How to get back the Message tab?

Hi @Robert Sergio Simon,

Thank you for reaching out. I understand that the Message tab is missing from the ribbon when composing a new email in new Outlook. To help us narrow down whether this is related to the Outlook view, compose mode, or local app cache, please confirm the following:

• How are you composing the email?
  • Are you composing the message inline within the reading pane?
  • Or are you composing the message in a pop-out / separate window?
• Have you tried Outlook on the web? Please test by signing in to Outlook on the web and creating a new email: https://outlook.office.com
• Please capture the top ribbon area while you are composing a new email, especially where tabs such as Home, Message, Insert, Format text, or Options would normally appear.

In the meantime, please try the following workarounds:

Step 1: Use Outlook on the web

Please try composing the email in Outlook on the web to check whether the Message tab appears there. This will help confirm whether the issue is specific to the new Outlook desktop app.

Step 2: Compose the email in a pop-out window

In new Outlook, start a new email and choose Pop out / Open in new window. The ribbon can appear differently between inline compose and a separate compose window, so this may restore the expected ribbon options.

Step 3: Clear the New Outlook cache 

• Close the new Outlook app.   
• Open the Run dialog by pressing the Windows + R keys together.   
• Type or paste the following command in the Run box and click OK: olk.exe --devtools   
• Be sure to include a space before the two dashes if typing the command manually.   

• The new Outlook will open (you may be prompted to sign in), and the DevTools window will also appear.   
• In the DevTools window, click the Application button on the toolbar.   
• Clear local storage cache. In the left pane, under the Storage section, find the https://outlook.office.com link under Local Storage. Right-click on this link and select Clear.   

• Clear cookies. Still in the left pane, locate the https://outlook.office.com link under Cookies, right-click on it and select Clear.   

• Close the DevTools window.   

To better understand, please clarify whether the Message tab you are referring to is the tab when you compose a message or the message list in your inbox.

With this information, I'll be able to provide you with more accurate solutions.

I hope this information is helpful. Please follow the steps above and let me know if it works for you. If not, we can continue working together to resolve the issue.  

Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out so I can continue to support you. If you found the response useful, please consider marking it as accepted, as this may help other community members who are looking for similar guidance.  

I look forward to continuing the conversation.  

If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment". 

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In new Outlook for Windows, the classic “Message” tab is replaced by a simplified command surface and layout settings rather than a ribbon tab.

To adjust how messages appear and which commands are visible:

1. Open new Outlook.
2. Select Settings (gear icon) at the top.
3. Go to Mail > Layout.
4. From here, customize:
   • Message list format and grouping
   • Reading pane appearance
   • Focused Inbox and other layout options

If the steps under New Outlook do not match what is seen, classic Outlook may still be in use; in that case, switch to the Classic Outlook instructions in the same articles referenced below.

References:

• Change how the message list is displayed in Outlook
• Create an email message in Outlook