I've asked this here, but how do I remove the Quick Delete button in the Outlook view, but retain the Flag Status column?

They seem to share the same column.

Thanks.

Yes, this is hard code and we cannot hide it through built-in function. Some users complain that the Quick Delete button is often touched and delete the message mistaken whatever in PC or Surface device.

Cheers,
Tony Chen
Forum Support
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• Marked as answer by Tony Chen CHNMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Monday, March 25, 2013 3:20 AM
• Unmarked as answer by Peter_D503 Tuesday, November 18, 2014 12:08 AM

Hi,

Just checking in to see if the information was helpful. Please let us know if you would like further assistance.

Cheers,
Tony Chen
Forum Support
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Come back and mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help.
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It is and I've given you a helpful vote-up, but it's not an answer - I'd like a fix! :)

There is no official update for this so far. Hope it can be improved in next service pack release.

Cheers,
Tony Chen
Forum Support
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Come back and mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help.
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• Edited by Tony Chen CHNMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Friday, March 22, 2013 8:55 AM

Thanks for the follow-up Tony.

Any update Tony?

I'd also like a fix. This is a very dangerous bug, accidentally deleting without confirmation is unacceptable.

I agree. I accidentally delete messages all the time. Part of the problem is that the delete button is so close to the flag button that it's easy to hit the wrong one. Either get rid of the button altogether -- older versions of Outlook handled this just fine -- or ask for a confirmation before deleting. The number of keystrokes is the same each way, so it doesn't matter.

Ideally the Flag and Delete buttons are separate columns.

Any update Tony?

Thanks.

For some reason, my button has disappeared. How to get it back?

My button has also disappeared and I would like to get it back

Same here - has some update removed this?

I would like to get it back too

Control - z will undo the accidental click.

This is my monthly post asking for an update on this issue. Tony?

IS there an update? i keep deleting emails without getting any sort of alert. Please fix asap

I missed last month, but this is my Monthly bump to get this issue fixed. Tony?

We're at the end of March and have had SP1, what news on the Quick Delete button Tony?

(Oh yes, this my 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY of my post DING DING DING DING)

• Edited by Peter_D503 Thursday, March 27, 2014 1:49 AM

The best assistance would be a fix. That button makes me nervous as I use the flag column regularly. Far too easy to hit that quick delete button. 

I just got asked from one of my users who is using flags a lot, he deleted several emails by mistake.

Removing this "mouse over delete" button would help a lot and/or the possibility to move the flag column.

this background is gray.

Any update on this?  Just got this software and this is a bit of a thorn in my side. 

if you enable touch mode, the delete button is removed from the message list and a touch bar is added to the right side of the reading pane. its less than useful with a mouse, but great on touch devices.  (I don't see the button being removed.)

Any update? Asking for a Fiend. 

Just bumping my post... accidentally deleted another email when I wanted to flag it. The delete key does wonders, I don't need the black X. 

• Edited by Peter_D503 Tuesday, July 15, 2014 8:01 AM

Just upgraded to Outlook 365, and while this X delete function is a great idea, I'm stunned that it can't be removed, like you can with the dozens of other fields. The trackpad on my Windows 8.1 machine sometimes clicks while I'm in the process of moving the cursor, and losing an email into the trash--then opening the trashing and wading through them all to find the one I just deleted--is a huge pain.

So here's my voice, too, asking for this to be optional.

Also just updated to Outlook 2013 and find this to be a seriously upsetting feature. Can't believe the longevity of this post and still no answer...alas!

I can't comment on touch but with a mouse the only option this leaves us is to turn off the flag status column and forces every one who uses flags to right click or remember key commands.

If there is always a delete X on the far right, I can live with that...

What's really a problem is that if you alter the view setting > column order and try to move flag status anywhere else that isn't 5 pixels away from the delete X  it  always stays on the far right and it ignores the column settings

that seems like a bug to me.

I mean being able to customize for ones needs/taste is one the many things that makes outlook awesome, why take that away?

not to mention this one should be pretty obvious as risky.

i.e. oh this message is important, let me flag it and get back to it, oh crap i deleted it, arrg i'm using imap email like gmail on my non work profile, hitting ctrl + z doesn't really undo a delete ...sure you can manually find in the trash, but I wouldn't label that as a "awesome/helpful UI experience" more like, terrifying you for a few seconds UI. Even worse, if you are in hurry, you might not notice you've deleted it.

*bump*

I agree it would be nice to have the option to remove the delete button, or have flag and delete as separate columns or have a confirmation before the delete occurs. With exchange I find crtl-z does not always work as there are sync issues and it just gives an error message.

I swear, Microsoft must see this as an answered thread and thinks the issue is resolved. I managed to stay away from Outlook 2013 for the longest time but had recently been "upgraded" to it. How is it that Microsoft misses such a glaring interface issue and gets away with it? If it were anybody else the issue would have been fixed within days, possibly weeks at most, or the company would be losing users in droves. This is what happens when big companies like Microsoft gets too much clout with big segments of the market.

I would like to add my voice to those who thinks this is a major problem. I would also flag this thread a hundred times to draw Microsoft's attention if Microsoft ever bothers to pay attention. Oh wait, I forgot, flagging = deleting when you use Outlook.

The best answer I've seen is to turn on touch mode instead of mouse mode. This gives you buttons on the right side of your screen, but unlinks the delete x from the flag! Seems to work for me so far.

This link has screenshots: http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/2013/outlook-2013-touch-screen-mode/

Had the issue again this morning. It's still annoying, even 18 months later. 

• Edited by Peter_D503 Tuesday, November 18, 2014 12:09 AM

Where does the email go?  I can't find it in deleted or trash folders!

Sorry Regina, I don't know - should go to deleted items - do you have multiple Deleted Item folders/accounts?

I'd also like a fix. This is a very dangerous bug, accidentally deleting without confirmation is unacceptable.

STRONGLY AGREE - the DELETE button is REALLY WRONGLY positioned - and there MUST be a feature to disable it at least on the level of "VIEW creations/adjustment".

FLAGS - often used function for me. Strange that on iOS Outlook 2013 there is no COMPLETE FLAG option as on my LUMIA WP8 device (both using the same corporate exchange).

CATEGORIES - on the iOS/Android  Office 2013 and Windows Phone this feature is missing. as I receive lots of email I would appreciate it.

FYI: I use OUtlook 2013 for its combo feature of Email/Contacts/Calendar rather than e.g. on iOS the 'separate' programs. but in Appl.e's EMAIL the swipe functionality is truly better than 2 option swipe on Outlook. would need some fine tuning to be done MS:)

BR,

m

I think we're due for an update on this issue! 2 Year Anniversary! :)

I really don't understand Microsoft's stupid philosophies.

I actually thought I found a solution: Apparently, the secret delete button is not attached to the Flag column but always to the right-most column. So I introduced a custom column called 'Delete' and wanted to move it right-most...

Would have been too easy of course. It's not possible to put any column right of the Flag column!

By the way, is there an 'Undo delete' function anywhere? Or do I really have to:

1. Go to the 'Deleted Items' Folder

2. Select the deleted mail

3. Right-click to open context menu

4. Go to 'Move'

5. Select 'Inbox'

???

This is very good to know. I didn't think to try this.

I use a Reading Pane to the right side of the message window, so I just slid the Reading Pane window a little to the left to cover up the "quick delete X" icon.  The message window now has a scroll bar at the bottom, but I get a little more space in the Reading Pane and don't accidentally hit the Quick Delete button.  Hope this helps-

We've just upgraded to Outlook 2013 and I've immediately discovered this issue - and I can't believe this discussion has been going on for so long with no resolution!  This is a shockingly poor bit of design and I'm amazed it was ever designed this way in the first place to be honest.

Microsoft you really need to sort this out please.

Simply do the following;

1. Get MFCMAPI . If you have 64 bit office, you need 64 bit MFCMAPI.
2. Open MFCMAPI, go to Session, Logon
3. Select your profile
4. Double-click on the affected data store.
5. Expand Root - Mailbox
6. Expand Top of Information Store or IPM_Subtree
7. Select Inbox
8. Look for PR_CONTAINER_CLASS in the right pane, double-click on it.
   
9. Change IPF.Note to IPF.IMAP then click OK to close the dialog.
   
10. Repeat for each folder that was exported from an IMAP data file.
11. When you are finished, close the MFCMAPI window, click Session, Logoff on the last MFCMAPI window.

this is so annoying, i have just upgraded to office 2013 and already 2 very annoying stuff

- delete near the flag message ( outlook ) 

- very very very bright white themes

@Tony Chen any suggestion to solve the problem with the delete problem ? 

ty

• Proposed as answer by ChrisTownsend Wednesday, August 05, 2015 12:52 PM
• Unproposed as answer by ChrisTownsend Wednesday, August 05, 2015 12:52 PM

Is this a solution to the x delete button ?

Yes Marcus, I wondered that too. I have no idea what Mahmoud's answer is supposed to be about?!