How to hide reading pane when "hide" and "off" are no longer in Layout Menu?

Hi @Sparks,  

Good day! Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum and sharing your experience.   

I understand you're looking for a way to hide or turn off the Reading Pane in Outlook on the web, and you've noticed that the usual "Hide" or "Off" options are no longer available in the Layout menu. I’m here to help with a solution that suits your situation. 

As part of recent updates to Outlook on the web, Microsoft has redesigned the layout experience to support accessibility and responsive design. This means some traditional options like “Hide” or “Off” for the Reading Pane may no longer appear in the settings menu. 

  You can still minimize or effectively hide the Reading Pane using the steps below: 

1. You might to try switch to Compact View 

• Click the Settings (⚙️) icon in the top-right corner of Outlook. 
• Select Mail > Layout > Reading Pane. 
• If the “Hide” option is not visible, try selecting Compact View or Single-line View (if available). This can reduce the visibility of the Reading Pane. 

2. Try using a Different Outlook Client 

If you prefer more control over the Reading Pane, you might consider using: 

• The Outlook desktop app, which still includes the “Off” option. 

• The Outlook mobile app, which has a simplified layout without a persistent Reading Pane. 

3. You can try to resize Your Browser Window 

• Open Outlook on the web in your browser. 
• Gradually reduce the width of your browser window. 
• Once the window becomes narrow enough (typically under 370 pixels), the Reading Pane will automatically collapse. 

This behavior is part of the new responsive design that adapts the layout based on screen size. 

Moreover, these changes are part of Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to align with accessibility standards and improve the user experience across devices. We understand this may be a change from what you're used to, and we truly appreciate your patience. You can submit feedback to our product team on your behalf to request the return of the "Hide" option in future updates. 

Go to: Microsoft 365 Feedback Hub →Send Feedback→ Describe your proposal in detail  Your feedback is important, Microsoft actively monitors user input to prioritize improvements. The more feedback they receive on this issue, the more likely it is to be addressed.  

Thank you again for your patience and for choosing Microsoft Q&A forum. Please let me know if you’d like assistance with that or if there’s anything else I can help you with. I’m here to support you every step of the way. 

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Hi @Sparks,  

Good day! I hope this message finds you well.

It's been a while since our last conversation, and I wanted to check in on how things are progressing with the issues we've discussed. Have you had a chance to review the answers we have provided?

If there is anything else, I can help you, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I would be happy to help.

Thank you again for your patience and for choosing Microsoft Q&A forum. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can assist you with. I’m here to support you every step of the way.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment”   

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread 

The ability to Hide the Reading Pane in Outlook Web and New Outlook for Windows has been removed in a recent release.

Was

Now

Resize will only let you shrink it to about 1/5 of the window.

You can vote to have the "Hide" choice added back at this Feedback post:
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/34e5336c-f772-f011-95f3-7c1e52d941f8

"Fill Screen" is the closest to the old "Hide". The Reading pane is gone from the main window and emails open in a full size window.

Hi @Sparks, 

I hope you have a nice day. 

I’m reaching out to follow up on your request. I understand how important it is to have control over your workspace layout, and I appreciate your patience while we looked into this for you. 

I’ve just checked again, and I’m happy to let you know that you can now hide or turn off the Reading Pane in Outlook Web through the Layout settings. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you do this easily: 

1. Open Outlook Web in your browser and sign in to your account. 
2. In the top-left corner, click the View. 
3. Under Layout, click on Reading Pane. 
4. You will now see the options:  
   • Right (default) 
   • Bottom 
   • Hide 
5. Select Hide to turn off the Reading Pane. (Some version Hide will be Fill Screen) 

This update was recently restored, and we’re glad to see it back as part of the layout options. It should now suit your situation and give you the flexibility you need. 

If you don’t see the “Hide” option yet, please try refreshing your browser or clearing your cache. Also, make sure you’re using the latest version of Outlook Web. 

If you need any further assistance or have other questions, feel free to reply to this email. We’re here to help!

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment”.    

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