Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Settings
Configuring preferences and options in Outlook.com
Update - it has been fixed. Hallelujah!
Reading Pane
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(153.6, 34%, 24%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EE%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Ebuck
10
Reputation points
Out of nowhere, when I compose or reply to a message, my top reading pane disappears and I now have two tabs at the bottom of the page which are the original email and my current reply. Never used to view this way. Is there a fix?
Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Settings
3 answers
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Ebuck 10 Reputation points
2026-07-30T14:19:09.7866667+00:00 -
Hornblower409 12,675 Reputation points2026-07-30T16:31:18.3033333+00:00 @Ebuck said
it has been fixed.
Not for me.
Outlook Web has actually gotten worse. Now with Reading Pane = Bottom it doesn't show the compose window at all.
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Hornblower409 12,675 Reputation points
2026-07-29T02:10:00.0266667+00:00 @Ebuck said
when I compose or reply to a message, my top reading pane disappears
Reading Pane during Compose or Reply is bugging out for may people.
Does yours look like a variation of what is shown in the Answer by "Hornblower409 Jul 28, 2026" at
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5958408/gro-e-fl-che-ber-neuer-nachricht-im-outlookTry changing your Reading Pane to Right or Fill. Any difference?
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Ebuck 10 Reputation points
2026-07-29T12:38:41.55+00:00 Yes - I have changed the view and it helps, but my brain absolutely hates the messages on the right or the fill setting. I hope they get this bug fixed because it's driving me crazy.
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Hornblower409 12,675 Reputation points
2026-07-29T16:48:56.03+00:00 @Ebuck said
I have changed the view and it helps, but my brain absolutely hates the messages on the right or the fill setting.
I agree with you. I have had my Reading Pane on the Bottom since ... forever, and any other placement just doesn't seem natural.
All I can suggest at this point is to submit a Problem Report. Every Report moves this issue one tiny bit higher on the Microsoft Fixit List.
- From the main menu: Help -> Feedback
- {This should open the Help side panel}
- Select "Report a problem"
- Fill in the "Describe your problem ..." text box.
- Can we contact you about this feedback -> Yes
- Collect logs for feedback -> Yes
- Click [Submit]
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EmilyS726 256.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor2026-07-27T21:02:22.81+00:00 Hello
Yes, I noticed this change too. I am afraid it is not something you can change, nor does the settings options provide that.
I would suggest that you leave a feedback here so that product team gets the feedback https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/