Task Details Pane in New Outlook Now Collapsed — Any Way to Keep It Open?

As of April 13, 2026, the feature seemed to be added back, but has since been removed (1 hour later).

Hi @TM, 

Good day, and I appreciate the way you clearly presented your concern.  

From your description, after a recent update, the task details pane in New Outlook is now collapsed by default, and you are required to click the ⓘ icon each time you switch between tasks in order to view task details such as steps, due dates, reminders, and notes. 

This change is the result of a deliberate design update that Microsoft introduced as part of an ongoing effort to unify the Outlook experience across all platforms and devices. As of today, New Outlook does not offer a built-in setting to pin or keep the task details pane permanently open when navigating between tasks. We genuinely appreciate your patience as we continue working to improve the experience for all of our users. 

Belows are some workarounds available that may better suit your workflow: 

1/ Use the Standalone Microsoft To Do App 

Because New Outlook's task experience is fully powered by Microsoft To Do, all of your existing tasks, including steps, due dates, reminders, and notes, are already synced to the To Do app. The standalone version of Microsoft To Do offers a more consistent details panel experience when navigating between tasks, which is closer to the behavior you were previously used to in Outlook. 

To get started, please follow the steps below. 

• Open the Start Menu on your Windows device and search for Microsoft To Do. If the app is not already installed, you may download it directly from the Microsoft Store at no additional cost. 
• Sign in using the same Microsoft account that you use in Outlook. Your tasks will appear automatically without any additional setup required. 
• Click on any task from the list on the left, and the full details panel will open on the right side of the screen, where it will remain as you continue switching between tasks. 
• For further guidance on setting up and using Microsoft To Do, please refer to the official Microsoft support article here: Set up Microsoft To Do - Microsoft Support 

2/ Use classic Outlook alongside new Outlook when you need a continuously visible To Do Bar style layout  

• Set up and use new Outlook and classic Outlook side by side so you can switch depending on your task workflow. 
• In classic Outlook, enable the To Do Bar from View, then To Do Bar, and select Tasks so tasks remain visible in a right side pane.  Reference: Customize the To Do Bar in classic Outlook  
• If you want guidance on creating and viewing tasks using the To Do Bar in classic Outlook, follow the task creation and viewing steps in the article below.  Reference: Create and view tasks with To-Do Bar in classic Outlook - Microsoft Support 

Alternatively, as a forum moderator, I hope you understand that I don’t have the ability to modify or escalate product issues directly. The "New Outlook" is still very much a work in progress, and Microsoft frequently adds back legacy features based on user feedback. However, I strongly recommend submitting your feedback through the Outlook (new) · Community.This is the most effective way to ensure your voice reaches the product team and can be considered about how company-only contacts are handled in search results, with potential improvements being considered  for future improvements.       

You've clearly identified a real-world challenge, and your suggestion reflects a deep understanding of user needs - feedback like yours is truly valuable and helps shape the future of Microsoft team.    

Once you’ve submitted your feedback, feel free to share the link here. I’d be happy to upvote it to help increase its visibility.  Moreover, if you are unable to submit feedback, please inform me at your convenience. In that case, I will gladly assist by submitting it on your behalf to ensure your request is properly captured.          

Additionally, as other users have raised similar concerns and may not be aware of where to share their feedback, I hope this response helps clarify the situation and suggests a potential next step. Highlighting this information can make it more visible to others in the community who may be facing the same issue, making it easier for them to find guidance and contribute their feedback as well.    

Thank you again for your time and for raising this important usability concern. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.    

Wishing you a smooth rest of your day.

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