How to Adjust the Outlook Reading Pane on Windows 11

This article explains how to change, including hiding the reading pane in the new Outlook app in Windows 11.

The new Outlook for Windows brings the latest features and a modern and simplified design with support for Exchange-backed Microsoft 365 work or school, Outlook.com, Hotmail, and Gmail accounts.

The app has many features, including support for email signatures, external email accounts, setting out-of-office automatic replies, email sorting, subscription management, email forwarding, setting default From address, backing up your mailbox, and more.

Outlook also has a default reading pane layout that opens emails you select on the right. On devices with small screens, this layout might not be optimal. Two other layouts open email at the bottom or hide the reading pane altogether.

The reading pane layout in Outlook can be changed depending on personal preference and screen size. The default layout may not be optimal for users with small screens, and some users may prefer to have their emails displayed in a different layout.

Additionally, changing the reading pane layout can help improve productivity and efficiency when managing emails.

Change the Outlook reading pane

As mentioned above, Outlook reading pane can be changed depending on personal preference and screen size.

Here’s how to change the reading pane in the new Outlook app.

First, open the new Outlook app on Windows 11.

You can do that by clicking Start -> All app -> Outlook app. Or use the Start menu search box to search for Outlook and open it.

When the app opens, use the guide below to change the reading panes quickly:

• Simplified ribbon: Click View -> Layout -> Reading pane:
  • Show on the right
  • Show on the bottom
  • Hide

• Classic ribbon: Click View -> Reading pane:
  • Show on the right
  • Show on the bottom
  • Hide

Another way to change the reading panes is to use the Settings pane. To do that, click the Settings button (gear on the top right) to proceed.

On the Settings page, click the Mail tab on the left sidebar and select Layout on the right.

Next, select the email account you want to apply message format settings if you have multiple accounts in Outlook.

This is an account-level setting that will apply only to the selected account. Please do this for each account you want it to apply.

On the Layout setting page, scroll down to the Read pane section. Choose one of the options available:

• On the right – Email opens on the right.
• At the bottom – Email opens at the bottom.
• Hide reading pane – Email opens in full screen.

Make your selection and save your changes.

After making your selection, go back to your inbox and see if you like the new reading pane layout. If not, go back to the Settings page and choose a different one.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

This post showed you how to change the Reading pane layout in the new Outlook app on Windows 11. If you find any errors above or have something to add, please use the comments form below.