View settings for multiple folders

Question

I have several folders that I would like to have the same view settings. I update the settings in one and save them as a new view. The apply view to other folders function is greyed out. I go to each of the other folders and manually select the new view for each. But if I change the view in one, it does not change in the other. It's as if each folder has its own copy of the view even though they are all named the same.

How do I create a view that the folders can share or how do I sync the settings across each folder's copy of the view?

I'm using Microsoft 365, Outlook version 2301.

Answer 1

Hi @Barry Schwarz ,

How do I create a view that the folders can share or how do I sync the settings across each folder's copy of the view?

I am afraid this is currently not feasible.

As you've noticed, although the views in each folder all named the same, they are actually managed separately. And as we can see from View > Change View > Manage Views, it explicitly says Views for folder "xxx", which per my understanding is trying to indicate these views are only for this particular folder.

With the above being said, for your situation, I'd recommend just trying to make changes only on one of the folders and then apply the settings to other folders:

1. Choose one of the folders, make sure it's current in a view that can be used on "All Mail and Post folders", if not, you can switch to the default Compact view first to make the change.
   
2. Change the view settings to fit your needs. Then go to View > Change View, Apply Current View to Other Mail Folders:
   
3. Select the other folders that you want to use the same view settings.
4. Repeat the above steps next time you want to make any change to the view settings of these folders.

Additionally, I've just tried to submit a suggestion of this feature into the official feedback portal for Outlook. I'll leave the link below in case you or other community members would like to add votes or comment on it as well.

https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/2b0a316e-70ae-ed11-a81b-002248519701

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