Outlook Reading Pane: Change Its Position or Hide It

To change the message panel in Outlook, open the View menu and choose a Reading Pane position: usually Right, Bottom, or Hide. The exact path depends on which Outlook app you use. The Reading Pane displays a selected email beside or below the message list; if you mean the folder panel on the left, use the Folder Pane instructions below instead.

Changing the panel layout affects how much space you have for your messages and email list. You can switch it back at any time, and the setting generally applies to the current mailbox or folder view. The steps below cover Microsoft 365 Outlook for Windows, Outlook for Mac, and Outlook on the web.

What You’ll Need

Access to the Outlook account and mailbox whose layout you want to change.
A current Outlook app or a web browser signed in to Outlook. The interface can differ between classic Outlook and new Outlook for Windows, so identify which one you have before following a menu path.
A few seconds to check the result in the Inbox or another mail folder. No administrator access is normally required.

Step-by-Step

Identify the panel you want to change. The Reading Pane is the area that previews an email when you select it. It usually appears to the right or below the list of messages. The Folder Pane is the left-hand area containing folders such as Inbox, Drafts, and Sent Items. These are separate settings, so decide which one you mean before changing the layout. If your goal is to make the email preview wider, move or hide the Reading Pane. If you want more room for messages by collapsing the folder list, change the Folder Pane.
In new Outlook for Windows, choose a Reading Pane layout. Select View on the ribbon, then choose Layout > Reading pane. Select Right, Bottom, or Hide, depending on the choices shown. Right places the preview beside the message list; Bottom places it underneath; Hide removes the preview so you can use the full area for the list. Select a message to check that the pane is where you expect. If you do not see Layout, confirm that you are in new Outlook rather than classic Outlook.
In classic Outlook for Windows, set the Reading Pane. Open the View tab on the ribbon. In the Layout group, select Reading Pane, then choose Right, Bottom, or Off. The preview should reposition immediately. Select an email to confirm the change. Classic Outlook also offers controls such as Options from the Reading Pane menu; those control preview behavior, not the pane’s position, so use the position choices for this task.
In Outlook on the web, change the mail layout. Select the Settings gear, then open Mail > Layout. Find the Reading pane setting and choose the right, bottom, or hidden option. Outlook may apply the change as soon as you select it, or show an Save or Apply button; use that button if it appears. Close Settings and open your Inbox to confirm the new arrangement. If the Reading pane options are not visible, expand the Mail settings or use Settings search for Reading pane.
In Outlook for Mac, use the View menu. Open the mailbox, select View from the macOS menu bar, and choose Reading Pane. Select the available position, such as Right, Below, or Hidden. The wording can vary slightly by Outlook for Mac version. Choose the option that corresponds to the position you want, then select a message to verify it. The Mac menu is at the top of the screen, not in the Windows ribbon.
Change the Folder Pane if that is the panel you meant. In classic Outlook for Windows, select View > Layout > Folder Pane, then choose Normal, Minimized, or Off, as appropriate. Normal shows the folder list, Minimized reduces it to a narrow strip, and Off hides it. In new Outlook and Outlook on the web, look under View > Layout for a folder-pane or folder-list option; available choices can differ by build. On Mac, check View for the navigation or folder-list display option. Hiding this panel does not hide or delete any folders.
Check the layout in the folder where you need it. Select Inbox or another mail folder, then resize the divider between the message list and preview if the pane is too narrow. Outlook can remember view settings differently across folders or app versions. If one folder still looks different, change its layout while that folder is selected. If the preview is hidden, select the Reading Pane setting again and choose a position rather than looking for the pane in the message list.

Common Mistakes

Changing the wrong pane. The Reading Pane previews a selected email; the Folder Pane lists mail folders. Hiding the Reading Pane will not collapse the folder list, and hiding the Folder Pane will not remove email previews.
Using instructions for the other Outlook app. Classic Outlook has a View tab with a Layout group. New Outlook has a different ribbon and commonly nests the setting under View > Layout. Outlook on the web puts many layout choices in Settings. If a path is missing, check the app name or version before assuming the feature is unavailable.
Expecting the same layout in every folder or device. Some view preferences can be per-folder or may not sync identically between Outlook apps. Check the folder where the layout matters and repeat the change there if needed.
Clicking an email when you only want to change layout. In many configurations, selecting a message displays it in the Reading Pane and may mark it as read. Set the pane position through View or Settings rather than opening messages just to look for a layout control.

Tips

Choose Right for wide screens. A right-side preview works well when the Outlook window is wide enough to keep both the message list and email text readable.
Choose Bottom for a narrow window. A bottom preview can give the email body more width on a smaller display, though you may see fewer messages in the list at once.
Hide the preview when scanning many emails. This gives the message list more room. You can reopen the Reading Pane later using the same View or Layout menu.
Adjust the divider before changing other settings. If the pane is present but cramped, drag the boundary between it and the message list. This may solve the problem without changing the pane’s position.
Use the exact option names shown in your app. Microsoft updates Outlook interfaces over time, and labels such as Off, Hide, and Hidden can vary. They refer to removing the preview from the current layout, not deleting mail.

Troubleshooting

The Reading Pane option is missing. Make sure you are viewing Mail rather than Calendar or another Outlook area. In classic Outlook, select the View tab and look for Reading Pane in the Layout group. In new Outlook, expand View and Layout. In the web version, open Settings and navigate to Mail > Layout. If you are using a work or school account and a setting appears unavailable, an organization policy or a staged interface update may affect what you see; check with your Microsoft 365 administrator.

The pane moved, but the email preview is blank. Select a message in the list and allow a moment for it to load. Check that you are online and that the message opens normally when double-clicked or opened in a separate window. If only one message fails, the issue may be with that message rather than the layout. Return to the Inbox and test with another email.

The change does not appear to stick. In Outlook on the web, look for a Save or Apply control in Settings, then refresh the page. In a desktop app, close and reopen the folder or restart Outlook if the display seems stale. If the setting changes back only in one folder, select that folder and set the layout again. Also make sure you are changing the same account and profile that you use for the mailbox in question.

The panel is too narrow or the message list is crowded. Keep the pane enabled and drag the divider to rebalance the space. Maximize the Outlook window or reduce display scaling temporarily if the layout controls are cut off. If the window is narrow, try Bottom or Hide instead of Right. These layout changes do not alter the message itself.

The left folder list disappeared. You may have turned off the Folder Pane rather than the Reading Pane. In classic Outlook for Windows, use View > Layout > Folder Pane and choose Normal. In new Outlook or the web version, look under View > Layout for the folder-list setting. Restoring the pane makes the existing folders visible again; it does not restore deleted folders because none were removed by hiding the panel.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I move the Outlook Reading Pane from the right to the bottom?
Open the Reading Pane menu from View in the desktop app, or use Settings > Mail > Layout on the web. Choose Bottom or Below. The choice takes effect in the current Outlook interface, though you may need to repeat it for another folder.

Can I turn off the Reading Pane completely?
Yes. Choose Off, Hide, or Hidden in the Reading Pane options, depending on the version. The email list remains available, and selecting a message will not display its preview in that pane. You can still open an email separately.

Does changing the panel view delete or move messages?
No. Changing the Reading Pane or Folder Pane changes only how Outlook displays the mailbox. It does not delete, archive, or move email or folders.

Why does my Outlook look different from these steps?
Microsoft maintains classic Outlook, new Outlook, Outlook for Mac, and Outlook on the web, and their menus are not identical. Check whether your Windows app is classic or new Outlook, then follow the matching instructions. Updates and account policies can also affect the labels or available options.

Can I change the Reading Pane on a phone?
Outlook mobile has a more compact interface and may not offer the same right, bottom, and hidden layout choices as desktop or web Outlook. Check the app’s Settings for available reading or display options. If the position control is not present, use Outlook on a computer or in a browser to set the layout.

Is the Reading Pane the same as the Folder Pane?
No. The Reading Pane shows the contents of a selected message. The Folder Pane shows your mailbox folders and navigation. Use the Reading Pane setting to change the email preview, and the Folder Pane or folder-list setting to show or hide the folder navigation.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

Spotted an error in this guide? Let us know.