Outlook conversation view: how to turn it on or off
Outlook can stack every reply in a thread under one line, or show each email on its own. Here is where the switch is in every version.
In new Outlook and Outlook on the web: Settings → Mail → Reading pane → under Message organization choose Group messages by conversation (on) or Do not group messages (off). In classic Outlook: open the View tab and tick or clear Show as Conversations, then choose This folder or All mailboxes.
What conversation view does
With conversation view on, Outlook groups an email and all its replies into one line in your inbox, so you can expand the thread and read it in order. With it off, every message appears separately, sorted by date. Neither setting deletes or moves anything; it only changes how the list is shown. Learn more in what an email thread is.
New Outlook and Outlook on the web
- Select Settings (the gear icon) at the top of the window.
- Go to Mail → Reading pane. On some accounts this section is called Layout.
- Under Message organization, choose:
- Group messages by conversation to turn conversation view on;
- Do not group messages to turn it off and show every email separately;
- Group messages by branches within conversations if you want long threads split where people replied to different messages.
- Select Save.
New Outlook for Windows and Outlook.com share the same settings, so a change in one usually appears in the other.
Classic Outlook for Windows
- Open the folder you want to change, such as Inbox.
- Select the View tab.
- In the Messages group, tick Show as Conversations to turn it on, or clear it to turn it off.
- Choose This folder or All mailboxes.
To include your own replies inside each thread, open View → Conversation Settings and turn on Show Messages from Other Folders.
Can't find a View tab with these options? You are probably in new Outlook. Use the steps above.
Outlook app on iPhone and Android
Open the Outlook app, tap your profile picture, then the Settings gear, and switch Organize mail by thread on or off.
Why your emails suddenly grouped or ungrouped
- You moved to new Outlook. It has its own setting, separate from classic Outlook, so your old choice does not carry over.
- The setting is per folder in classic Outlook. If you chose This folder, other folders keep their old view.
- Subject changes. Outlook groups by conversation, so a reply with a changed subject line can start a new thread.
Using Gmail too?
Gmail has the same feature. On a computer, open Settings → See all settings → General and set Conversation view on or off, then save. For more Outlook help, see all Outlook guides.
Questions people ask
- How do I stop Outlook from grouping emails?
- Turn conversation view off. In new Outlook and Outlook on the web choose Do not group messages under Settings, Mail, Reading pane. In classic Outlook clear Show as Conversations on the View tab.
- Does turning off conversation view delete emails?
- No. It only changes how the message list is displayed. Every email stays in its folder.
- Why can't I find Show as Conversations?
- That option exists only in classic Outlook. New Outlook and Outlook on the web use the Message organization setting under Settings, Mail, Reading pane instead.
- Can I turn it off for one folder only?
- In classic Outlook, yes: choose This folder when you change the setting. In new Outlook the setting applies to your whole mailbox.