An administrator had a question about disabling ribbon and toolbar buttons:
How can I disable the function "Edit Message" under Message, Actions, Other Actions?
You can disable commands using group policy or by editing the registry.
Group Policy is not limited to use by network administrators. Anyone can use it.
The policy key that is used to lock out ribbon and toolbar buttons is stored in the registry at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\xx.0\outlook\disabledcmdbaritemslist
(Replace xx with the version of Outlook: Outlook 2016 is 16; Outlook 2013 is 15; Outlook 2010 is 14; 2007 is 12.)
The Control ID value is stored in TCIDn String values, where n is the order in which the command was entered.
"TCID1"="2577" "TCID2"="1886" "TCID3"="5613"
Disable the Edit Message command
The specific key to disable Outlook 2016's Edit Message is (when it's the first command disabled):
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\DisabledCmdBarItemsList "TCID1"="5604"
Do It For Me
If you don't want to edit the registry, I have a ready-to-use registry file you can download and run. Right click on the link and choose Save target as (IE) or Save Link As (Firefox). Double click to run it and add the values to the registry.
Outlook 2016: 5604 Outlook 2013: 5604
Outlook 2010: 5604 Outlook 2007: 5604
Command IDs
An Excel workbook containing all of the Control ID's for Outlook 2016 (most will work in Outlook 2013 & 2010) is available here. If the exact command exists for other versions of Outlook, the ID will be the same in those versions as well. (Microsoft has a series of Excel workbooks containing all of the Command IDs for all Office applications. Links are here.)
Below is a list of commonly disabled features or Control IDs I've previously looked up for one reason or another.
Most of the Control IDs are the same in all versions of Outlook (that use that command). If you know the Control ID for a command in Outlook 2003, there is a very good chance it is also used for that same command in Outlook 2016.
In many cases the Control ID applies to all methods of accessing the command. For example, disabling Import/Export on Outlook's File, Open menu also disables it in File, Options, Advanced. Keyboard shortcuts will usually still work; e.g. disabling the Delete button on the ribbon and right click menu does not block the Delete key.
Unless otherwise stated, the following commands work on Outlook 2013/2016 and up. They may work with older versions when the same command exists.
If you don't know the command's Control Name, filter for the Group name in the Group/Context Menu Name column of the Control spreadsheets.
Command | Control ID |
---|---|
Archive (Clean up old items in Outlook 2016) |
1886 |
AutoArchive | 19701 |
Archive (new in Outlook 2016) Disables, does not remove from ribbon |
26308 |
Clean Up button (ThreadCompressSplitButton) |
21471 |
Clean Up Conversation (ThreadCompressThread) |
19507 |
Clean Up Folder (ThreadCompressFolder) |
19509 |
Clean up Folder & Subfolders (ThreadCompressFolderRecursive) |
19510 |
Choose Form | 1910 |
Design a Form | 5617 |
Edit Message | 5604 |
Empty Deleted Items Folder | 1671 |
Import/Export command | 2577 |
4 | |
Purge Deleted Items (IMAP accounts) | 12771 |
Recover Deleted Items | 5654 |
Rules & Alerts | 10012 |
Rules Wizard (older versions) | 721 |
Work Offline | 5613 |
Delete Folder | 2500 |
Delete | 478 |
Quick Print | 2521 |
Meeting Request Commands
The following Command IDs remove the accept as tentative options and Do not send a response from meeting requests.
Command | Control ID |
---|---|
Request Responses | 1881 |
Menu Tentative Invitation | 19992 |
Tentative Invitation Edit Response | 19993 |
Tentative Invitation Send Response | 19994 |
Tentative Invitation No Response | 19995 |
Tentative Accept Invitation | 1089 |
Do Not Send a Response | 19987 |
More Information
Office 2016 ADM download
Group Policy Administrative Template files (ADMX, ADML) and Office Customization Tool (OCT) files
Office 2016 Help Files: Office Fluent User Interface Control Identifier
Outlook 2013 ADM download:
Group Policy Administrative Template files (ADMX, ADML) and Office Customization Tool (OCT) files
Office 2013 Administrative Template files (ADMX/ADML) and Office Customization Tool
Office 2013 Help Files: Office Fluent User Interface Control Identifiers
Use Group Policy to enforce Office 2010 settings
Office 2010 Help Files: Office Fluent User Interface Control Identifiers
Outlook 98 Command bar controls list This list is old, but the IDs don't usually change between versions. In most cases, the Control ID is the same across all versions of Outlook.
Hello!
I am looking for the ID to disable the "Office Theme" General Option in Outlook 2016.
The ID is 25368 for the theme, the background is 24850
The background control can be removed using group policy too - it sets this key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\common\general]
"disablebackgrounds"=dword:00000001
On second thought... I forgot to check the options settings. :( Those values remove it from the backstage (file > account) but not from the options dialog. The policy removes the background control from options but not the theme.
I don't see a policy to remove the theme control.
do this for teams
What commands do you want to disable in Teams?
Hi Diane, I've been searching for a way to disable the Import/Export button or disable the ability to create PSTs. I've tried to create the registry key you described in your article but I can't get the Import button to be disabled. I'm using Outlook 365. Any ideas why this wouldn't work?
This key disables Import/Export
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\DisabledCmdBarItemsList]
"TCID1"="2577"
This disable pst creation
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook]
"disablepst"=dword:00000001
Restart Outlook after setting the keys.
What’s MS recommended option (best practice) to disable commands in Outlook: via GPO or Registry?
Both are registry settings :), but GPO is centrally managed, which makes it easier to apply changes to all users. Or use a logon script to load the reg file.
I guess what I meant is out of the 2 options presented above in your article where both can be deployed via GPO, which approach would be the best practice?
Thank you.
GPO is always best practice, if you are using GPOs within your company. Not all companies do, especially smaller organizations.
Do you have a command ID or suggestion to disable additional mailboxes? Want to disable this to stop bad habits within our environment, but doesn't appear to be in your spreadsheet.
"More Settings < Advanced "- want to disabled functionality on open these additional mailboxes. Only option I want users to have functional is "Add Account" via the File menu. This is Office365 desktop client.
I don't see an option in the command id list or in gpo. You can prevent users from adding additional non-default exchange accounts, but that does not apply to shared mailboxes and i don't see anything in gpo to prevent adding shared mailboxes.
Damn, thanks for looking! Can't say I've found a way either.
Hi Diane ,
I need to disable Manage Mobile Notifications from outlook backstage info menu , i tried using tcid value but this is not working.
Do we have any option to remove these button from OL account setings
( file > account settings > manage mobile notifications)
Which settings enables this button , can you help me ?
i don't see a way to disable just that option. The value the spreadsheet is not working for me either.
Hy I want to to disable quick print from menu in the outlook 2013 but registry key or policy is complete ignored. If I search internet is not possible to remove quick print from outlook menu.
I have chose ID 2521. If somebody done this please share how?
Thanks in advance
Did you put it in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Outlook\DisabledCmdBarItemsList ?
Restart Outlook?
Which suite do you use? Some policy keys won't work with the versions intended for Home use.
Hi...is there any option to enable recover deleted items in outlook 2018..I have checked folder menu but it isn't there..Kindly help if it is possible