How to make all folders look the same in Outlook?

Author Siluvia Last modified 2025-04-14

After changing the view in a folder in Outlook, it looks differently with the other folders. If you want to make all folders look the same, you need to apply the current changed view to other folders. This tutorial will show you how to make all folders look the same in Outlook with details.

Make all folders look the same in Outlook 2010 and 2013

Make all folders look the same in Outlook 2007

Make all folders look the same in Outlook 2010 and 2013

If that’s the email folder view you have changed, please stay in this email folder and do as follows.

1. Click "View" > "View Settings" > "Apply Current View to Other Mail Folders".

the screenshot of step about making all folders look the same in outlook 2010 and 2013 1

2. In the "Apply View" dialog box, please check the folders which you want the view be applied to in the "Apply View to These Folders" box, and then click the "OK" button. See screenshot:

the screenshot of step about making all folders look the same in outlook 2010 and 2013 2

Note: check the "Apply view to subfolders" box if there are subfolders you want to make them look the same under the selected folders.

Then all folders you have selected are look with the same view.

Note: For the calendar folder, contacts folder or others, the operations are the same to make all folders look the same.

Make all folders look the same in Outlook 2007

In Outlook 2007, you should create a custom view you want firstly, and then apply this view to other folders one by one.

1. Stay in the email or other view you have changed, then click "View" > "Current View" > "Define View". See screenshot:

the screenshot of step about making all folders look the same in outlook 2007 1

2. In the "Custom View Organizer" dialog box, click the "Current view settings", and then click the "Copy" button.

the screenshot of step about making all folders look the same in outlook 2007 2

3. In the "Copy View" dialog box, name your new view in the "Name of new view" box, check the "All Mail and Post folders" option and then click the "OK" button. See screenshot:

the screenshot of step about making all folders look the same in outlook 2007 3

4. Click the "OK" button in the following "Customize View" dialog box.

the screenshot of step about making all folders look the same in outlook 2007 4

5. Then select one folder which you want to apply this new view and then go on clicking "View" > "Current View" > "Define View" to get into the "Custom View Organizer" dialog box, please select the view you have created and then click the "Apply View" button.

the screenshot of step about making all folders look the same in outlook 2007 5

6. And this custom view will be applied to your selected folder at once, you can repeat the above step 5 to apply the new view to other folders as you want.