How to move Outlook navigation toolbar from side to bottom?

Moving the Outlook Navigation Toolbar from Side to Bottom

The Outlook navigation toolbar is a powerful feature that allows you to quickly access various options, such as the New Item, Edit Item, and Find Mailboxes. However, there are times when you may want to move the toolbar to the bottom of the window, giving you more room to work on your emails. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to move the Outlook navigation toolbar from side to bottom.

Why Move the Navigation Toolbar?

Before we dive into the solution, let’s consider why you might want to move the navigation toolbar. Some reasons include:

• Increased screen real estate: By moving the toolbar to the bottom of the window, you can have more space to work on your emails without cluttering up the top section.
• Improved keyboard navigation: With the toolbar on the bottom, you can use the keyboard to navigate and interact with Outlook more easily.
• Easier access to frequently used features: By keeping frequently used features at the top of the window, you can access them quickly and easily.

Preparation: Move the Navigation Toolbar to a Temporary Folder

Before we begin, make sure you have Outlook set up to store its configuration in a temporary folder. You can do this by:

• Right-clicking on the Outlook icon and selecting Open Folder… in the dropdown menu.
• In the Open Folder dialog box, navigate to the Config folder.
• Click on the Outlook.exe file to open it in the Outlook.config file.
• Locate the nav.toolbar element and delete it.

Moving the Navigation Toolbar to the Bottom

Now that we’ve prepared the necessary files, let’s move the navigation toolbar to the bottom of the window. To do this, follow these steps:

• Right-click on the Outlook icon and select Open Folder… in the dropdown menu.
• In the Open Folder dialog box, navigate to the HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOutlookProperties folder.
• Click on the Outlook.exe file to open it in the Outlook.config file.
• Locate the nav.toolbar element and delete it.

Adding the Navigation Toolbar to the Bottom of the Window

To add the navigation toolbar to the bottom of the window, follow these steps:

• Right-click on the Outlook icon and select Open Folder… in the dropdown menu.
• In the Open Folder dialog box, navigate to the Application Folder.
• Click on the Outlook.exe file to open it in the Outlook.config file.
• Add the following code to the nav.toolbar element:

  • `<toolbar position=" Bottom" otherproperties="…" “`json
    nav.toolbar = {
    "position": "Bottom",
    "elements": {
    "NewItem": {
    "target": "New"
    },
    "EditItem": {
    "target": "Edit"
    },
    "FindMailbox": {
    "target": "FindMailbox"
    }
    }
    }

• Replace position="Bottom" with position="Bottom".
• Replace otherproperties="..." with your own application-specific settings (e.g., property names).

Saving the Configuration

To save the changes to your Outlook configuration, follow these steps:

• Close the Outlook.config file.
• Restart Outlook.

Testing the Navigation Toolbar

After moving the navigation toolbar to the bottom of the window, test it to ensure it’s working as expected. You can do this by:

• Typing "Find Mailbox" in the Outlook search bar.
• Verifying that the "Find Mailbox" option is available in the search results.
• Using the keyboard navigation features to access frequently used features.

Conclusion

Moving the Outlook navigation toolbar from side to bottom can greatly improve your workflow and reduce clutter on your screen. By following these steps and making the necessary adjustments to your Outlook configuration, you can enjoy a more streamlined and efficient email management experience.