How to print only the latest reply in an email thread in Outlook?

Author Kelly Last modified 2025-05-09

When emailing back and forth in Outlook, such as during a contract negotiation, you may only need to print the final reply for your records. However, Outlook typically prints the entire conversation history, including all previous replies and the original message. If you want to print only the most recent reply without the clutter of earlier messages, this guide shows you two effective methods:

Method 1: Print Only the Latest Reply in an Email Thread (Manual & Tedious)

Method 2: Print Only the Latest Reply Easily with Kutools for Outlook (Smart & Effortless) 👍

Method 1: Print Only the Latest Reply in an Email Thread

Follow these steps to delete the earlier replies and print only the most recent response:

1. In Mail view, double-click the email to open it in a new window.

2. Go to Message > Actions > Edit Message.

steps on printing only the latest reply in an email thread in Outlook

3. Once in edit mode, place your cursor at the end of the latest reply. Press Ctrl + Shift + End to select all content below (the previous replies and original message), then press Delete.

steps on printing only the latest reply in an email thread in Outlook

4. Now only the latest reply remains. Go to File > Print, select your printer, and click Print.

5. Close the email without saving changes, so the original thread remains intact.

📌 Result: You get a printed copy of the latest reply only, but it requires careful manual deletion of all previous content and poses a risk of altering or losing parts of the original email.

⚠️ Limitations of the Manual Method:

❌ Time-consuming: Requires manual edits each time.
❌ Risk of data loss: May accidentally delete original message content.
❌ Low efficiency: Slower for daily or repetitive use.

✉️ Reply with Only the Text You Need!

Tired of cluttered replies in long email threads? With the Reply Selection feature in Kutools for Outlook, you can quote only the selected portion of an email in your reply, keeping your response clear, relevant, and concise.

💡 Tip: Highlight the text you want in the message window, then click Kutools > Reply Selection to create a reply with just that content!

🌿 Try Kutools for Outlook – FREE!

Method 2: Print Only the Latest Reply Easily with Kutools for Outlook 👍

If you use Kutools for Outlook, printing only the latest reply becomes instant and effortless—no editing, no formatting, just a single click to print exactly what you want. It’s the fastest way to keep your records clean, focused, and professional.

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1. In the Reading Pane, select the content of the latest reply in the email. Click Kutools Plus > Print Selection.

shot of the Print Selection feature

2. In the Print Selection dialog, specify the print content, and click Print.

shot of the Print Selection dialog

💡 Tip:

To print both the message header and the selection, check the Item header option and the Item body option.
To print only the selected text, check the Item body option only.

3. In the Print dialog box, please specify a printer, and click the Print button

shot of the Print dialog box

📌 Result: You get a clean, accurate printout of the latest reply with zero risk to the original message—achieved in just a few clicks, with full control over what to include (e.g., headers or body only).

🌟 Advantages of the Kutools for Outlook Method:

✅ No editing required: Keep your emails untouched.
✅ Quick and selective: Print exactly what you need.
✅ User-friendly: Ideal for frequent or high-volume email handling.
✅ Professional results: Clean printouts without clutter.

Note: To apply the Print Selection utility of Kutools for Outlook, firstly, you should download and install Kutools for Outlook.

Which Method Should You Use?

Here’s a comparison to help you decide:

Method	Best For	Ease of Use	Efficiency	Impact on Original Email
Manual Edit	Occasional use without add-ins	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⚠️ Risk of altering or deleting content
Kutools Print Selection	Busy users who need fast, accurate results	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Original email remains 100% intact

Conclusion: For quick, precise, and professional printing of only the latest reply, Kutools for Outlook is the superior choice. The manual method works if you don't use add-ins—but comes with more effort and risk.

Demo: Print only the latest reply in an email thread with Kutools for Outlook

Discover the Kutools / Kutools Plus tab in this video, added by Kutools for Outlook. Now, most features, including AI functionalities, are free! Pro features come with a 30-day trial without limitations!

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