How to automatically expand all folders when starting Outlook?

Typically, when you expand or collapse a folder in Outlook's Navigation Pane and subsequently close the program, the folder retains its expanded or collapsed state upon reopening Outlook. However, what if you want all folders to be automatically expanded every time you start Outlook? This article provides a VBA solution to achieve just that.

Automatically expand all folders when starting Outlook using VBA

Automatically expand all folders when starting Outlook using VBA

This guide will demonstrate how to use a VBA script to automatically expand all folders in the Navigation Pane each time you launch Outlook. Follow these steps to implement the VBA script:

1. Press Alt + F11 keys simultaneously to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.
2. Expand the Project 1 and Microsoft Outlook Objects in the Project pane, double click to open the ThisOutlookSession window, and then paste the below VBA code into it.

   

   VBA: Automatically expand all folders in Outlook

   Public WithEvents GEx As Explorer
   Public GFlag As Boolean
   Private Sub Application_Startup()
     'Update by ExtendOffice 2023/12/08
     Set GEx = Application.ActiveExplorer
     GFlag = False
   End Sub
   
   Private Sub GEx_SelectionChange()
     If GFlag = False Then
       ExpandAllFolders
     End If
     GFlag = True
   End Sub
   
   Public Sub ExpandAllFolders()
     Dim xNameSpace As Outlook.NameSpace
     Dim xFlds As Outlook.Folders
     Dim xCurrFld As Outlook.MAPIFolder
     Dim xFld As Outlook.MAPIFolder
     Dim xExpandDefaultStoreOnly As Boolean
     Dim xModule As NavigationModule
     On Error Resume Next
     xExpandDefaultStoreOnly = False
     Set xNameSpace = Application.Session
     Set xModule = Application.ActiveExplorer.NavigationPane.CurrentModule
     Set xCurrFld = Application.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder
     If xExpandDefaultStoreOnly = True Then
       Set xFld = xNameSpace.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox)
       Set xFld = xFld.Parent
       Set xFlds = xFld.Folders
       LoopFolders xFlds, True
     Else
       LoopFolders xNameSpace.Folders, True
       LoopFolders xNameSpace.Folders, False
     End If
     DoEvents
     Set Application.ActiveExplorer.NavigationPane.CurrentModule = xModule
     Set Application.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder = xCurrFld
     Set xNameSpace = Nothing
     Set xModule = Nothing
     Set xCurrFld = Nothing
   End Sub
   
   Private Sub LoopFolders(Flds As Outlook.Folders, ByVal All As Boolean)
     Dim xFld As Outlook.MAPIFolder
     On Error Resume Next
     For Each xFld In Flds
       Select Case All
         Case True
           If xFld.DefaultItemType = olMailItem Then
             Set Application.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder = xFld
             DoEvents
             If xFld.Folders.Count > 0 Then
               LoopFolders xFld.Folders, All
             End If
           End If
         Case False
           Set Application.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder = xFld
           DoEvents
           If xFld.Folders.Count > 0 Then
             LoopFolders xFld.Folders, All
           End If
       End Select
     Next
   End Sub

   Copy
3. Save the code and close the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

From now on, when restarting Outlook, all folders will be automatically expanded in Outlook.

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