- How to turn off conversation view, by version
- Step by step in new Outlook and Outlook on the web
- Step by step in classic Outlook
- On your phone
- The catch: you can't change the order inside a conversation
- If you want to keep conversations, tune them instead
- Which view is better for a small business?
- Why conversation view causes missed emails
- How to sort a flat inbox once conversations are off
- Turning conversation view back on
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To turn off conversation view in new Outlook, go to Settings, Mail, Reading Pane and choose Do not group messages. In classic Outlook, select View, then untick Show as Conversations and pick All mailboxes or This folder. Each email then shows as its own line again.
Conversation view groups every email with the same subject line into one thread. Reply-all chains collapse neatly, but single messages vanish inside them, your own sent replies appear in the inbox, and it's easy to miss the newest message in a long chain. Microsoft turns it on by default for most account types, which is why so many people go looking for the off switch. It's a display setting, so changing it doesn't touch a single email.
How to turn off conversation view, by version
| Outlook version | Where the setting lives |
|---|---|
| New Outlook for Windows | Settings, Mail, Reading Pane, Message organization |
| Outlook on the web and Outlook.com | Settings, Mail, Reading Pane, Message organization |
| Classic Outlook for Windows | View tab, Show as Conversations |
| Outlook for Mac | View menu, untick Show as Conversations |
| Outlook on iPhone and Android | Settings, Mail, Email Organization |
Step by step in new Outlook and Outlook on the web
- Select Settings at the top of the page.
- Go to Mail, then Reading Pane.
- Under Message organization, choose Do not group messages.
- Select Save.
There's a third choice here worth knowing about: Group messages by branches within conversations. It keeps threads but splits them where the replies went in different directions, which suits busy group emails.
Step by step in classic Outlook
- Open any mail folder, such as your inbox.
- Select the View tab.
- Untick Show as Conversations.
- Choose All mailboxes to switch it off everywhere, or This folder to change only the folder you're in.
That last choice is the one that confuses people. If you pick This folder, your inbox goes back to single messages but Sent Items, Archive and every other folder stay as conversations. If you want it gone completely, choose All mailboxes.
On your phone
In the Outlook app on iPhone or Android, open Settings, then Mail, then Email Organization, and turn off Group emails by conversation. Microsoft says the change happens straight away. The setting on your phone is separate from your computer, so change both if you want them to match.
The catch: you can't change the order inside a conversation
If what annoys you is where the newest email sits, turning off conversations may be the only fix. Microsoft states that within each conversation, messages are sorted with the newest on top, and you can't change that sort order. A new reply also moves the whole conversation to the top of your list, which can make an old thread look new.
If you want to keep conversations, tune them instead
Classic Outlook has a Conversation Settings menu on the View tab with four options that fix most complaints:
- Show Messages from Other Folders pulls in your sent replies and filed messages so you see the whole thread.
- Show Senders Above the Subject puts names first, which is easier to scan.
- Always Expand Selected Conversation stops the thread collapsing every time.
- Use Classic Indented View indents replies so you can see who answered whom.
Which view is better for a small business?
If you handle lots of separate enquiries, single messages are clearer: one email, one line, nothing hidden. You'll see each new enquiry as its own row, and you won't miss a reply that's been tucked inside an old chain. If most of your email is long back-and-forth with the same few clients, conversations save scrolling. Try one for a week before you decide. Your inbox habits matter more than the view, and my guide to tools for daily productivity has a few ways to tame the volume.
Why conversation view causes missed emails
A conversation includes every message in the same thread with the same subject line. That's tidy when it works, but it goes wrong in a few common ways. When a client replies to an old email to ask a new question, their message joins a thread you'd already dealt with. When someone replies to a newsletter or a booking confirmation, the reply hides under the original. And when you've collapsed a long chain, it's easy to read the top message and assume you've seen the rest.
Turning conversations off doesn't stop any of that happening, but it makes each new message its own line in your inbox, so you can't skim past it.
How to sort a flat inbox once conversations are off
- Sort by From to see everything from one client together, without grouping.
- Sort by Date (the default) to work through mail in the order it arrived.
- Search by subject when you want the whole history of one topic in front of you.
- Use categories or colours for clients you hear from every day, so their emails stand out.
You get the benefit of grouping when you ask for it, and a simple list the rest of the time.
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Turning conversation view back on
If you miss threads, reverse the same steps: choose Group messages by conversation in new Outlook, or tick Show as Conversations in classic Outlook. Nothing about your email changes either way, so it's safe to experiment until you find the view that suits how you work.
My verdict
Turning off conversation view takes less than a minute. In new Outlook it's Settings, Mail, Reading Pane, Do not group messages. In classic Outlook it's View, untick Show as Conversations, and choose All mailboxes so every folder changes. Do the same on your phone, and you'll stop losing the latest reply inside an old thread. If Gmail is your other inbox, see my tips for a calmer Gmail.
Frequently asked questions
Does my phone follow my computer setting?
No. The Outlook app has its own setting under Settings, Mail, Email Organization.
Can I use conversation view in one folder only?
Yes, in classic Outlook. Tick Show as Conversations and choose This folder instead of All mailboxes.
Why does Outlook group my emails together?
Conversation view is on by default for most account types. It groups messages with the same subject into one thread.
How do I stop Outlook grouping emails by subject?
In new Outlook choose Do not group messages under Settings, Mail, Reading Pane. In classic Outlook untick Show as Conversations on the View tab.
Why did conversation view only turn off in one folder?
In classic Outlook you chose This folder. Repeat the step and choose All mailboxes.
Can I put the newest message at the bottom of a conversation?
No. Microsoft says the newest message is always on top inside a conversation and that order can't be changed.
Does turning off conversation view delete anything?
No. It only changes how your emails are displayed.
