Calendar Problems

How to Show Only 6 AM to 6 PM in Outlook Calendar

Phi Hung Vo Sep 25, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to customize the Outlook daily calendar view to only display working hours from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM instead of the default 24-hour view.

How to Show Only 6 AM to 6 PM in Outlook Calendar

Product: Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing daily schedules and limiting the visible calendar view to specific working hours.
Observed behavior: The default Outlook daily calendar view displays all 24 hours, making it cluttered for users with fixed working hours.

Before you start

Ensure you have the Microsoft Outlook desktop client open and are logged into your primary email account.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Work Hours in Outlook Calendar Options

Modify the default calendar settings to define your specific workday start and end times.

By default, Outlook displays a 24-hour day in the calendar view. While you cannot completely remove the hours outside your shift from the scrollable view, you can set your specific work hours. This will highlight your 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM schedule and shade the non-working hours, making it much easier to focus on your active workday.

Open Outlook Options

Launch the Outlook desktop application. Click on 'File' in the top left corner of the screen, then select 'Options' located at the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to Calendar Settings

In the Outlook Options dialog box, click on 'Calendar' in the left-hand navigation pane to access your calendar preferences.

Set Work Hours

Under the 'Work time' section, locate the 'Start time' and select '6:00 AM' from the drop-down menu. Next, locate the 'End time' and select '6:00 PM'.

Save Changes

Click 'OK' at the bottom of the dialog box to save your settings. Return to your calendar view to ensure the 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM timeframe is now highlighted as your active workday.

Adjust Work Hours in Outlook Calendar Options

Note on 24-Hour View: Outlook compresses or shades the hours outside your defined workday, but they remain accessible if you scroll. Setting the work hours simply highlights your active schedule.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I completely hide the hours outside of my working hours in Outlook?

Outlook does not completely hide the hours outside your defined workday in the daily view. It compresses or grays them out, but they are still accessible if you scroll up or down. Setting the work hours highlights your active schedule rather than deleting the other hours.

Why did my Outlook calendar work hours reset to default?

Your work hours might reset if your organization's IT administrator enforces specific calendar policies via Microsoft Exchange, or if you recently re-added your email account or repaired the Outlook client.

How do I change work days in addition to work hours?

In the same 'File > Options > Calendar' menu under the 'Work time' section, you can check or uncheck the boxes next to the days of the week to define which days are part of your standard workweek.

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