Indentation in Outlook

Turn off conversation grouping in New Outlook to remove the threaded/indented message-list layout: Settings → Mail → Reading pane → Message organization → Do not group messages.

1. Select the Settings gear in the upper-right corner.
2. Select Mail, then Reading pane.
3. Under Message organization, find How do you want your Message List organized?
4. Select Do not group messages.
5. Close Settings. The Inbox should display each email separately rather than nested within a conversation.

If you want to keep threads but avoid branch-style nesting, choose Group messages by conversation, not Group messages by branches within conversations. Microsoft documents all three choices for New Outlook. Conversation grouping is enabled by default for most account types, and the visual indentation represents messages’ positions within a thread.^1^

This is an Outlook message-list setting, not a Windows display setting, so no further display troubleshooting should be necessary.

Was this introduced today?

Microsoft is making ongoing changes to Outlook’s message list, reading pane, and folder pane.^2^ However, Microsoft’s published New Outlook release notes do not identify a current update specifically described as adding indentation to every email thread. Therefore, the available information does not confirm that this exact appearance was introduced today.^3^

Report the layout change

If the indentation remains after selecting Do not group messages, or if you want Microsoft to restore the previous conversation layout:

1. In New Outlook, select Help → Feedback.
2. Include a screenshot with names, addresses, and message content hidden.
3. State that the Inbox message-list indentation appeared unexpectedly and that you want an option to disable it while retaining conversation grouping.
4. Select Submit.

Feedback may be unavailable when Optional connected experience is disabled or blocked by an organizational policy. When permitted, it can be enabled under Settings → General → Privacy and data → Privacy settings.^4^

References

1. View email messages by conversation in Outlook | Microsoft Support
2. Outlook User Experience Updates | Microsoft Support
3. What's new in new Outlook for Windows | Microsoft Support
4. Contact support and provide feedback in new Outlook for Windows | Microsoft Support