How to stop delete key from deleting the entire email in outlook?

Anonymous
2024-02-18T13:18:35+00:00

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.

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For home

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-05-15T14:58:25+00:00

    Same for me. This is so frustrating, the only workaround I've found is to open the email in a new window. Ugh! Please provide a fix ASAP!

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-07-02T11:38:37+00:00

    Is there a solution to this problem, or is it just one of those problems we have to live with because no ones cares about fixing it?

    Disabling "Single key reading using space bar" doesn't help.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-10-31T13:49:59+00:00

    Hello all - I believe I fixed it (albeit temporarily). I tried the "single key reading using space bar" suggestion and it did not work.

    I just closed down Outlook and opened it again and it seemed to solve it.

    I know it's a pretty rudimentary solution, but it worked for me

    Good luck!

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-07-24T10:32:58+00:00

    This fix is not a fix. I have tried it and the problem persists.

    All I want to do is delete something from a reply to an email that I am composing in the reading pane. I do not wish to delete the email that I am replying to. But if I press delete, that is what happens. It is insanely irritating and totally unnecessary. I mean, when does *anyone* want to delete an email they are halfway through replying to?!

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-07-12T15:41:11+00:00

    POSSIBLE SOLUTION (worked for me)

    Since I could not reproduce the delete key issue on a 2nd computer (delete key correctly deleted characters instead of deleting the email), it occurred to me that my affected computer's keyboard is a Microsoft Bluetooth keyboard. I considered replacing batteries (only 6mo old), but before that I took a spare USB keyboard and plugged it in. The USB keyboard's delete key worked correctly, and before I unplugged it, I confirmed the Bluetooth keyboard's delete key started to work correctly as well. I disconnected the USB keyboard and, without replacing the batteries, the Bluetooth keyboard has been functioning correctly for 2 days.

    Try this:

    • Do you have another computer to test on, and if so can you reproduce the issue on another computer?
    • Do you have another keyboard (USB) to try? Plug it in to see if it can reproduce the issue. If no other keyboard, try unplugging/replugging it, or unpairing/pairing it (and reseating the USB dongle if you use that too).
    • If your keyboard is wireless, try changing the batteries
    • If your keyboard is Bluetooth, try deleting and pairing it. If wireless via a USB dongle, try reseating the USB dongle

    I hope these suggestions help

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