By default, messages in your Inbox are displayed by Date, but you can easily change this to view your messages by conversation, or "thread." In Conversation view, the threads are sorted by date, and then the messages within each thread are sorted based on who replied to whom. You can view the message lists in any of your folders, such as Sent Items or Drafts, this way.
If you arrange your messages in your Inbox by Conversation and you receive a new message, its associated
thread
moves to the top of your message list.
Note By default, only unread and flagged messages are displayed. Otherwise, the conversation remains collapsed until you click the arrow next to the conversation heading.
- On the View menu, point to
Arrange By, and then click Conversation.

Tip If you are viewing your Inbox in
multi-line layout, you can quickly change from one arrangement to another by right-clicking the Arranged By column heading and then clicking the arrangement you want.
A view of an Inbox displaying message threads


Click the arrow next to the conversation heading to see all messages in the conversation.

This message has no arrow. The message has no replies associated with it.

Messages are indented to show you who replied to whom, and when,
to help you track the thread.
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