Outlook 365 delete key on keyboard deletes message rather than text when using Preview Pane feature

Anonymous

Recently, when I am drafting an email from the preview pane, if I hit the delete key on my keyboard as I am typing, it will delete the entire message rather than the text I wish to delete. If you hit delete multiple times (as you would if you need to delete a few words) before you realize it the first delete button press deletes your current draft email, puts you back in your inbox. Each subsequent delete key press deletes emails from your inbox before you realize what is going on.

Only mitigation is to pop out the draft email and the delete keyboard function works as designed.

Is there a setting that was added recently for the above use case? This is horrible and pretty much negates the purpose of using the preview pane in Outlook as it was designed.

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Anonymous

The Outlook Team had a bug with this issue previously. It was fixed in version 16.0.13001.10000. What version is your Outlook (File, Office Account, under About Outlook)?

If you have a version higher than above it should be fixed. Its possible there is a new issue though if you are still seeing it. In case you have the option to open a ticket click Help, Contact Support. Not everyone has that but please check if you do.

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62 additional answers

Anonymous

2020-08-19T16:00:10+00:00
This issue has been on and off for me. Usually it happens when I fat-finger some combination of keys and it appears to activate this bug. I have no idea what the keys are.
1. The issue only happens when replying in-line with the reading pane active and using the delete key to delete text.
2. Text can either be highlighted, or in front of the cursor.
3. Potential fixes:
  
  Restart Outlook
  
  Restart computer
  
  Go to File > Options > Mail > Outlook Panes > Reading Pane... > ensure "Single key reading using space bar" is unchecked.
  
  Close Outlook and re-open in Safe Mode by holding Ctr and opening the application
  
  Clear Outlook profile and build a new one
  
  Reinstall Office
It would be great if this bug could be fixed completely. If there is a shortcut that somehow activates this bug or 'feature' it should be well documented and either turned OFF or a notification pops up advising the user how to turn it off. Issues for me seems to have been resolved with performing steps 1, 3, and 4 above.
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Anonymous

2020-08-19T16:32:48+00:00

Sam,

That is an intriguing aspect to investigate. The shortcuts are listed here, https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/keyboard-shortcuts-for-outlook-3cdeb221-7ae5-4c1d-8c1d-9e63216c1efd. If you search the page for Delete there are a few different options. I'll also try testing these and see if I can repro. If you isolate it further please share your findings. If I get any progress I'll post back.
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Anonymous

2020-08-19T16:56:29+00:00

Hello,

The update from 13029.20308 to 13029.20344 seems to have solved the issue on my side. No problem in the past 5 days. Thanks!

Daniel
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Anonymous

2020-08-27T20:41:05+00:00

In my experience, it doesn't matter if you select text or just try to delete to right of the cursor. You can backspace in text, but if you try to 'Delete', the message is deleted. This is really a pain and dangerous for deleting important emails accidentally.
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