How to Change Outlook View to Default?
Microsoft Outlook is the most professional communication medium that has millions of users. It has multiple features with the option to customise the mail interface as per the user’s demand. For easy navigation from emails to other Outlook items. However, having the same flexibility could some times causes view that we never intended to apply to the account. If you have updated the view in Outlook, added or removed columns, changed the reading pane, etc. and now want to reset it back to normal, then you are at the right place to get the solution. In the article here, we can find how to change Outlook view to default using the simplest method possible.
It is an easy process to reset the Outlook view back to the factory settings. The steps might be different for different Outlook users, but in general, the steps are similar across all versions. Here we have provided the details guide to change the Outlook View back to normal.
Understand What Outlook View Settings Are
If you are new to this term, let’s get the basic understanding of those. Views in Outlook are settings that determine how the information is displayed in the folder, such as the Inbox, Send Items, Contacts, Calendar, etc. Not only the folders, but there are other factors too that the Outlook View settings are capable of:
- Layout: Different sections in Outlook are dedicated to a certain purpose. This can be changed to a different arrangement as per the requirement.
- Email Column Visibility: The columns in Outlook can be organised using these settings. The column included Subject, From, To, etc.
- Filtering: As the name says, users are free to set a rule to display only the items that meet the specified conditions.
- Sorting and Grouping Content: Outlook view settings let you choose how emails are ordered. Similar emails can be grouped so the inbox is easier to read and manage.
- Reading Panel: the reading panel, which shows the messages, can be set to right, bottom or hidden.
These are the few settings for the Mail view; other settings are for calendar, contacts and tasks. However, we will focus on how to bring back the original Outlook view.
How to Change Outlook View to Default ?
We can find several ways to revert Outlook views to their default state. The most common one is to use the Reset view option. Whereas the steps may vary as per the scenarios:
How to Reset the Current Folder View to Default?
- Sign in to Outlook.
- Open the folder to reset the view.
- Click on the View tab in the Outlook ribbon.
- Now, locate the View settings.
- This will open the Advanced Settings dialogue box for the current folder.
- Click on the “Reset Current View” button.
- Press Yes to confirm.
- Finally, click Ok in the Advanced View Settings to apply the changes.
The current open folder will now revert to the original default view settings. It will affect the column arrangement or any view-specific customisation you have made earlier.
How to Change Outlook View to Classic in All Folders?
If the customisations were done to different folders and you want to start fresh, we need another solution. Here we are using the command line to switch all Outlook views simultaneously.
- Firstly, Close Outlook.
- Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialogue box.
- Then, type outlook.exe/resetviews.
- Click the Ok button.
- Now, Outlook will start with the default view settings.
Create a New Outlook View and Change Outlook View to Default
If you are in a situation where you want to keep some of the customised view settings but want to change Outlook view to original settings. We can create a new view and configure it with the default view.
- Open the Outlook folder where you want to create a new default-based view.
- Go to View, find Change View and click on Manage Views.
- Click on the “New…” button on Manage all Views.
- Then, name the View.
- In the View type section, ensure the default view type for the folder is selected
- Go to View, click Change View and select the newly created view
This method allows you to have customised views and a clean default-based view.
Note: Whenever we apply any changes to the Outlook view settings, it is to be ensured that it is done while Outlook is online. If you find in the status bar – Working Offline, toggle the settings, if it’s not working, then get different solutions from here – Fix Outlook stuck in Offline mode.
Conclusion
To change back to the normal Outlook view settings is not a simple solution to ask for. As an uncertain settings could lead to a confusing interface. Therefore, we came up with different methods to change Outlook view to default settings. The steps outlined here will help you navigate the process effortlessly. Keep or customise the Outlook interface as needed, ensuring it remains clear, organised, and well-suited for effective communication.