Changing Column Widths

Question

When is Microsoft going to make updates to New Outlook to allow users to CHANGE COLUMN WIDTHS!?! It's been a couple years now and no solutions yet. I really like most new features in New Outlook but not having the option to slide columns to make them wider of narrower is A FATAL FLAW. I am stuck using Classic Outlook because it allows me to function efficently in my job.

Answer 1

Dear @Gabriel, Trish M (DEC),

I completely understand your frustration regarding the inability to manually adjust column widths in the New Outlook. For users who rely on a specific layout to manage a high volume of emails efficiently, this is indeed a significant workflow limitation.

Currently, the "New Outlook" (built on web technologies) uses an automated responsive design for its message list. This means column widths are dynamically adjusted based on the size of your window and the density settings chosen, rather than allowing manual "drag-to-resize" as found in Classic Outlook.

As a member of the support team, I recognize that for many professionals, these workarounds do not replace the precision of manual resizing. I strongly recommend submitting this feedback directly to the engineering team, as they prioritize updates based on user demand:

1. In your New Outlook, go to the Help tab and select Feedback.
2. You can also visit the Microsoft Feedback Portal to post your specific use case.
3. Search for "Adjust column width" and Upvote existing requests. This is the most effective way to increase the priority of this specific feature.

Please note that as community moderators, we cannot change product design, but we can guide you to the right channel, so your feedback reaches the engineering team.

I truly appreciate your patience as Microsoft continues to evolve this platform. For now, continuing to use Classic Outlook is the best way to maintain your current professional efficiency while the New Outlook undergoes these critical design updates.

Answer 2

New Outlook for Windows doesn’t currently support changing column widths like classic Outlook, and the provided information includes no timeline or announced update for this feature. Classic Outlook remains the option when column customization is required.

---

References:

• Feature comparison between new Outlook and classic Outlook