How to Change View in Outlook to Default?
Microsoft Outlook is one of the common email applications for professional and personal communication, used by millions. Its interface can be customised according to the user’s needs, such as arranging the Inbox. This enables users to navigate through emails and other events efficiently. Still, the same flexibility can cause unwanted clutter or an inefficient layout. You might have switched between different views, added or removed columns, or tweaked the reading pane settings. Now, you might want to change Outlook view to default settings for familiarity.
Resetting the Outlook view back to the factory settings is easy. The process might be different for specific viewers, but in general, the resetting steps will be similar for all the different versions and the applied view. Here, you are provided with a detailed guide to change the Outlook view to the default state, thereby maintaining a clean and organised workspace.
Know About the Outlook View Setting
Let’s find out what exactly the Outlook view is. Views are settings that will dictate how the information is displayed in the folders in Outlook, such as the Inbox, Sent Items, Calendar, Contacts, etc. It encompasses a wide range of virtual elements such as
- Layout: The user interface where the user can change the arrangement of different sections of Outlook.
- Column Visibility and Arrangement: It can be used to organise the functionality and presentation of columns such as Subject, From, etc.
- Sorting and Grouping Content: The way the contents are ordered (for example, by date, the sender) and, if need be, the items are further split into subcategories under the same class name, for easier identification.
- Filtering: You may set a rule of display to show only a subset of items that meet certain conditions.
- Reading Panel settings: The Position of the reading pane can be set to the right side, bottom or hidden. The way it shows messages will be defined here.
Methods to Change Outlook View to Default
There are several ways to revert your Outlook views to their default state. The most common and generally applicable methods involve using the “Reset View” option directly within Outlook. Here’s a breakdown of the steps for different scenarios:
How to Reset the Current Folder View to Default
Sign in to Outlook and open the folder where you want to reset the view. Ensure the folder is in the active window.
- Click on the View tab in the Outlook ribbon.
- And locate the View Settings.
- This will open the Advanced Settings dialogue box for the current folder.
- Look for the button with “Reset Current View“. Click on it.
- Click Yes to confirm.
- Click OK in the Advanced View Settings to apply the changes to it.
The current folder should now revert to its original default view settings. It will eventually affect the column arrangement, sorting, and any other view-specific customisation you have made.
Change Outlook View to Default – All Folders
If you have made numerous view customisations across different folders and want to start fresh or change back to the normal view. With the command line switch, reset all Outlook views simultaneously.
- Close Outlook entirely. Save any unsaved work and exit the application.
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialogue box.
- Type Outlook.exe/resetviews
- Click the Ok button.
- Outlook will now start with the default view settings.
Create a New View Based on the Default
If you want to retain some of your views but also have a view based on the default settings, you can create a new view and configure it to match the default.
- 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.
- Name the view.
- In the View type section, ensure that the default view type for the folder is selected.
- Now, go to View, click Change View and select the new view just created.
This method allows you to have both your customised views and a clean, default-based view that you can switch to as needed.
Note: It is essential to work on Outlook online to ensure all the new Outlook view settings are saved and applied correctly. If there is a “Working Office” in the status bar, even after toggling the settings, then our guide Fix Outlook Stuck in Offline mode can help you reconnect.
Conclusion
Regaining the clarity and familiarity of the default Outlook view is a simple yet powerful way to declutter the workspace. Whether you choose to reset the view from the individual folder view or all the folders. The steps outlined in the guide to change Outlook view to default will help you navigate the process effortlessly. You can keep your Outlook environment always in good shape and well-suited to your communication needs by learning how to work with Outlook views and using the reset methods correctly.