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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutlook calls email threading Conversation view or simply Conversations. It groups messages that belong to the same thread, generally using the same subject line, so a long exchange appears as one expandable item instead of a separate row for every reply.
The setting changes how Outlook displays your mail. It does not delete, move, or merge the messages themselves. The menu path depends on whether you use New Outlook, classic Outlook, Outlook on the web, Mac, or the mobile app.
What email threading does in Outlook
When Conversation view is enabled, Outlook displays related messages together. A conversation might contain the original message, replies, forwarded messages, and your own sent replies. Instead of scanning the Inbox for each message separately, you can expand one conversation and read the exchange in context.
Outlook’s documented definition is based on messages in the same thread with the same subject line. If somebody changes the subject while replying or forwarding, the new message may not appear in the original conversation. Threading is also a display setting, not a special command: you do not need a command-line instruction or keyboard command to enable it.
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Thread emails in New Outlook for Windows
Use this procedure if your Outlook has the newer interface and a Settings button in the upper-right corner.
- Select Settings.
- Select Mail, then Layout.
- Find Message organization.
- Choose the option that groups messages by conversation, rather than displaying individual messages.
- Under Arrange the reading pane, select how messages inside a thread should appear:
- Newest on top
- Newest on bottom
- Show each message separately
The change applies to the message list without requiring a restart. To stop grouping messages, return to Settings > Mail > Layout > Message organization and select the individual-message option.
Useful Layout options
The same Layout page can affect how a conversation looks after you enable threading. Depending on the Outlook version and account type, you may also find controls for:
| Setting | What it controls |
|---|---|
| Reading pane | Places the pane on the Right, Bottom, or Fill screen, or uses Popout only. |
| Conversation message display | Controls whether the reading pane shows all messages in a conversation or only selected messages. |
| Deleted items in conversations | Controls whether deleted messages can be shown in a conversation. |
| Message list format | Displays Sender name first or Subject first. |
If the instructions above do not match your screen, you may be using classic Outlook rather than New Outlook. Use the classic Outlook steps below.
Thread emails in classic Outlook for Windows
- Open a mail folder, such as Inbox.
- Select the View tab.
- Select Show as Conversations.
- Choose All mailboxes or This folder.
With Conversation view enabled, a conversation containing multiple messages has a triangular expand/collapse icon beside it. Select the icon to open or close the thread.
Classic Outlook places the newest message at the top of the conversation, and this order cannot be changed. When a new message arrives, the entire conversation moves to the top of the message list. A conversation with unread mail normally shows a bold subject and an unread-message count; unread messages inside an expanded conversation have bold headings.
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Include messages from Sent Items and other folders
A common reason for an apparently incomplete thread is that some messages are stored outside the current folder. Your sent replies may be in Sent Items, while an older message may have been moved to another folder.
- Select View.
- Select Conversation Settings.
- Enable Show Messages from Other Folders.
This option includes matching messages moved to other folders and messages you sent that are stored in Sent Items. It is not enabled automatically just because Conversation view is on.
Other classic Conversation settings
Open View > Conversation Settings to find additional controls:
- Show Senders Above the Subject changes the order of sender and subject information in the list.
- Always Expand Selected Conversation expands the currently selected conversation.
- Use Classic Indented View changes the visual layout of messages in a thread.
To turn threading off, select View > Show as Conversations again and choose whether the change applies to All mailboxes or This folder.
If classic Outlook already appears threaded
The default Inbox view is Compact, which displays messages grouped by conversation. If you want a conventional list view, select View > Change View, then choose Single or Preview. This also matters if you are trying to add or view columns: Outlook may hide expected column controls when you are not using a list view.
Thread emails in Outlook on the web or Outlook.com
Outlook on the web and Outlook.com use the same current-style Layout controls as New Outlook.
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- Select Settings.
- Select Mail.
- Select Layout.
- Under Message organization, choose to group messages by conversation or show them as individual messages.
- If conversations are enabled, select Newest on top, Newest on bottom, or Show each message separately under Arrange the reading pane.
On the same page, you may be able to control whether deleted messages appear in conversations, whether the reading pane displays all messages or only selected messages, and where the reading pane appears.
Thread emails in Outlook for Mac
Microsoft’s current Mac instructions apply to Outlook for Microsoft 365 for Mac and several earlier Mac editions, including Outlook 2021, 2019, and 2016 for Mac.
- From the macOS menu bar, select Outlook.
- Select Settings.
- Under Email, select Reading.
- In the Reading window, find Conversations and select the options you want.
- Close the window.
In the current Mac interface, you can also turn Conversation view off with View > Show as Conversations. In the legacy interface, the equivalent command is Organize > Conversations.
Mac conversations use the same subject-based grouping concept and sort messages newest first. A newly received message moves the conversation to the top. A side-facing arrow indicates a collapsed conversation, while a down-facing arrow indicates an expanded one.
There is an important Mac-specific limitation: messages in Junk E-Mail and Deleted Items are not included in conversations.
Thread emails in Outlook for iPhone or Android
Outlook mobile calls this feature Group emails by conversation. Messages are grouped by conversation by default.
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- From the message list, tap the mail icon in the upper-right corner to open the folder pane.
- Tap Settings.
- Under General, tap Mail.
- Under Inbox, tap Email Organization.
- Turn Group emails by conversation on or off.
The change takes effect immediately. Turn the setting off when you want every message to occupy its own row in the message list. Turning it off does not delete or move the messages; it only changes their presentation.
Why an email is missing from an Outlook thread
Threading is useful, but it does not guarantee that every related message will be visible in one place. Check these causes before assuming that Outlook lost an email.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Your sent reply is absent | The message is in Sent Items. | In classic Outlook, enable View > Conversation Settings > Show Messages from Other Folders. |
| Only part of the exchange is grouped | The subject was changed. | Search for the altered subject or the sender’s name. |
| A deleted message is absent | Deleted-item display rules differ by Outlook edition. | Check Layout options in New Outlook or web Outlook. On Mac, Deleted Items and Junk E-Mail are excluded. |
| The thread appears incomplete in the reading pane | The pane is set to show only selected messages. | Check the conversation and reading-pane settings under Settings > Mail > Layout. |
| The conversation is missing in one folder | Classic Outlook was set to This folder. | Apply Show as Conversations to All mailboxes, if appropriate. |
When to use threaded and individual message views
Conversation view works well for project discussions, support cases, approvals, and any exchange where the newest reply needs the earlier context. It reduces duplicate rows and makes it easier to follow who said what.
Individual-message view can be clearer when your Inbox contains many unrelated emails with similar subject lines, when you need to process messages one at a time, or when a conversation has become so long that finding a specific reply is slower than using search. You can switch between the two views without changing the underlying messages.
FAQ
Does Outlook threading delete or merge emails?
No. Conversation view changes how messages are displayed. The original messages remain in the mailbox, although their locations and folder-specific settings can affect whether they appear together.
Can I set newest messages at the bottom in classic Outlook?
No. Classic Outlook displays messages in a conversation newest first, and Microsoft states that this order cannot be changed. New Outlook and Outlook on the web provide newest-on-top and newest-on-bottom choices.
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Why can’t I find Show as Conversations?
That command belongs to classic Outlook for Windows. New Outlook and Outlook on the web use Settings > Mail > Layout > Message organization. On mobile, use Settings > Mail > Email Organization > Group emails by conversation.
Do Outlook threads include sent messages?
They can, but in classic Outlook you must enable View > Conversation Settings > Show Messages from Other Folders. That option includes messages in Sent Items and matching messages moved to other folders.
Is Conversation view available in Outlook mobile?
Yes. Outlook for iOS and Android uses the setting Group emails by conversation, which is enabled by default and can be changed under Settings > Mail > Email Organization.
The Bottom Line
To thread emails, enable Outlook’s Conversation view rather than looking for a separate threading command. In New Outlook and Outlook on the web, use Settings > Mail > Layout > Message organization. In classic Outlook, use View > Show as Conversations. On Mac, configure Outlook > Settings > Email > Reading; on mobile, use Settings > Mail > Email Organization > Group emails by conversation.
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