2021 Outlook Email Navigation Pane on left interfering with email flow, how do I remove or move??

Blackberry Designs 41

We read right to left and as I am in my email many times a day the new navigation pane on the left of my Outlook email is distracting to work with. It is interfering with my daily work flow of over 500 emails. How do I remove, or move these files from my Outlook/email account?

Machia, Tina 51 Reputation points

2021-10-07T17:53:40.523+00:00

I'm having the same problem, but it happened when I downloaded from the "coming soon, try it now" button, top right of the outlook screen. So I believe it's linked to the new update coming out for Microsoft 11, and this is in Outlook on my PC.

I don't want to know how to move things up and down in the navigation bar, I want to move the whole bar from the left side where it went when I downloaded the "coming soon, try it now button", back to where it was at the bottom under my inboxes.

I really don't care what's in the navigation bar, it's where it is that's bothering me!
Byron Simmonds 26 Reputation points

2022-03-09T10:06:46.017+00:00

Same thing just happened to me. MS needs to fix this now!
Goldhawk / Trinsyc Strategic 41 Reputation points

2022-03-09T14:48:37.227+00:00

I too am having this exact same problem. The navigation bar now appears vertically on the left side of the screen. It used to be on the bottom and this was a much better location for me. I'm at a loss regarding how to move/change it. Any suggestions would be welcome.
Daniel G 31 Reputation points

2022-03-10T08:00:07.057+00:00

Same thing here. The navigation bar has moved from below the folders to the left of everything else. It can't be moved or removed. The old position was perfect and did not take focus or space from my workflow.

The settings for the navigation bar below Advanced > Navigation does not make sense for the new position and layout either and the checkbox Compact Navigation is grayed out.

And why are there even three overflow dots in the new navigation bar when there is so much space?
BlackBeard 21 Reputation points

2022-03-10T17:49:53.75+00:00

I am suddenly having this same problem and complaint, and it's not about the folders its about the navigation icons that were previously out of the way and using very little space at the bottom of the screen, but are now using a big chunk of my horizontal screen real estate. I cant' find any way of turning it off or to permanently put it back like it was.

Microsoft, please put it back like it was. Stop using up our precious screen real state on fluff.
Galen O 1 Reputation point

2022-03-11T18:57:46.317+00:00

Same issue for me as well. Happened after applying the Version 2202 Build 14931.20132 update. Can find no way to move the navigation bar to the bottom of the screen where it was before. Turning off the Folder Pane does not affect the Navigation bar. Changing the number of Visible Items (File/Options/Advanced/Outlook Panes/Navigation/Navigation Options does not impact the number of Visible Items in the Navigation Bar (even though there is a screen height of room. . .).
Ian 11 Reputation points

2022-03-14T19:31:50.33+00:00

found a solution in another forum. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook_com/forum/all/how-do-i-move-email-calendar-people-icons-back-to/6dd0ded4-7a9e-4d0a-aa6f-1870e0ef8ac1?page=18

basically restart Outlook in Safe mode and then reopen normally. From what other people have said it may become a new "Feature"

"
Guys, this feature drove me also crazy but I did what @AKSNC30 wrote BUT I had NOT the possibility to unclick the "Coming Soon" feature in the normal or safe Outlook.

What I did:

1) Closed MS Outlook

2) run with WIN+R (Windows button + R) and typed outlook.exe /safe (there must be a space between "exe" and "/safe"

( 3) if there is no feature for "Coming soon" - just close safe Outlook)

4) closed the "Safe Outlook"

5) reopened normal Outlook

and all was again in place (nav bar under e-mail folders). So I don't really know but Microsoft is doing some stuff without even the possibility to revert it back ... and we pay for this ...

Cheers,

Vik"
Hal Diggs 1 Reputation point

2022-03-29T14:38:57.183+00:00

this Coming-Soon feature sucked. It was very tough to revert it. Now I have to have Coming-Soon turned off... meaning I cannot participate as an insider.
Matt Watson 6 Reputation points

2022-03-31T17:49:37.713+00:00

Thank you!
FAISAL GILL 6 Reputation points

2022-04-05T15:00:57.86+00:00

i had the same problem, for the past 5 days, it drove me crazy trying to fix it, i just fixed it while reading through here. solution: turn off "coming soon" on the top right corner of your outlook, click off outlook and reboot outlook. when it comes back again the navigation pane will be in the bottom position. it worked for me, i hope it works for you guys too
Edward J Gerety III 1 Reputation point

2022-04-11T13:08:03.75+00:00

Thank you for putting this out here, as I would never think that "COMING SOON" button would cause such issues.!

Anyone have an Outlook replacement? I am so tired of Microsoft.
Edward J Gerety III 1 Reputation point

2022-04-11T13:08:12.287+00:00

Thank you for putting this out here, as I would never think that "COMING SOON" button would cause such issues.!

Anyone have an Outlook replacement? I am so tired of Microsoft.
Andrew M 1 Reputation point

2022-04-14T01:35:55.937+00:00

Thanks for this, I didn't have coming soon turned on, turned out I just needed to toggle it on and then off again, rebooting outlook each time and then the navigation pane was restored.
Lynne Simpson 1 Reputation point

2022-04-21T14:35:22.917+00:00

This method has not worked for me :( Really hate all the junk appearing in the app title bar and things being repositioned and not being able to change them to suit me!! Like others have said, the navigation down the left-hand side is very distracting and takes up too much room. Maybe Microsoft can change it to be collapseable?
Larry Mandelberg 6 Reputation points

2022-05-02T02:07:15.957+00:00

I've been fighting with this issue for days now, struggling to figure out how to even ask how to fix it!. The post by "IanRoberts-2138 · Mar 14 2022 at 12:31 PM" below did the trick. Short form - close outlook, open it in safe more, close it, open it normally and the app icon task bar will be back under the left column of information.

THANK YOU IanRoberts-2138 · Mar 14 2022 at 12:31 PM
Steve Clancy 1 Reputation point

2022-07-17T19:22:03.81+00:00

Once again, Microsoft changing things that don't need fixing! How can a such a clueless bunch keep in business? Answer: Because most of us don't any choice but to use their products,.
Steve Clancy 1 Reputation point

2022-07-17T19:22:16.73+00:00

Once again, Microsoft changing things that don't need fixing! How can a such a clueless bunch keep in business? Answer: Because most of us don't any choice but to use their products,.
Fred A 1 Reputation point

2022-08-09T15:18:09.157+00:00

I know this is an older post but hopefully this helps someone else with the same problem. Sorry, I don't know how to get back to the wrong view to replicate. I do remember clicking somewhere in this view and seeing a "pin" icon. When I clicked on the pin it fixed it and reverted to showing all of the inboxes, folders, and my calendar, notes, etc across the bottom. Try to find the pin and see if this works.
Dale W 11 Reputation points

2022-08-16T07:53:36.607+00:00

Yes, as at August 2022 this is a forced change and I can't see how to move or remove. Microsoft, please give us an option to move this back the way it was or remove completely as it takes up far to much screen realestate!
Vincent Verbaeys 1 Reputation point

2022-08-17T13:54:30.467+00:00

Since last week i have this in my Outlook too. On a Surface this takes up precious screen estate. What is the whole idea behind this? Anyone has found a fix to disable this?
David OMg 11 Reputation points

2022-09-09T20:47:52.773+00:00

I FOUND A SOLUTION!!! This is not mine but I have tried it and it worked for me. I do not have admin on my work system and it still worked. I have not rebooted yet to see if it will persist without admin.

The site I found the solution on is: https://www.extendoffice.com/documents/outlook/7190-outlook-move-navigation-bar-left-to-bottom.html

If this removes the link or you don't want to go, here is the short steps summary:

1) Open Regedit

2) Navigate to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\ExperimentEcs\Overrides

3) If the string "Microsoft.Office.Outlook.Hub.HubBar"does not exist, create it by right clicking on Overrides in the left pane and selecting New->String Value

4) Paste "Microsoft.Office.Outlook.Hub.HubBar" in the new entry that appears in the right pane

5) Double-click the new name

6) Enter "False" in the Value data field.

7) Click OK

8) Close and restart Outlook

9) Voilà (pop culture reference, "which is short for, and then I found out")
Gavata Smith 1 Reputation point

2022-09-16T15:29:44.233+00:00

I cut off the “try it now” selection next to “coming soon”, restarted Outlook and IT WORKED!!!! yayyyyy!!!
Dale W 11 Reputation points

2022-09-19T00:02:22.303+00:00

THIS WORKED!! Thank you David! - Havent tried system restart yet though....
Martin Head 6 Reputation points

2022-12-14T16:28:11.953+00:00

For me this is the definitive answer! It worked perfectly! Thank you!!!
Andy Edeburn 6 Reputation points

2022-12-15T16:26:04.483+00:00

Edit the registry.

https://www.extendoffice.com/documents/outlook/7190-outlook-move-navigation-bar-left-to-bottom.html
Jonathan Y 5 Reputation points

2023-01-21T01:56:48.9533333+00:00

Microsoft.Office.Outlook.Hub.HubBar registry thing worked for me. That was SUPER annoying.

19 answers

Stig Marthinsen 86 Reputation points

2022-12-13T07:33:37.923+00:00

The following changed back to my previous view... at least the bar was removed:

1) Left-click File menu.

2) Left-click Options on the bottom left side.

3) In Outlook Options, left-click Advanced.

4) Un-check [ ] Show Apps in Outlook

5) Re-start Outlook

This on Outlook Product version: 16.0.15831.20190
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17 people found this answer helpful.
Byron Simmonds 26 Reputation points

2022-12-13T07:56:06.857+00:00

Thank you!!! The new navbar issue has been bugging a lot of people. It looks like MS got the message. You have made my day!

Tim White 11 Reputation points

2022-12-13T15:10:54.993+00:00

This worked for me!!
Amazing and thank you.

Johnny E 1 Reputation point

2022-12-19T02:45:09.37+00:00

This worked for me as well. Much appreciated!

Anonymous

2023-01-23T20:31:20.77+00:00

That worked! Thank you very much :)

Diorio, James L 0 Reputation points

2023-03-26T04:08:37.7166667+00:00

This worked for me on Outlook 365 Version 2301.

Lynne Simpson 1 Reputation point

2023-03-27T08:40:37.42+00:00

I'm on version 2210.15726.20202 and don't have the "Show Apps" option. I guess I'm stuck with the intrusive left-hand bar which doesn't even use the select theme! So tired of Microsoft products becoming "helpful" when in fact they are just a hinderance. :(

Stig Marthinsen 86 Reputation points

2023-03-27T09:56:10.6766667+00:00

According to this page https://www.msoutlook.info/question/outlook-navigation-pane-on-the-left Microsoft introduced "Show Apps in Outlook" in what is referred to as "Channel Version 2211" (which started rolling out in the first week of December 2022). Is it possible to get an updated version ?

Lynne Simpson 1 Reputation point

2023-03-27T09:59:14.6466667+00:00

Ah ok. Unfortunately I have to wait for the corporate rollout of new versions. I'll keep this solution in mind for the future. Thanks :)

PARKIN, Simon (ROYAL CORNWALL HOSPITALS NHS TRUST) 0 Reputation points

2023-04-12T20:09:24.81+00:00

This worked for me on outlook 2019

CW 0 Reputation points

2023-05-07T23:49:03.9766667+00:00

Thank you Stig! This worked. I am so used to seeing my calendar at the bottom, and I wanted it to stay there.😍Worked on Outlook 2021.

Noman Ali Khan 0 Reputation points

2023-05-11T10:29:10.56+00:00

solved my problem, thanks a lot.

Karin Mckenna 0 Reputation points

2023-09-14T17:55:51.43+00:00

Thank you so much! Worked like a charm!

King, Paul (Potters Bar) 0 Reputation points

2024-11-01T12:19:39.8433333+00:00

very much appreciated @Stig

this worked for me too
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Vik99977 91 Reputation points

2022-03-09T13:35:07.787+00:00

Hi Guys,

as I was answering a similar question about the moved bar and not possible edit of it, here is what I did - I copy my answer here (link here):

Guys, this feature drove me also crazy but I did what @AKSNC30 wrote BUT I had NOT the possibility to unclick the "Coming Soon" feature in the normal or safe Outlook.

What I did:

1) Closed MS Outlook
2) run with WIN+R and typed outlook.exe /safe
3) saw no feature for "Coming soon"
4) closed the "Safe Outlook"
5) reopened normal Outlook

and all was again in place (nav bar under e-mail folders). So I don't really know but Microsoft is doing some stuff without even the possibility to revert it back ... and we pay for this ...

Cheers,

Vik
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10 people found this answer helpful.
Kyle 6 Reputation points

2022-03-09T15:00:12.757+00:00

This worked for me. Thank you Vik!

Lisa Kirby 16 Reputation points

2022-03-09T15:10:49.463+00:00

this worked for me!! thank you

Goldhawk / Trinsyc Strategic 41 Reputation points

2022-03-09T15:15:27.257+00:00

My goodness this actually worked! I'd ask how you discovered that fix but the answer would probably be long and beyond by technical ability to understand..... Thank you.

Goldhawk / Trinsyc Strategic 41 Reputation points

2022-03-09T15:18:10.037+00:00

This really worked, Vic! I'd ask how you did found that fix but the answer would probably exceed my ability to understand, technically.

Jim Calvert 1 Reputation point

2022-03-09T15:37:26.617+00:00

Heh Vic,
Works PERFECTLY!
Thanks very much.

Byron Simmonds 26 Reputation points

2022-03-09T15:38:39.113+00:00

Thank you so much! I only hope it sticks.

Kingwood 43 1 Reputation point

2022-03-09T16:24:16.087+00:00

Worked for me too.

Dan Adams 1 Reputation point

2022-03-09T17:06:48.49+00:00

Thanks for this solution. You're a lifesaver.

Carol Warman 1 Reputation point

2022-03-09T17:09:05.8+00:00

Worked for me too. It was driving me crazy and then I found your post. :-)

yudaman 1 Reputation point

2022-03-09T19:45:46.477+00:00

Thanks Vik...Worked for me!!

mhorn 1 Reputation point

2022-03-09T21:11:08.47+00:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you! This worked for me too.

Rob Holmes 1 Reputation point

2022-03-09T21:46:04.257+00:00

Yes, worked for me too. I'm always curious about new features and it's too bad that we have to leave that turned off to be able to work as normal and have control over the Navigation icons. I guess the "Coming Soon" switch would be better if named "Coming Soon whether you Like it or NOT..." ....lol....

Abe Kleinfeld 1 Reputation point

2022-03-10T03:30:04.263+00:00

Brilliant - that worked. God knows how you figured that out!

Greg Andrews 1 Reputation point

2022-03-10T04:10:10.923+00:00

A bizarre but successful solution to a very annoying change that I did not authorize!
Thank you very much!

Vik99977 91 Reputation points

2022-03-10T07:14:53.783+00:00

Hi Goldhawk,

if there are issues with a system or app, it helps to open them as administrator or in a "safe mode" (like here Outlook) to check out the problem. Here, it helped just to start it in safe mode and then "reset" Outlook through it when you closed it and reopened the "normal" Outlook.

Sometime it helps, sometimes it needs several hours of checking in options to discover some new (unwanted) features and set it back ...

Cheers,
Vik

DiSL61 1 Reputation point

2022-03-10T10:51:50.713+00:00

yep, that works :)

Kevin Swan 1 Reputation point

2022-03-10T14:47:23.787+00:00

Thanks VIc. Excellent answer and worked perfectly so far!

Joseph Byrne 1 Reputation point

2022-03-10T15:41:52.513+00:00

This solution worked for me too. Thanks so much. It was really annoying as about 15 years of mouse muscle memory was compromised. For anyone wishing to execute it, there is a space between outlook.exe and the /safe. So it only works if you write. outlook.exe /safe in the run command. At first glance you mightn't see the space. Then when Outlook opens in safe mode, close it and open it in normal mode and the tool bar is back to the bottom of the folder list.

BlackBeard 21 Reputation points

2022-03-10T17:47:21.723+00:00

I have the same issue and complaint about the forced move of the nav bar.

This "fix" above will be temporary at best. If you were getting it via "Coming Soon" then it's shortly going to be "Here" and the fix won't work.

Dennis Anthonipillai 1 Reputation point

2022-03-10T18:09:54.287+00:00

This is the solution! It worked!!

JackieO 1 Reputation point

2022-03-10T18:58:10+00:00

This worked. Thanks!

VCUE 1 Reputation point

2022-03-11T04:36:05.313+00:00

This worked for me. Can’t stand when MS tries to improve making functionality idiotic

VCUE 1 Reputation point

2022-03-11T04:36:38.96+00:00

Worked. Thanks

Carol Hoffmann 1 Reputation point

2022-03-12T17:08:51.527+00:00

THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I was close to tears with lack of support from Microsoft Help, and such a simple (and non-clickable) solution. Bar took up way too much space and no option to move.

Terri Grover 1 Reputation point

2022-03-12T20:34:54.853+00:00

OMG I cannot believe it, but that worked! I have no idea why it should have, but I'll take it. Thanks!

Zdenda 1 Reputation point

2022-03-14T09:11:59.467+00:00

Thanks a lot, this has been the first and only solution that worked for me :)

Pete Marrable 6 Reputation points

2022-03-14T12:19:23.563+00:00

Thanks You

unlike MS fixes this works !

DSS 1 Reputation point

2022-03-14T21:23:55.997+00:00

This worked for me. Thank you, Vik!!

Sgntpepper 1 Reputation point

2022-03-15T09:43:47.75+00:00

Worked for me either. Many thanks for posting!

Liz Sams 1 Reputation point

2022-03-20T07:39:23.497+00:00

Sanity restored! Thank you!

Ian Kerr 1 Reputation point

2022-03-25T20:14:58.94+00:00

Thank you! This worked like a charm.

Microsoft, listen to the users in this thread and make this an optional feature. Forcibly reorganizing people's workflows and ruining precious screen real estate with nonsense like this is incredibly frustrating, useless, and condescending.

CamMarie 1 Reputation point

2022-03-27T14:16:08.913+00:00

THANK YOU! This worked for me as well. Just need to remember to add a space between .exe and the forward slash (.exe /safe).

Byron Simmonds 26 Reputation points

2023-01-21T06:32:42.57+00:00

File
Options
Advanced
Show Apps in Outlook – uncheck
Restart Outlook

Just wanting to help 0 Reputation points

2023-03-20T20:19:34.6333333+00:00

This was exactly what I needed thanks much...
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Bob Frank 6 Reputation points

2021-06-07T22:10:57.927+00:00

I'm having a similar problem in Office 365 Outlook webmail. The navigation bar used to be small and on the bottom of the screen - now it is on the left and taking up too much screen space. There is virtually no wiggle-room to change the width of the Folder menu, email section, or Preview Pane. I have to collapse the Folders, and then re-open them any time I want to go from Inbox to Sent to Deleted to any other folder.... Surely I'm missing something, because this seems ridiculous. Webmail has no View tab, and there's nothing in settings.... Help please!!
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1 person found this answer helpful.
Adam Leonard 6 Reputation points

2021-09-25T18:30:02.557+00:00

Same problems. This is typical Microsoft - they bury one click functions behind an extra layer and then they take something unobtrusive and functional and make it big with no additional functionality. They don't understand users want to maximize screen real estate on things that add value to the use case/work flow.

Diorio, James L 0 Reputation points

2023-03-26T04:10:03.5666667+00:00

Take a look at the answer from @Stig Marthinsen
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Nicholas Page 6 Reputation points

2021-06-25T18:02:18.387+00:00

Same problem, I can no longer customize the navigation pane, my custom shortcuts are gone and it's taking up way to much space on my screen, I cannot move it now, I cannot customize it, it's just broken. It is also cause Outlook to crash, if I try to click on the ... to get to Notes half the time it crashes Outlook. Why remove features and options? So frustrating...
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TAHNEE REDMAN 6 Reputation points

2021-11-02T22:06:19.94+00:00

I have tried everything to remove or move the left column and it is very irritating! It should not be this difficult to fix such a small thing and Microsoft is absolutely no help at all. On all that I have read it says click "File", Where in the heck is FILE??? Nowhere and this is just one more issue that is making a whole bunch of people upset. I also get a thousand junk mails, spam weekly which I have reached out to Microsoft to try to fix with no resolution. I literally block a sender and the next day get twenty more junk mails from the same exact sender. I guess it's time to move on from Microsoft. I just purchased a brand new HP laptop that works directly with Microsoft. Does anyone know of a brand of laptop that does not use Microsoft? I still have 15 days to return this PC and get a new one. I want be using a service that actually listens to the customer and takes the comments seriously.
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Diorio, James L 0 Reputation points

2023-03-26T04:10:48.2166667+00:00

Take a look at the answer from @Stig Marthinsen
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2021 Outlook Email Navigation Pane on left interfering with email flow, how do I remove or move??

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