'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Remove the Second Message Preview Line in Outlook
Question details
The user wants to remove the extra lines of preview text displayed for each email in the Outlook inbox list.
- Product
- Microsoft Outlook
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Navigating the email inbox list after a recent Microsoft 365 interface update.
- Observed behavior
- Outlook displays two lines of text (or preview text) for each email, which takes up too much screen space and clutters the inbox view.
Determine whether you are using the Outlook desktop application or Outlook on the web, as the layout menus and preview settings differ between the two platforms.
Turn Off Message Preview in Outlook Desktop
Use the built-in view settings on the Outlook ribbon to completely disable preview lines in the classic desktop application.
By default, Outlook may show one to three lines of an email's body text in the message list. You can easily turn this off using the View tab.
Open the Outlook desktop client and click on the 'View' tab located in the top ribbon.
Locate the 'Arrangement' group and click on the 'Message Preview' button.
From the drop-down menu, click on 'Off' to remove the preview lines.
A prompt will appear asking where you want to apply this setting. Select 'All Mailboxes' to ensure the second line is removed across your entire Outlook application.
Change Layout Settings in Outlook on the Web
If you are accessing your email via a web browser, you will need to adjust the layout settings through the web interface's dedicated settings menu.
Switch from Compact to Single View
If disabling message previews doesn't fix the issue, Outlook might be forcing a two-line layout by displaying the sender and subject on separate lines via the Compact view.
Boost Your Productivity with WPS Office
While interface updates in email clients can be frustrating, your document creation workflow doesn't have to be. WPS Office offers a stable, lightweight, and completely free alternative to Microsoft Office. Enjoy a clean, familiar interface without unexpected layout changes, ensuring you can focus entirely on your work.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installer and follow the quick on-screen instructions to set up the software.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and instantly open any existing Microsoft Office files without worrying about format distortion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Outlook suddenly start showing two lines for each email?
Recent Microsoft 365 updates occasionally reset user interface preferences to default settings. This can automatically turn on message previews or switch your folder back to the 'Compact' view layout, which splits information across multiple lines.
I selected 'Hide preview text' but I still see two lines. How do I fix this?
If the preview text is hidden but you still see two lines, Outlook is likely displaying the sender on the first line and the subject on the second. To fix this, go to View > Change View and select 'Single' to place all information on one horizontal line.
Can I apply the message preview changes to all my folders at once?
Yes. When you change the Message Preview setting to 'Off' in the desktop version of Outlook, a dialog box will appear asking if you want to apply the change to 'This Folder' or 'All Mailboxes'. Selecting 'All Mailboxes' will update your entire application.
Will changing the preview settings delete my emails?
No, adjusting the message preview or layout settings only changes how the emails are displayed visually in your list. It does not delete, move, or modify the actual contents of your emails.
