How To Get Rid Of The Side Bar In Outlook – Outlook Sidebar Hide Settings

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That vertical bar on the right side of Outlook is taking up valuable screen space. If you are wondering how to get rid of the side bar in outlook, you are not alone—many users find this panel distracting and unnecessary.

Outlook’s sidebar, often called the “To-Do Bar” or “Folder Pane,” can clutter your view. Removing it is simple, and this guide covers every method for Outlook 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365.

Let’s jump straight into the steps.

Understanding The Side Bar In Outlook

The sidebar in Outlook typically shows your calendar, tasks, or people. It appears on the right side by default, but you can turn it off.

Different versions of Outlook call this panel different names. In older versions, it’s the “To-Do Bar.” In newer ones, it might be the “Calendar” or “People” pane.

Knowing which version you have helps you follow the right steps.

How To Get Rid Of The Side Bar In Outlook

Here is the most direct method. This works for Outlook 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365.

  1. Open Outlook.
  2. Click on the View tab at the top.
  3. Look for the Layout group.
  4. Uncheck the box labeled To-Do Bar.
  5. If you see options like Calendar, People, or Tasks, uncheck those too.

That’s it. The sidebar should disappear instantly.

If you still see a narrow bar on the right, you might have the Folder Pane enabled. We cover that next.

Removing The Folder Pane (Left Side Bar)

Some users confuse the right sidebar with the left folder pane. The folder pane shows your mail folders like Inbox and Sent Items.

To remove the folder pane:

  1. Go to the View tab.
  2. Click Folder Pane in the Layout group.
  3. Select Off.

This hides the left panel. You can also choose Minimized to keep it small.

Disabling The Calendar Or People Side Bar

In newer versions of Outlook, the sidebar might show your calendar or contacts. Here’s how to turn those off.

Turn Off The Calendar Side Bar

  1. Click the View tab.
  2. In the Layout group, click Calendar.
  3. Uncheck Calendar from the dropdown.

Turn Off The People Side Bar

  1. Click the View tab.
  2. Click People in the Layout group.
  3. Uncheck People.

These steps remove the specific panels. If you want to remove all sidebars, uncheck every option in the Layout group.

Using The Minimized View

Sometimes you don’t want to remove the sidebar entirely. You just want it out of the way.

Outlook offers a “Minimized” view for the To-Do Bar. This shrinks the panel to a thin strip.

  1. Go to View > To-Do Bar.
  2. Select Minimized.

The sidebar collapses to a narrow bar on the right. Hover over it to expand temporarily.

This is a good compromise if you need quick access to your calendar or tasks.

How To Get Rid Of The Side Bar In Outlook For Mac

Outlook for Mac has a different interface. The sidebar is called the “Folder Pane” or “Navigation Pane.”

  1. Open Outlook for Mac.
  2. Click View in the top menu bar.
  3. Uncheck Folder Pane.

You can also hide the To-Do Bar on Mac:

  1. Click View.
  2. Uncheck To-Do Bar.

If you want to remove the reading pane (the preview of an email), go to View > Reading Pane and select Off.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts can speed up the process. Here are the most useful ones for hiding sidebars.

  • Alt + F1 – Toggle the Folder Pane on/off.
  • Alt + Ctrl + S – Toggle the To-Do Bar.
  • Ctrl + Shift + I – Switch to Inbox (sometimes resets the view).

These shortcuts work in Outlook for Windows. Mac users can check the View menu for shortcut hints.

Resetting The Outlook View

If you accidentally removed the wrong panel, you can reset the view.

  1. Go to View > Reset View.
  2. Click Yes to confirm.

This restores the default layout. You can then remove only the sidebar you want.

Common Issues And Fixes

Sometimes the sidebar won’t go away. Here are common problems and solutions.

Sidebar Still Shows After Unchecking

Try restarting Outlook. If that doesn’t work, check for updates.

  • Go to File > Office Account > Update Options.
  • Install any pending updates.

Sidebar Reappears After Restart

This can happen if your Outlook profile is corrupted. Create a new profile:

  1. Go to Control Panel > Mail.
  2. Click Show Profiles.
  3. Add a new profile and set it as default.

To-Do Bar Option Is Grayed Out

This usually means you are in a view that doesn’t support the To-Do Bar. Switch to a different view:

  • Click View > Change View > Compact.
  • Then try unchecking the To-Do Bar again.

Using Registry Editor (Advanced)

For persistent issues, you can edit the Windows Registry. This is for advanced users only.

Warning: Incorrect registry edits can break Outlook. Back up your registry first.

  1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences
  3. Find ToDoBarVisible and set its value to 0.
  4. Restart Outlook.

If the key doesn’t exist, create it as a DWORD (32-bit) value.

How To Get Rid Of The Side Bar In Outlook Web App

Outlook on the web (OWA) also has a sidebar. It shows your calendar, tasks, and apps.

  1. Log in to Outlook on the web.
  2. Click the Settings gear icon (top right).
  3. Select View all Outlook settings.
  4. Go to Layout.
  5. Under Reading pane, choose Hide.
  6. Under Folder pane, choose Off.

You can also collapse the sidebar by clicking the three dots at the top of the panel and selecting Collapse.

Using Add-Ins To Manage Sidebars

Third-party add-ins can give you more control over Outlook’s layout. Some popular ones include:

  • OutlookTools – Allows custom view settings.
  • VBOUT – Adds keyboard shortcuts for hiding panels.

Be cautious with add-ins. Only install from trusted sources.

Customizing The Quick Access Toolbar

If you frequently hide and show the sidebar, add a button to the Quick Access Toolbar.

  1. Right-click the To-Do Bar option in the View tab.
  2. Select Add to Quick Access Toolbar.

Now you can toggle the sidebar with one click.

Why You Might Want To Keep The Side Bar

The sidebar isn’t all bad. It shows your upcoming appointments and tasks at a glance.

If you remove it, you lose that quick view. Consider using the minimized option instead.

Some users prefer to keep the calendar sidebar but hide the tasks. You can mix and match.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Remove The Right Sidebar In Outlook Permanently?

Uncheck the To-Do Bar from the View tab. If it reappears, check for updates or create a new profile.

Can I Hide The Sidebar In Outlook Without Losing My Calendar?

Yes. Use the minimized view for the To-Do Bar. Your calendar stays accessible when you hover over the thin bar.

Why Is My Outlook Sidebar Not Going Away?

Try restarting Outlook. If that fails, check for grayed-out options or update your Office version.

How To Get Rid Of The Sidebar In Outlook 365?

Go to View > Layout > uncheck To-Do Bar, Calendar, and People. For the left pane, go to View > Folder Pane > Off.

Is There A Shortcut To Hide The Sidebar In Outlook?

Yes. Use Alt + F1 for the Folder Pane and Alt + Ctrl + S for the To-Do Bar.

Final Tips For A Clean Outlook Layout

Removing the sidebar is just one step. You can also hide the reading pane and simplify the ribbon.

  • Go to View > Reading Pane > Off.
  • Right-click the ribbon and select Collapse the Ribbon.

These changes give you maximum screen space for your emails.

Remember, you can always bring back the sidebar if you miss it. Just recheck the options in the View tab.

Now you know exactly how to get rid of the side bar in outlook. Try these steps and reclaim your screen real estate today.