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How to Open Multiple Outlook Windows

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› How to › How to Open Multiple Outlook Windows

Last reviewed on February 11, 2018     7 Comments

The words every administrator hates to hear: "it was always like that at my old job" came with a request from a user that when she opens Outlook, she wants several calendars open at the same time, automatically.

Yes, it is possible to have Outlook open multiple windows when it loads.

Open the Outlook windows you need and arrange them to your liking then always close Outlook using File, Exit (from the "default" Outlook window). All of the windows will close at once and Outlook restores them the next time you use it.

Always close the "default" Outlook window using File, Exit (to close all windows at once) or when using the X if you want all of the windows to load next time. (The default window is the window the Outlook shortcut opened, not one of the windows you opened.) If you close the windows you opened first, Outlook won't reopen them.

Always Open Selected Calendars

A popular request is the ability for Outlook to remember what calendars were selected when you last used Outlook and to reselect them at startup.

If you use Outlook 2003 want to open the Calendar module with the same calendars checked each time you'll need to use a Windows macro or scripting utility such as AutoIt to automatically enter the required keystrokes the open these other calendars. Utilities should not be needed for Outlook 2007 and up; selected calendars should be selected until you deselect them.

Outlook 2007 and up should remember the selected Calendars, although it seems to only work when you “start in” the Inbox or non-calendar folder.

If the calendar module opens at start, only the default calendar is selected. This includes using the Start in [folder] option or closing Outlook with a second window open to the calendar module. Using Open in new window command will also display just one calendar.

If you want to open to the calendar module and remember which calendars were selected, Public Calendar Choice (freeware) remembers selected calendars and reselects them for Outlook 2003 and 2007.

How to Open Multiple Outlook Windows was last modified: February 11th, 2018 by Diane Poremsky

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About Diane Poremsky

A Microsoft Outlook Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 1999, Diane is the author of several books, including Outlook 2013 Absolute Beginners Book. She also created video training CDs and online training classes for Microsoft Outlook. You can find her helping people online in Outlook Forums as well as in the Microsoft Answers and TechNet forums.

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Dave (@guest_210557)
March 8, 2018 4:50 pm
#210557

Hi Diane, Using Outlook 2016 - File Exit does work, but when I reopen Outlook all the Outlook windows open on 1 monitor. Is there a way with multiple monitors for it to retain the locations of 3 folders like Inbox, Sent, and Calendar on 3 different monitors?

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Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  Dave
March 8, 2018 6:27 pm
#210558

as far as I know, its not possible to remember the screens. Not sure if this will change in future versions.

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phxphun (@guest_188540)
January 7, 2015 9:55 am
#188540

This isn't working for me using Outlook 2013. When I configure one mail window and one calendar window, then close Outlook with File>Exit, the next time I open Outlook only the mail window opens.

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phxphun (@guest_189043)
Reply to  phxphun
February 4, 2015 9:45 am
#189043

I see now that I misunderstood the procedure above. It wasn't intended to open multiple Outlook windows.

Is there any way to have Outlook 2013 automatically open both a mail window and a calendar window upon starting Outlook?

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Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  phxphun
February 4, 2015 11:33 am
#189049

Hmm... my reply to your earlier comment was lost when I had to restore comments. :( The method you used to close Outlook should have opened both windows. Try using the X button and close the default window (usually Mail) first - it worked here.

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Leeor (@guest_209272)
Reply to  Diane Poremsky
November 13, 2017 1:34 am
#209272

Hi there, Diane & Co.

Solution to OP's problem (had it too on my end) ---
DO NOT:
Open the 2nd Outlook window by right-clicking the Outlook shortcut on the Windows Taskbar or Start Menu ...Which leads you to -> Outlook 2013 -> which opens another Mail window, which you can then switch to a Calendar (...or Contacts, etc.)

Instead, DO:
The feature Diane mentioned worked for me when I opened the 2nd Outlook window by Right-clicking the Calendar (...or Contacts, etc.) within Outlook's Navigation Pane, just under where you see the list of Mail Folders, on the very bottom-left of your Mail window.

Thanks for all the great tips, Diane!

Leeor

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Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  phxphun
February 4, 2015 11:39 am
#189050

I think I know what you did - you used File, Exit on one of the Windows you opened. Try using File, Exit from the Outlook window that opened when you clicked the short cut. The order you close the windows really does matter.

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