How to add unread status column in Outlook?

Author Kelly Last modified 2025-04-03

Have you noticed the small envelope icons before each email message disappear from the mail list in Microsoft Outlook? That’s because the Read/Unread status column is hidden. Sometimes, the envelope icons may also disappear in Outlook by accident. Here I will show you the steps about how to add the Read/Unread status columns, and restore the small envelope icons in the mail list of Microsoft Outlook.

Mail list in Outlook

To show the Read/Unread status columns and add the small envelope icons before emails in the mail list, please do as following:

Step 1: Shift to the Mail view, and open a mail folder in the Compact view with clicking the "Change View" > "Compact" on the "View" tab (or "View > "Current View" > "Message" in Outlook 2007).

Step 2: Click the "Add Columns" button on the "View" tab.

Note: In Outlook 2007, click the "View" > "Current View" > "Customize Current View", and then click the "Filed" button in the popping up Customize View dialog box.

Step 3: In the popping Show Columns dialog box,

(1) Make sure the "Frequently-used fields" is selected in the "Select available columns from" box;

(2) Click to highlight the "Read" item (or "Icon" in Outlook 2010 and 2007) in the "Available columns" box;

(3) Click the "Add" button;

(4) Click the "OK" button to exit this dialog box.

After configuring the view settings, you will go back to the mail folder. Then the small envelope icons are added in the Mails list. See screen shot below.

the small envelope icons

Notes: To remove the Read/Unread column (or small envelopes) from the mail list in Outlook 2013, you can remove the "Read" items (or "Icon" item in Outlook 2007 and 2010) from the "Show these columns in this order": box in the "Show Columns" dialog box.

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