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Lions333

Clicking "Inbox" on Outlook.com automatically opens the first email in the list

About two days ago or so I noticed that when I log on to outlook.com if I click "Inbox" it now automatically opens the first email in the list and marks it "read" instead of going to the default screen that says "Select an item to read." This is super annoying because things are getting marked "read" but I have not read them yet. How can I fix this?

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Brian_Austin

Independent Advisor

Hi Lions333,

This could be due to your Reading pane settings. If your view changed, you can go to adjust by going into Settings.

Thanks,
Brian

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Lions333

That is not it I don't think. I have had it set as "Show on the right" for the past year and it has never done this before.

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Brian_Austin

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Hi Lions333,

Lets take a look at another setting please. Go into Settings again, Mail, Layout.

What do you have for "What do you want us to do when you sign in?". You can change this to "Let me select which message to read first" and save. Then test.

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Brian

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Lions333

I have always had it set as "Let me select which message to read first" and it was like that when I checked. To be clear, it is not happening when I first log in. It is only when I specifically click the "Inbox" button.

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Brian_Austin

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Give this a try please. Under Message handling, select "Don't automatically mark items as read".

Here is a direct link:
https://outlook.office.com/mail/options/mail/ha...

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Brian

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Brian_Austin

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You would also need the layout setting "Let me select which message to read first" enabled to get back to your "Select an item to read." view.

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Brian

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Lions333

So that makes the message not appear as read but if I click "inbox" it still opens the message. I can't get back to the "Select an item to read" screen.

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Brian_Austin

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Where is it opening at? In a new window?

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Lions333

No, just right in the same window.

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Dragos Drakkar

I am having the same issue as the original poster. I have not made any changes to the settings before this started and it is automatically opening the first message no matter what. I have flipped the setting back to do so back and forth several times without any chance, even saving the setting on, restarting Outlook, and going back in and turning it off again, and it still continues to act as if the option was turned on.

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Question Info

Last updated January 7, 2025 Views 1,859 Applies to:

Outlook
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Outlook.com
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Email

Clicking "Inbox" on Outlook.com automatically opens the first email in the list

Replies (10) 

Question Info

Replies (10)