This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
When I press delete - like in any other Microsoft tool, i mean delete the immediate text. But for some reason, Outlook started to use this key to delete e-mail. Where can I swich it off?
It´s really frustrating, I really wonder how people at Microsoft think. For example, they added annoying function where I have to first confirm editing a Word file before I start editing it (WHY?). But now I can accidentally delete an entire e-mail by a very predictable action. WHY! Just stop changing things for worse. Everytime I reinstall my windows, I need to go through the ordeal of swiching all these "bright ideas" off.
Using Classic Outlook on Windows for personal email, calendar, and contact management
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Much appreciation! One of the best, simplest, most effective assistance messages ever found.
Followed directions; it worked!
You get an A+!
Just for kicks, I'd like to know why it started deleting the entire email when it had never done it before...?
Even with restart of Outlook, it does not work.
"Del" key deletes Mail entirely (move to recyled bin), which is very problematic for me.
Version 2410 (Build 18129.20200 Klick-und-Los) monthly Enterprise-Chanel.
Hi Papoušek Vít,
Thank you for posting this case in the Microsoft Community!
To change the behavior of the delete key in Outlook, you can follow these steps:
- Open Outlook and click on the "File" tab in the top left corner.
- Click on "Options" in the left-hand menu.
- In the Outlook Options window, click on "Advanced" in the left-hand menu.
- Scroll down to the "Outlook panes" section and click on "Reading Pane".
- In the Reading Pane settings, you will see an option for "Single key reading using space bar". Uncheck this option.
- Click "OK" to save your changes.
This should change the behavior of the delete key in Outlook so that it only deletes the immediate text, rather than the entire email.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. I look forward to hearing from you.
Please note that our initial response may not always resolve the issue right away. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.
Sincerely
Microsoft Community Moderator
These steps do not work.
In Outlook (classic) for Windows, I unchecked the "Single key..." option as shown and saved
Despite doing this, I still cannot use the Delete key on my keyboard with Outlook (classic) when editing a reply being composed inside the main Outlook window. When pressing Delete, instead of it deleting the character to the right of the cursor, it deletes the entire email. I then move the email draft out from the Deleted items back to Drafts, then instead of editing the email directly from the Drafts folder I have to open the draft email in its own, separate window. The Delete key works as expected if the email is in its own window. I can't recall exactly when it started behaving like this, but I would say late May to June.
If this is a bug, it needs to be fixed. If there's an option to configure the Delete key's action, what is the option?
Windows 10 22H2
Outlook Version 2406 (Build 17726.20126 Click-to-Run Current Channel)
Thanks
It worked for me ...had to restart Outlook. Was not working before restarting Outlook.
Close Outlook and re-open. Just worked for me.
This worked for me. I had to perform Quick repair
Tried above steps and restart outlook. Cheers