The “Next Message” Gap in New Outlook

In the new Outlook, automatically jumping to the next or previous email after deleting one only works in the reading pane. Open emails in a separate window? Forget it—you’re dumped back into the inbox list, adding an extra step every time.

On ultrawide monitors, this limitation is barely noticeable. But on a laptop, especially 14 inches or smaller, the reading pane feels cramped. Opening emails in separate windows is much more practical—but then the “next message” feature disappears, slowing down inbox cleanup and interrupting workflow.

This is a surprisingly basic feature, yet it’s missing. Microsoft continues to ship updates that feel half-baked for real-world users. Small tweaks like this have an outsized impact on productivity, and until they’re addressed, users are stuck juggling convenience against practicality.

Adding automatic “next message” functionality to the separate-window view would be a simple but meaningful improvement—something that could save countless clicks and frustration for everyday Outlook users.