
The Outlook preview or reading pane is a useful feature that allows users to quickly review and preview emails, along with attachments. It is enabled by default and usually appears on the right side of the folders and messages. However, some users may prefer to disable this feature or change its position to the bottom of the screen to maximize the number of items visible in the folder. This article will explore the different ways to troubleshoot and customize the Outlook reading pane to suit user preferences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Possible reasons for not seeing the reading pane | The reading pane is turned off, or the view is set to "detailed" instead of "compact" |
| How to turn on the reading pane | Click the "View" menu, then click "Reading pane" or "Preview pane", then select "Right" or "Bottom" |
| How to turn off the reading pane | Click the "View" menu, then click "Reading pane" or "Preview pane", then select "Off" |
| How to change the position of the reading pane | Click the "View" menu, then click "Reading pane" or "Preview pane", then select "Right" or "Bottom" |
| How to zoom in the reading pane | Use the zoom control at the bottom of the Outlook window, or hold Ctrl while using the scroll wheel on your mouse |
| How to preview messages in the reading pane | On the "View" tab, under "Layout", select "Reading Pane", then select "Options", then select or clear the "Always preview messages" checkbox |
| How to split the reading pane into two panes | Open the message in its own window, then press Ctrl+Alt+S, then click where you want the horizontal split, then drag the split bar |
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What You'll Learn

How to enable or disable the reading pane
The Reading Pane in Outlook is enabled by default and is useful for quickly reviewing emails. It displays the contents of a selected message, along with basic controls for replying and forwarding the message.
To enable or disable the Reading Pane, follow these steps:
- Open the Microsoft Outlook program.
- Click the "View" menu or tab at the top of the program window.
- Click the "Reading Pane" or "Preview Pane" option.
- Select your preferred option: "Right", "Bottom", or "Off". Selecting "Right" or "Bottom" will change the position of the Reading Pane, while selecting "Off" will hide it.
If you are using Outlook.com (previously known as Hotmail) or the online email service accessed through a browser, the steps are slightly different:
- Log in to your Outlook.com email account.
- Near the top-right corner of the browser window, click the gear icon to the left of your account profile icon.
- Select "Mail" and "Layout" options in the left navigation menus, if they are not already selected.
- In the "Layout" page on the right, scroll down to the "Reading Pane" section.
- Select "On the Right", "At the Bottom", or "Off" depending on your preference.
- Click the "Save" button.
It is important to note that the steps to enable or disable the Reading Pane may vary slightly depending on the version of Outlook you are using. Additionally, you can customize the Reading Pane in other ways, such as setting a permanent default zoom level or changing how Outlook marks messages as read.
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How to change the position of the reading pane
The Outlook reading pane, also known as the Preview pane, displays the text of a selected message, allowing you to read it without opening the message. It also determines how Outlook marks messages as read and lets you navigate through your messages using a single key. By default, Outlook marks a mail as "read" once you've spent five seconds with it selected, but you can change this by going to View > Reading Pane and selecting "Options".
To change the position of the reading pane, follow these steps:
- Open the Microsoft Outlook program.
- Click the "View" menu or tab at the top of the program window.
- Click the "Reading Pane" or "Preview Pane" option.
- Select the desired position option, such as "Right," "Bottom," or "Off."
- If you are using Outlook.com (previously Hotmail), log in to your email account and click the gear icon in the top-right corner.
- Select "Mail and Layout" options in the left navigation menu.
- In the "Layout" page on the right, scroll down to the "Reading Pane" section.
- Select "On the Right" or "At the Bottom" option, depending on your preferred position.
- Click "Save."
Additionally, if you are using Outlook Web Access (OWA), you can change the position of the reading pane by following these steps:
- In Mail view, click on Settings (cog wheel icon) in the top-right corner.
- Beneath "Reading Pane," select "Show Reading Pane on the Right" or "Show Reading Pane at Bottom" to enable or move the pane.
- To remove the reading pane, select "Hide Reading Pane."
If you are unable to see the reading pane or are experiencing issues with it, you can try resetting the reading pane settings. Go to the View tab, click on "Reading Pane," and select "Off." Then, restart Outlook and go back to the "Reading Pane" settings to choose your preferred option.
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How to zoom in and out of the reading pane
If you're struggling to see the reading pane in Outlook, there are several ways to adjust the zoom level. Firstly, you can adjust the zoom level by clicking on the email message you want to preview in the Reading Pane, then adjusting the zoom slider in the Status bar at the bottom of Outlook. Alternatively, you can click in the Reading Pane, hold the "Ctrl" key and scroll the mouse simultaneously.
If you want to set a permanent zoom level, you can do so by clicking on the zoom number in the bottom right corner of your Outlook window. This will bring up a dialog box where you can enter your desired zoom level and save your preference.
For Outlook for Mac, you can adjust the default zoom magnification using CMD +/–.
If you're using Outlook 2010 on Windows 7, you can use the "Make it easier to read what's on your screen" feature and set an overall magnification level. However, you'll need to log off and log back in to see the effect.
It's worth noting that the Reading Pane may change zoom levels, but the display text may remain at 100% sizing.
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How to preview attachments in the reading pane
If you can't see the reading pane in Outlook, you can try the following:
- Log out and log back in.
- Clear the nav pane and reset the nav pane before logging out.
- Click on Views, change views, select Compact, click on Manage Views, click Modify, and click on Reset Current View.
- Check if you are in Compact view or Detailed view. You can reset the view to the standard.
To preview attachments in the reading pane, you can follow these steps:
- Click on the attachment below the message header to preview it.
- You can also switch between worksheets in the attached workbook.
- Note that you can't preview attachments if the relative applications are not checked or listed in the File Previewing Options dialog box.
- If you want to disable attachment preview, you can do so in the Trust Center Settings.
- You can also disable attachment previewing to enhance security and speed.
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How to reset the reading pane to the standard view
If you can't see the reading pane in Outlook, it could be due to a configuration setting or a glitch in the software. Here are the steps to reset the reading pane to the standard view:
Firstly, open the Microsoft Outlook program. Then, click on the ""View" tab at the top of the Outlook window. This tab contains an array of view settings options, allowing you to adjust the program to your preferences. From the "View" tab, you can also hide the To-Do Bar by scrolling down the View menu and unchecking the box next to the "Show To-Do Bar" option. This will help you get Outlook back to the standard view.
To reset the reading pane, click on "Reading Pane" or "Preview Pane" from the "View" tab. From the drop-down menu, select "Off." Then, restart Outlook and go back to the "Reading Pane" settings to choose your preferred option, such as "Right" or "Bottom."
If you are using Outlook Web Access (OWA), the process is slightly different. In Mail view, click on Settings (visible as a cogwheel icon) within the top-right corner. Beneath "Reading Pane", select "Show Reading Pane on the Right" or "Show Reading Pane at Bottom" to enable or move. To remove the reading pane, select "Hide Reading Pane."
If you are still unable to reset the reading pane, you can try logging out of your Outlook account and then logging back in. Alternatively, you can clear the nav pane and reset the nav pane before logging out.
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Frequently asked questions
To enable the reading pane in Outlook, click on the 'View' menu or tab at the top of the program window. Then, click on the 'Reading pane' or 'Preview pane' option and select 'Right' or 'Bottom' to indicate where you want the reading pane to be displayed.
To change the position of the reading pane, go to 'View' > 'Reading Pane' and select either 'Right', 'Bottom', or 'Off'.
If you have the reading pane set to 'Off', you will not be able to see your emails. Make sure that the reading pane is set to 'Right' or 'Bottom'.
































