How do I stop threads in Outlook.com?
Q Outlook.com recently asked me if I wanted to try a new ‘beta’ system and I inadvertently agreed. I don’t mind the updated look, but after a few weeks I realised I was missing some replies to messages. I later realised this was because this fancy new Outlook.com had taken it upon itself to combine replies under the original entry in the inbox. I find this confusing and preferred the old way, where any new reply would always appear at the top of the inbox – as a new message. Flipping the ‘Outlook beta’ switch off puts it back this way, but I’d like to keep the new-look Outlook.com. Do you know if it is possible to set up the new system so it doesn’t combine replies like this? Deborah Mills
A Yes, you can do this. Microsoft calls this feature Conversation View and, while the idea is hardly new or unique to Outlook.com, it is something of a Marmite feature: people either love it or hate it. To disable it, first click the Settings cog at the top right of your Outlook.com window. In the ‘Quick settings’ pane that appears, look for the ‘Conversation view’ heading. If it’s there, click to select Off then click the cross to close ‘Quick settings’. If not, scroll to the bottom of ‘Quick settings’ and click ‘View full settings’ (see screenshot). Now, in the left-hand pane, select Email and then Layout. Under ‘Message organisation’ click to select ‘Show emails as individual messages’. Next, click Save followed by the cross to close the box. When you return to your inbox, replies will once more be displayed as distinct messages.