Delete & Move To Tabs Moved!

Steven G 0 Reputation points
2026-11-02T22:44:14.3333333+00:00

This is about Hotmail.com/Outlook.com, internet email.

Why did they move the Reply, Delete and Move To tabs to the center of the read and compose screens? They used to be on the left side, and I've gotten so used to them there. But now, Report Phishing and Report Junk are on the left, with the other tabs shifted to the right! Why do they do this? You use Reply, Delete and Move To a heck of a lot more than Phishing and Report Junk. But it doesn't matter. Why not keep the commands where they were? It's not like this is an improvement. What part of "If it aint broke, don't fix it" do they not understand?

At least give us a choice what tabs we want, and where we want them.

Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Email
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  1. AI answer

    2026-11-02T22:45:00.59+00:00

    You can restore a more useful arrangement in Outlook.com by selecting and reordering the commands under Settings → Mail → Customize actions.^1^

    Change the buttons and their order

    1. In Outlook.com, select Settings (the gear icon).
    2. Select Mail → Customize actions.
    3. Review each relevant section:
      • Message list
      • Reading pane or the actions shown while reading a message
      • Toolbar shown while composing
    4. Clear actions you do not want prominently displayed, such as Report junk/phishing, if Outlook permits them to be cleared in that section.
    5. Select Reply, Delete, Move to, and any other frequently used actions in the order you want them displayed.
      • If they are already selected, clear them first and then select them again in the desired order.
      • The preview should update as you select them.
    6. Select Save.

    Microsoft documents that actions can be added, removed, and ordered by selecting them in a different sequence. The Report Abuse feature is also being rolled out, so its presence or appearance may differ between accounts.^1^

    The available documentation does not state why Microsoft changed the default placement. It does, however, provide customization of the visible actions and their order. If Customize actions does not retain the selected order, use Help on the Outlook.com menu bar, enter the issue, and—if self-help does not resolve it—scroll to Still need help? and select Yes.^1^

    References

    1. Customize actions on your messages in Outlook.com | Microsoft Support
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  2. Kai-H 30,315 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-11-04T11:15:04.2266667+00:00

    Hi, Steven G

    I get it. When a button you've clicked a thousand times suddenly moves, it really throws you off. Unfortunately, these layout changes happen on Microsoft's side, so we can't put things back exactly how they were. There are some easy ways around it, though.

    Instead of using the buttons inside the message, try the ribbon bar at the very top of the page. Click the three dots (...) at the right end of the ribbon and choose Customize. Then pin Delete, Reply and Move to so they stay in place. If you'd rather see every button at once, click the small arrow at the right end of the ribbon and change the layout to Classic ribbon.

    Keyboard shortcuts also skip the buttons completely. Press the Delete key to delete, Ctrl+R to reply and Ctrl+Shift+V to move a message to a folder. You can also right-click a message in your inbox to get these same options, or just drag it onto a folder on the left.

    If you always move emails to the same folder, set up a Quick step from the Home tab. It lets you move a message in one click.

    Finally, I'd send this straight to the Outlook team through Help > Feedback inside Outlook.com. Asking for a choice of where your buttons go is fair, and they do read those requests.

    Hope this makes it a little easier.

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