When you arrange messages by conversation, messages that share the same subject appear together in the message list, even if the messages are contained in different folders. The messages within each conversation are sorted with the newest message on top. When a new message is received, the entire conversation moves to the top of your message list.
Icon for a collapsed conversation
Icon for an expanded conversation
Conversation heading
Icon for unread message
Do any of the following:
 | Read messages that are part of a conversation |
When you click on a conversation header in the message list, the conversation index shows in the reading pane. The conversation index shows one line for each message in the conversation, with each line displaying the message sender and the first few words from the message body.
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At the bottom of the
navigation paneThe left pane of the main Outlook
window. In Mail view, the navigation pane displays the folder list. In Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, and Notes views, the navigation pane lets you show and hide items from your category list., click Mail 
.
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Do any of the following:
To | Do this |
|---|
Expand or collapse a conversation in the message list | Click Expand  or Collapse  next to the conversation heading. |
Show the conversation index in the reading pane | In the message list, click the conversation heading. |
Read a single message from the conversation | In the message list or in the conversation index, click the message. |
Return to the conversation index in the reading pane | In the reading pane, at the top of the message, click the Conversation  icon. |
 | Notes |
| |
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To set preferences for how conversations are displayed in the message list, on the Outlook menu, click Preferences, and then under E-mail  , click Reading. Under Conversations, select the preferences that you want.
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Messages in the Junk Mail and Deleted Items folders are not included in conversations.
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| Turn off viewing by conversation |
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At the bottom of the
navigation paneThe left pane of the main Outlook
window. In Mail view, the navigation pane displays the folder list. In Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, and Notes views, the navigation pane lets you show and hide items from your category list., click Mail .
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On the Organize tab, click Conversations.
 | Tip To set preferences for how conversations are displayed in the message list, on the Outlook menu, click Preferences, and then under E-mail , click Reading. Under Conversations, select the preferences that you want. |
