Computer Related > Outlook folders sidebar disappeared Miscellaneous
Thread Author: bathtub tom Replies: 9

 Outlook folders sidebar disappeared - bathtub tom
I was adding a new folder, and don't know what I did, but the whole folders sidebar disappeared.
I've spent all afternoon googling, but nothing that comes up seems to work. I wonder if I've minimised it somehow.

Any suggestions about how to restore it would be appreciated.
 Outlook folders sidebar disappeared - tyrednemotional
If it's classic Outlook

Hit "View" on the menu

On the resulting toolbar, expand "Folder Pane" by clicking

Check it is set as "Normal" (not "minimised" or "off")

(It might be similar on other Outlook versions, but I can't check that).
 Outlook folders sidebar disappeared - bathtub tom
Thanks, but I've been through all that. The whole folders sidebar has disappeared.
 Outlook folders sidebar disappeared - tyrednemotional
Unless I'm misunderstanding what you've written, that's exactly what happens when the folders pane is set to "off".
 Outlook folders sidebar disappeared - bathtub tom
That seems like what's happened, but where is the switch, it's not in the folder pane drop-down, although the drop-down does state: "show hide or change........."
 Outlook folders sidebar disappeared - tyrednemotional
Different version to mine (there are so many at the moment), but is it set to "show".

On my version it's different, but if it is already set to "show", try setting it to "hide" and then back to "show".

(or try "change" ? )
Last edited by: tyrednemotional on Fri 17 Oct 25 at 22:15
 Outlook folders sidebar disappeared - bathtub tom
It is set to "show". If I set it to "hide", the (empty) side-bar disappears and returns (still empty) when I reset it to "show".
 Outlook folders sidebar disappeared - smokie
try creating a new profile. Can't remember how to do it but it seems to fix quite a bit when Outlook goes wrong. You will need to enter your account details etc.
Last edited by: smokie on Sat 18 Oct 25 at 08:35
 Outlook folders sidebar disappeared - smokie
You might just be able to hold down Shift while starting outlook. or you might have to

On the Start menu, click the Type Here To Search field.
Enter Control Panel.
In the Best Match area, select Control Panel.
From the View By drop-down, click Large Icons.
Click Mail.
In the Profiles area, click Show Profiles.
Click Add.
In the Profile Name field, enter a name for the new profile.
Click OK.
In the Email Address field, enter the corresponding email address.
In the Password field, enter the corresponding password.
In the Retype Password field, enter the corresponding password.
Click Next.
Click Finish.
 Outlook folders sidebar disappeared - bathtub tom
FOUND IT!

Thanks all for your suggestions, but: At the top of the column where the list of folders should be is my email address. To the left of that is a tiny chevron. That toggles the list of folders and and off.

Simple, when you know how.
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