How to Keep the Folder Pane Expanded in Outlook [3 Ways]

Outlook’s Folder Pane on the left of its window displays all your folders in its expanded view. Users can also minimize that pane so it doesn’t display folders.

When users expand that Folder Pane again from the minimized view, however, it doesn’t stay expanded when users click outside it. Thus, some users might wonder how they can get the expanded Folder Pane view to stick after minimizing it.

How do I keep Outlook’s Folder Pane expanded?

1. Adjust the Folder Pane setting

1. You can restore the default expanded Folder Pane by adjusting the Folder Pane setting. To do that, select the View tab.
2. Press the Folder Pane button shown directly below.
3. Then select the Normal option.

2. Click the pin button

Alternatively, users can click a pushpin button at the top right of the Folder Pane. Expand the minimized Folder Pane by clicking the arrow button (>) at the top of it.

Then click the pushpin button in the snapshot directly below. Thereafter, the Folder Pane will remain expanded when you click out it.

3. Set up a VBA macro that automatically expands folders when Outlook starts

1. To ensure all folders in the Folder Pane are fully expanded when you open Outlook, set up a VBA macro that opens all collapsed folders when the application starts. Open Outlook’s Visual Basic for Applications window with the Alt + F11 hotkey.
2. Click Project1 on the left of the window.
3. Expand Microsoft Outlook Objects and double-click ThisOutlookSession to open a code window.
   
4. Select and copy this VBA code with the Ctrl + C hotkey:
   Private Sub Application_Startup()
   ExpandAllFolders
   End SubPrivate Sub ExpandAllFolders()
   On Error Resume Next
   Dim Ns As Outlook.NameSpace
   Dim Folders As Outlook.Folders
   Dim CurrF As Outlook.MAPIFolder
   Dim F As Outlook.MAPIFolder
   Dim ExpandDefaultStoreOnly As BooleanExpandDefaultStoreOnly = FalseSet Ns = Application.GetNamespace(“Mapi”)
   Set CurrF = Application.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolderIf ExpandDefaultStoreOnly = True Then
   Set F = Ns.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox)
   Set F = F.Parent
   Set Folders = F.Folders
   LoopFolders Folders, True

    

   Else
   LoopFolders Ns.Folders, True
   End If

   DoEvents
   Set Application.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder = CurrF
   End Sub

   Private Sub LoopFolders(Folders As Outlook.Folders, _
   ByVal bRecursive As Boolean _
   )
   Dim F As Outlook.MAPIFolder

   For Each F In Folders
   Set Application.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder = F
   DoEvents

   If bRecursive Then
   If F.Folders.Count Then
   LoopFolders F.Folders, bRecursive
   End If
   End If
   Next
   End Sub

5. Paste that macro into the code window with the Ctrl + V hotkey.
6. Click File and save the macro. Thereafter, the macro will automatically open collapsed folders in the Folder Pane when you launch Outlook.

So, that’s how you can keep the Folder Pane expanded in Outlook. The VBA macro will also ensure that the Folder Pane’s folders are fully expanded when you start Outlook.

Speaking of UI elements, we have a great guide on what to do if Outlook bar has moved to left.

If you have other questions or suggestions, reach for the comment section below.