Make Outlook Close the Original Message After Replying

In Outlook, when you reply or forward an email message, you always have to close the original one, which is its default setting. If you would rather it close the original message automatically, and save you a click, here’s how to make Outlook close it.

Outlook 2013 & 2010

Go to File > Options and select Mail. Then scroll down to the Replies and Forwards section and check “Close Original Message Windows When Replying or Forwarding” and click OK.

Outlook 2007

In Outlook 2007 go to Tools > Options and on the next screen click the Email Options button.

Then under Message Handling check “Close Original Message on Reply or Forward” and click OK.

That’s it. Now when you reply or forward a message in Outlook it will automatically close the original message. I find this helpful when managing email throughout the day.