Outlook Remove Date Grouping Headers: How-To
Yes, you can remove the date grouping separator headers in Outlook, but the method depends on whether you are using the new Outlook for Windows/Mac, Outlook on the web, or the classic desktop version. This article explains exactly where the setting lives in each version and what to do when the option is missing or greyed out.
Why Outlook Groups Messages by Date
Outlook’s default conversation view arranges messages in your Inbox with headers such as “Today,� “Yesterday,� “Last Week,� and “Last Month.� This is a deliberate design choice to help you quickly scan messages that arrived in the same time period. The grouping is controlled by the Arrange By setting, which is normally set to Date (with the newest message on top). When you change the arrange-by field, Outlook automatically creates group headers for that field. The date headers are not a separate toggle; they are a by-product of sorting by date.
Classic Outlook (Desktop) – Remove Date Headers
In the classic Outlook desktop app (Outlook 2016, 2019, 2021, or Microsoft 365), the date grouping headers are controlled by the Arrange By menu. To remove them, you need to change the sort order to something that is not date-based.
- Go to the View tab in the ribbon.
- Click Arrange By (in the Arrangement group).
- Select From (or any other field like Subject, Size, or Importance).
- If you still see date headers, click Arrange By again and choose Custom.
- In the Group By dialog, click Clear All to remove any grouping, then click OK.
After these steps, messages will be listed in a flat list without any separator headers. Note that the Date column still exists, but messages are no longer grouped into date bands.
New Outlook and Outlook on the Web – No Direct Toggle
The new Outlook for Windows, Outlook for Mac, and Outlook on the web (OWA) do not offer a simple “remove date headers� checkbox. In these versions, the date grouping is always applied when you sort by date, and there is no option to turn off the group headers entirely. The only workaround is to change the sort field to something other than date, but even then, the new Outlook may still show a single “Today� header at the top of the list. Microsoft has not provided a setting to disable this behavior in the new interface as of the current release.
Alternative: Use a Different Sort Field
If you are using classic Outlook and want to keep the date column but remove the headers, you can sort by another field and still see the date column. For example:
- Sort by From – groups messages by sender, but you can still see the received date in the column.
- Sort by Subject – groups by subject, useful for finding threads.
- Sort by Size – groups by message size, which can help find large attachments.
In classic Outlook, you can also use the View Settings dialog to remove grouping entirely. Right-click the column header row, choose View Settings, click Group By, and then click Clear All. This gives you a completely ungrouped list.
Common Problems and Fixes
Users often encounter the following issues when trying to remove date headers:
- “Arrange By� is greyed out – This happens when you are in a focused inbox or a search folder. Switch to a standard folder like your Inbox first.
- Date headers still appear after changing sort – In classic Outlook, make sure you clear the grouping in the Group By dialog, not just change the sort column.
- New Outlook does not have the option – As mentioned, the new Outlook and OWA do not support removing date headers. You may need to switch back to classic Outlook if this is a must-have feature.
- Headers reappear after restart – This can happen if your view is not saved. In classic Outlook, go to View > View Settings > Reset Current View to start fresh, then reapply your changes.
Comparison: Classic vs. New Outlook
The table below summarizes the differences regarding date grouping:
- Classic Outlook – Full control via Arrange By and Group By dialogs. You can completely remove date headers.
- New Outlook (Windows/Mac) – No option to disable date headers. You can only change the sort field, but a “Today� header often persists.
- Outlook on the Web – Same as new Outlook; no direct toggle for date headers.
If removing date headers is critical to your workflow, using classic Outlook is the only reliable way as of now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove date headers in Outlook on the web?
No, Outlook on the web does not have a setting to remove date grouping headers. The only workaround is to change the sort order to a different field, but you will still see a “Today� header at the top. Microsoft has not provided a toggle for this in the web version.
Why do I see “Yesterday� and “Last Week� headers even after I change the sort?
This usually happens in classic Outlook when you change the sort column but the grouping is still set to Date. You need to clear the grouping in the Group By dialog (View > Arrange By > Custom > Clear All). In new Outlook, this is not possible, and the headers will remain.
Will removing date headers affect my message order?
No, removing the headers does not change the order of messages. It only removes the visual separator lines. Messages will still be sorted by the chosen field (e.g., From, Subject) and you can still see the received date in the column.
Is there a registry hack to disable date grouping in classic Outlook?
There is no official registry setting to disable date grouping. The only supported method is to change the view settings as described above. Unofficial hacks are not recommended as they can cause instability.
Does the mobile Outlook app have this option?
No, the Outlook mobile app does not offer a setting to remove date grouping headers. The app always groups messages by date, similar to the new Outlook for desktop.
What if I just want to hide the “Today� header but keep other date headers?
There is no built-in way to selectively hide only certain date headers. You either have all headers or none (in classic Outlook). In new Outlook, you cannot hide any of them.
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