Grouping Conversation Threads in Windows 10 Mail and Outlook

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

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

Group and Ungroup Conversation Threads in Windows Mail

Arrange messages in conversations in Windows Mail or turn the feature off, if desired.

Open Windows Mail.
Select Settings.
Select Message List.
To turn off grouped conversations, go to the Organization section and select Individual Messages.
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.

Start Outlook.
Select the View tab.
To turn off grouped conversations, go to the Messages group and clear the Show as Conversations check box.
To display grouped conversations, select the Show as Conversations check box.

Change Conversation Options

Outlook allows you to change several other conversation options, as well. These are available from the View tab.

Select the View tab and choose Conversation Settings in the Messages group from any folder in Outlook.
Select any of the available options.
- Show Messages from Other Folders displays messages in the conversation that you have moved to other folders, including messages in your Sent Items folder.
- Show Senders Above the Subject shows the senders' names at the top of the conversation instead of the conversation subject.
- Always Expand Selected Conversation expands the conversation whenever you open it. This option only applies to the currently selected conversation.
- Use Classic Indented View Classic shows messages in the conversation indented based on their position within the conversation.