Learn to Group Conversation Threads in Windows 10 Mail and Outlook

Use email conversations to manage your email threads. Or don't.

Grouping Conversation Threads in Windows 10 Mail and Outlook

 Tumisu / Pixabay

by Heinz Tschabitscher
An independent writer who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated March 26, 2019

Mail for Windows 10 and Outlook group conversations so that related emails are viewed in one thread. Turning the setting on or off is a simple matter that works the same way for Windows Mail and for Outlook for Windows.

Instructions in this article apply to Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013; Outlook for Office 365, and Mail for Windows 10.

Group and Ungroup Conversation Threads in Windows Mail

To have Windows Mail and Outlook Mail for Windows 10 arrange messages in conversations or to turn the feature off:

  1. Open Windows Mail.

  2. Select Settings.

    Screenshot of Windows Mail

  3. Select Message List.

    Screenshot of Message List in Settings pane

  4. To turn off grouped conversations, go to the Organization section and select Individual Messages.

    Screenshot of Message List

  5. To turn on grouped conversations, select Grouped by Conversation.

Group Conversation Threads in Outlook

In Microsoft Outlook, the settings for conversations are on the View tab.

  1. Start Outlook.

  2. Select the View tab.

    Screenshot of View tab

  3. To turn off grouped conversations, go to the Messages group and clear the Show as Conversations check box.

  4. To display grouped conversations, select the Show as Conversations check box.