Check Boxes Suddenly Gone

Question

For years Outlook mail has had check boxes next to all messages, where you can for example check all messages you want to block in your Junk folder. Now we are required to delete all messages one by one using the Trash icon to the right of the email body. How do I get the check boxes back? There is no Mail Layout that allows me to Enable and save check boxes and there is no “Show Sender Message” in Settings.

Answer 1

Hi James Wojtak,

Since the checkbox settings and available selection options have already been covered, please try opening Outlook in an InPrivate/Incognito window or another browser.

• If the checkboxes return, clear Outlook.com site data/cache in your normal browser.
• If they are still missing in other browsers, submit the issue through Help > Feedback in Outlook.com, preferably with a screenshot.

This should help determine whether the behavior is local to the browser or tied to the current Outlook.com experience.

Answer 2

Select Settings → Mail → Message list → Layout → Checkboxes; the checkbox control is now under Message list, rather than the general Mail → Layout page you checked.

1. Open Outlook.com.
2. Select Settings (gear icon). If the full settings page appears, the path may begin with File → Settings.
3. Open Mail → Message list.
4. Expand Layout.
5. Under How do you want messages to appear in the message list?, select Checkboxes.

This restores persistent checkboxes beside messages for bulk deletion, moving, and other actions. Users affected by the same Outlook.com interface change confirmed this path restores them.^1^

If “Checkboxes” is not available yet

The new selector may not have reached every account. Look specifically for Show sender images—not “Show Sender Message”—under:

Settings/File → Settings → Mail → Message list → Layout

Turn Show sender images off. In the earlier version of this interface, disabling sender images restores persistent checkboxes.^1^

Temporary selection option

If available, select the Select icon—a box at the right side of the folder name above the message list. This temporarily displays the checkboxes so multiple messages can be selected.^2^

The distinction is:

• Checkboxes setting: keeps checkboxes visible.
• Show sender images off: rollout-dependent fallback that keeps them visible.
• Select icon: exposes them temporarily for the current bulk operation.

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References

1. Check boxes have disappeared - Microsoft Q&A
2. Check boxes have disappeared - Microsoft Q&A