns | How to Change Outlook Layout

4. Click on Select Available Columns to select Set of Fields from the dialog box.

5. Now, add the field you want from the left list by clicking on Add.

Note: You can also change the order by clicking the Move up or Move down button.

6. Click on OK.

Method 4: Group Items in the View

Follow the steps mentioned below to change the Outlook layout by grouping items in the view:

Note: This method can only used for table view.

1. Follow 1-3 steps from the previous heading and click on Modify…

2. Select Group By…

select group by | How to Change Outlook Layout

3. Click on the Setting on the right side of each field and choose how you want to group the items.

4. Click on OK.

Method 5: Change Default Sort Order

Follow the steps mentioned below to change the default sort order on Outlook:

1. Follow 1-4 steps from the previous heading and click on Sort… 

Click on sort

2. Under Sort Items By, choose Ascending or Descending order. 

3. Click on OK once done with changing.

What are Different Layouts Available in Outlook?

There are different kinds of layouts available in Outlook:

  • Table: This view is one of the most effective as it sorts your email in rows and columns. You can easily sort and arrange your emails.
  • Timeline: All your information is shown by a timeline. You can easily check when an item was created.
  • Card: Your information will be shown by an icon and subject. It can be used mostly for folders in Outlook with less content as it can show you a summary of each content without the need to open it.
  • Business Card: It will show different details of the contact like profile photo or username.
  • People: It is the simplest view showing only the name and profile photo of the contact.
  • Day/Week/Month: The information shown is in a grid format like different tasks, meetings, and much more.
  • Icon: This view will show your information with only the icon and subject.

Also Read: How to Move the Search Bar in Outlook Back Down

How to Switch to Outlook Mail Pane View

Follow the steps mentioned below to choose Reading Pane to switch to the Outlook mail pane View:

1. Go to the View tab > Layout and select the Reading Pane.

Click on layout and reading pane

2. Select from the three options: Right, Bottom, or Off

3. Now, click on the View tab again.

4. Go to Change View > Manage Views > Modify.

5. Click on Reset Current View and then OK.

How to Change to Outlook Reading Pane

Follow the steps mentioned below to change to Outlook Reading Pane:

1. Go to the View tab > Layout and select the Reading Pane.

2. Select from the three options: Right, Bottom, or Off

Select right, bottom or off

And that’s it! Your Reading Pane on Outlook will be changed.

How to Enable Outlook Classic View on Windows

There are three ways to enable Outlook classic view on Windows. Refer to the sections below.

Method 1: Using View Tab

Follow the steps mentioned below to enable Outlook classic view on Windows using the view tab:

1. Go to the View tab > Layout and select the Reading Pane.

2. Choose either Off or Bottom option.

Click on bottom or off | How to Change Outlook Layout

Method 2: Using Change View 

Follow the steps mentioned below to enable Outlook classic view on Windows using change view:

1. Go to the View tab > Change View.

2. Choose either Single or Preview.

Select single or preview

Your view will now be changed.

Also Read: Where is the Tools Menu in Outlook?

Method 3: Using Keyboard Shortcuts 

Follow the steps mentioned below to enable Outlook classic view on Windows using keyboard shortcuts: 

1. Go to the Home tab and click on New Email.

Click on new email | How to Change Outlook Layout

2. To enable the classic view, press CTRL + ALT + 1.

How to Customize Your Outlook View

Follow the steps mentioned below to customize your Outlook view:

1. Go to View > Current View > View Settings…

Click on view settings

2. Change settings like columns, group by, sort, filter, format columns, conditional formatting, and other settings in the Advanced View Settings dialog box

3. Click on OK after your customization is complete.

How to Apply the Current View to Multiple Folders

Follow the steps mentioned below to apply the current view to multiple folders:

1. Go to View > Current View > View Settings… 

2. Click on Apply Current View to Other Mail folders.

Click on apply current view to other mail folders

3. Select the folder you want to apply in the Apply View dialog box and click on OK.

How to Save a Custom View

Follow the steps mentioned below to save a custom view:

1. Go to View > Change View.

2. Click on Save Current View as a New View.

3. Enter the name of the view and click on OK.

Type name of new view | How to Change Outlook Layout

This view will now be available under the Current View group as an option. 

Also Read: Outlook Group Calendar vs Shared Calendar: Which to Use?

How to Delete a Custom View

Follow the steps mentioned below to delete a custom view:

1. Click on Change View > Manage Views.

Click on manage views

2. Choose the custom view to remove under Views for Folder

3. Click on Delete and confirm by clicking on OK.

Changing Outlook layout goes beyond just a visual appeal, it can enhance not just UI but productivity too. Hope this article helped you with how to change Outlook layout. Keep reading our blogs for more information. Leave your suggestions and queries below in the comment section.

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