How to Disable the Preview Pane in the Windows 10 Mail App and Outlook

Boost email security by hiding message previews

By
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Writer
  • University of Vienna
A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
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Updated on October 26, 2021

What to Know

  • In Mail for Windows 10: Select Settings (gear icon) > Message List and set the toggle switches under Preview text and Image preview to Off.
  • In Outlook.com: Select Settings > View all Outlook settings > Layout tab. Select Hide reading pane and Hide preview text.
  • In Microsoft Outlook (2019-2013): Select View > Reading Pane, and then select Off from the drop-down menu.

This article explains how to disable the preview pane in Microsoft Outlook, the Mail app for Windows 10, and similar email programs to avoid getting viruses when loading messages. Instructions cover the Windows 10 Mail app, Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2013, and Outlook for Microsoft 365.

How to Turn off Message Preview in Mail for Windows 10

To disable the preview pane in the Windows 10 Mail app:

  1. Select Settings gear in the lower-left corner of the Mail app.

    Select Settings gear in the bottom-left area of the Mail app.

  2. Select Message List in the Settings menu.

    Select Message List in the Settings menu.

  3. Set the toggle switches under Preview text and Image preview to Off.

    Set the toggle switches under Preview text and Image preview to Off.

How to Disable Message Previews on Outlook.com

If you're an Microsoft 365 subscriber using Outlook.com:

  1. Select Settings gear in the upper-right corner of Outlook.com.

    Select Settings gear in the top-right area of Outlook.com.

  2. Select View all Outlook settings in the Settings menu.

    Select View all Outlook settings in the Settings menu.

  3. Select the Layout tab, and then select Hide reading pane under Reading Pane.

    Select the Layout tab and select Hide reading pane under Reading Pane.

  4. Scroll down and select Hide preview text under Message Preview Text.

    Scroll down and select Hide preview text under Preview Message Text.

Now you will only see the message subject, and you will have to select it to load and read the message.

How to Turn off the Preview Reading Pane in Outlook

You can turn off message previews in Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, and Outlook 2013 for each individual account you have set up:

  1. Select the View tab at the top of Outlook, then select Reading Pane.

    Outlook 2016 View and Reading Pane menu selections

  2. Select Off from the drop-down menu.

    Outlook 2016 Reading Pane dropdown with Off selected

The message list pane will expand to fill the available space.

Select View > Message Preview > Off to hide the preview text that appears under the message subject.

Outlook 2016 with Reading Pane turned off
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