Outlook Web App creating multiple drafts while typing

Question

While typing an email, multiple drafts are created as I work on a single reply. I am using the Outlook Web App, not the local app.

There was also an instance where I had two email threads open, and when I sent a reply on one thread, it actually sent it to the other email thread. I am worried about sensitive information being sent to the wrong recipients like in this case.

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Moved from Microsoft 365 and Office | Other

Answer 1

Hi Oscar Ozeta

I hope you are doing well ! I just want to check if you have had a chance to test the steps earlier? Please let me know if they helped resolve the issue or if you are still experiencing any difficulties. I am here to assist you further.

Best Regards

Answer 2

Dear Oscar Ozeta

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum. I understand that in Outlook on the web you see multiple Draft items created while composing a single reply, and you also experienced a reply being sent to the wrong email thread, creating a risk of sensitive information going to unintended recipients. Please follow these steps:  

• Disable Conversation grouping in Outlook on the web (reduces thread mix-ups and makes drafts/replies easier to track). Go to Settings > Mail > Layout. Under Message organization, switch from “Show email grouped by conversation” to showing messages as individual messages. If you keep conversation view on, set the reading pane option to “Show each message separately” to reduce confusion when multiple items share a subject. See: View email messages by conversation in Outlook - Microsoft Support 
• Check Fixes or workarounds for recent issues on Outlook.com - Microsoft Support.
• Reduce risk immediately while composing. Use only one compose window at a time and close any extra reply/compose tabs before clicking Send. If you must keep multiple threads open, verify the message header (To/Cc/Subject) right before Send.
• Escalate to Microsoft Support (when the issue repeats) 
  • Visit Contact - Microsoft Support     
  • Type a brief description of your issue in the search box    
  • Scroll down to the bottom > select Sign in to contact support    
  • Log in to your personal Microsoft account.     
  • Under Products & Services, select "Other Products"; Under Categories, select a suitable Category.   
  • Click "Chat with a support agent in your web browser" (during business hours) 

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Answer 3

The issue of multiple drafts being created while typing an email in the Outlook Web App can occur due to how the application saves drafts automatically. This behavior is designed to prevent data loss, but it can lead to confusion if multiple drafts are created for a single reply. Unfortunately, there isn't a specific solution mentioned in the provided context for this issue.

Regarding the concern of sending replies to the wrong email thread, this can happen if the application does not properly distinguish between open threads. It's crucial to ensure that you are actively focused on the correct thread before sending a reply to avoid sending sensitive information to unintended recipients. Again, the context does not provide a specific resolution for this problem either.

For both issues, it may be beneficial to check for any updates to the Outlook Web App or consult Microsoft support for further assistance.

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References:

• Deleted recipients still appear in the list view of the Drafts folder in Outlook Online mode