How I Managed to Reset Outlook View to Default After Outlook Update

A few days ago, Outlook suddenly started showing my emails in a completely different format after an update. The folder list looked misplaced, message previews disappeared, and the overall layout became confusing. I wanted to reset Outlook View to default because the interface was slowing down my work.

The first thing I tried was the built-in Reset View option under the View tab. It fixed the Inbox instantly. Later, I used the outlook.exe /cleanviews command to restore all folders, including Sent Items and Drafts, back to their default appearance. That solved most of the layout issues.

I also discovered that some Outlook add-ins can interfere with display settings. Disabling unnecessary add-ins improved Outlook speed and stopped the layout from changing repeatedly. Running Outlook in Safe Mode was another useful troubleshooting step because it loads Outlook without custom settings.

However, when Outlook kept freezing, I realized the PST file itself had become corrupted. I repaired it using the DRS Softech PST Recovery Tool. The software recovered all my mailbox data, including attachments and calendars, and restored the folder structure correctly. If Outlook view issues keep returning, there’s a good chance the PST file needs repair instead of just resetting the layout.