Know How to Reset Outlook View to Default Settings

Why do we Need to Restore Outlook to Default View?

Outlook lets users customize how emails, folders, calendars, and more are displayed. If these customizations cause confusion or unexpected results, you might face issues like:

• Columns appearing or disappearing.
• Emails not grouped by date.
• Preview pane missing or misplaced.
• Unreadable fonts or colors.

Here are some reasons why you might need to restore Outlook to its default view:

• Too many changes can make the layout messy. Hence, it is hard to focus or find what you need.
• Customizations might hide or move folders, which makes it tough to find important emails.
• When you change the font size or style, it can make the text too small or hard to read.
• Too many customizations can slow down Outlook or cause glitches in terms of large mailboxes.

To overcome these issues, you can reset to the default settings. Then, you’ll get a clean and easy-to-use layout again, without the distractions of previous changes. This is a quick way to make Outlook easier to work with.

Simplified Ways to Reset Outlook View to Default

A few clicks here and there, and suddenly Outlook doesn’t look like it used to. But don’t worry, you don’t have to live with the mess. Next, we’ll show you how to hit the reset button and bring Outlook back to its clean, default view in just a few simple steps.

01. Reset All Outlook Views to Default Settings

If multiple folders in Outlook(Inbox, Sent Items, Calendar, etc.) have unusual layouts or display issues, you can change Outlook view to default at once using a built-in command.

1. Close Outlook completely.
2. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
3. Type the following command: outlook.exe /cleanviews
4. After that, press Enter or click OK.
5. Outlook will open, and all custom view settings will be deleted.

This command deletes all custom views and resets every Outlook folder (Inbox, Sent, Calendar, Contacts, etc.) to its default layout.

Points to Remember:

• This action is irreversible. Any custom views you’ve created will be permanently removed.

02. Restore Inbox Folder View to Default

If your Inbox layout looks cluttered. It looks like inbox messages are not grouped by date, or columns are missing. In that scenario, you can easily restore Outlook view to default for just the Inbox folder.

1. Again, you should open Outlook.
2. Then, go to your Inbox folder in Outlook.
3. Click on the View tab from the top menu.
4. In the Current View section, click Reset View.
5. A prompt will appear, then click Yes to confirm.

Points to Remember:

• If your preview pane or message grouping changes unexpectedly, this method often fixes the issue without affecting other folders.

03. Disable All Installed Add-Ins in Outlook

Sometimes, third-party add-ins interfere with Outlook’s display or cause unexpected layout changes. If you disable them properly, it can reset Outlook view to default and improve performance.

1. Open Outlook in normal mode.
2. Click on File in the top-left corner.
3. Now, select Options from the sidebar.
4. In the Outlook Options window, click on Add-Ins.
5. At the bottom, next to Manage, select COM Add-ins and click Go.
6. Uncheck all the boxes to disable the active add-ins.
7. Lastly, click OK and restart Outlook.

Points to Remember:

• Disabling add-ins won’t delete them. It only turns them off temporarily. You can enable them again anytime from the same menu.

04. Reset the Ribbon to Default Settings

The Outlook ribbon (the bar with tabs like File, Home, and View) can get customized with extra buttons. Hence, it is hard to find your tools. Resetting it to default settings can make Outlook easier to use.

1. In Outlook, click on File in the top left corner and select Options.
2. In the Outlook Options window, click Customize Ribbon from the left sidebar.
3. At the bottom of the window, click the Reset button.
4. Select Reset all customizations to restore the ribbon to its original state.
5. Click OK to confirm.

Points to Remember:

• Once you reset the ribbon, you can’t undo the changes unless you manually re-add your customizations.
• Any custom buttons, tabs, or settings you’ve added to the ribbon will be removed.

05. Activate Safe Mode in Outlook

Safe Mode starts Outlook with minimal settings and no add-ins. Hence, this approach can also be helpful to reset Outlook view to default.

1. You should close Outlook if it’s open.
2. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
3. Now, enter the following command: outlook.exe /safe
4. Click on the Enter button or click OK.
5. Outlook will start in Safe Mode, without add-ins or custom settings.

Points to Remember:

• Your custom toolbar, ribbon changes, or layout preferences won’t appear.
• Safe Mode is only for testing. You’ll need to fix the root cause of the issue for a permanent solution.

Quick Fixes & Tricks to Backup Outlook Data File Easily

If your Outlook view issues are due to a corrupted or damaged PST file, resetting the view alone won’t help. In such cases, using the trusted recovery solution DRS Softech PST Recovery Tool can overcome the Outlook issues and manage them easily. It can repair severely corrupted PST files and restore all mailbox items, including emails, contacts, calendars, notes, and attachments, without altering the original structure.

• Recovers data from both ANSI and Unicode PST files.
• Repairs corrupted PST files that may prevent Outlook from loading views properly.
• Allows preview of recoverable items before saving.
• Supports saving in multiple formats – PST, EML, MSG, MBOX, Office 365, and more.
• Compatible with all versions of MS Outlook and Windows.

Other Situations for Using this Tool

• Outlook won’t open or crashes repeatedly.
• Inbox or folder views are blank or distorted due to PST corruption.
• ScanPST.exe fails to fix the file or shows limited recovery.

Conclusion

Now, you have several ways to reset Outlook view to default. Luckily, it’s easy to reset the view and return things to normal, whether it’s just the Inbox or all of Outlook. If the usual methods don’t work, checking for add-in issues or starting Outlook in Safe Mode can help. If the problem is caused by a corrupt PST file, the recommended utility can fix it. Just remember to save any customizations you might need later. Need more Outlook tips or facing other issues? Feel free to ask—we’ve got you covered.

Frequently Asked Questions