How to reduce ribbon size in Outlook

Outlook 365
After recent updates, the ribbon in Microsoft Outlook can take up to 1/3 of the available screen space. Microsoft Office help tells that you can hide or unhide your ribbon, but you cannot reduce the size of your ribbon, or size of the text or the icons. False! You can change the mode and remove unnecessary white space around buttons, and, thus, reduce the ribbon size.

The Ribbon display in Touch Mode:

The Ribbon display in Touch Mode in Outlook 2016

The Ribbon display in Mouse Mode (the habitual look of the previous versions of Microsoft Outlook):

The Ribbon display in Mouse Mode in Outlook 2016

To change the Ribbon mode, click on the dropdown arrow on the right side of the Quick Access Toolbar and choose the Touch/Mouse Mode command:

Touch/Mouse Mode command in Outlook 2016

The Touch/Mouse Mode button was added to your Quick Access Toolbar menu (see more Adding commands to the Quick Access Toolbar):

Touch/Mouse Mode command in Outlook 2016

By choosing a specific option, you can change the Ribbon mode according to your needs.

Note: This option works for all Microsoft Office applications at once. If you change the mode in Outlook, it changes in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

See also this tip in French: Comment réduire la taille du ruban dans Outlook.

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How to reduce ribbon size in Outlook

How to reduce ribbon size in Outlook

After recent updates, the ribbon in Microsoft Outlook can take up to 1/3 of the available screen space. Microsoft Office help tells that you can hide or unhide your ribbon, but you cannot reduce the size of your ribbon, or size of the text or the icons. False! You can change the mode and remove unnecessary white space around buttons, and, thus, reduce the ribbon size.
How to reduce ribbon size in Outlook

How to reduce ribbon size in Outlook

After recent updates, the ribbon in Microsoft Outlook can take up to 1/3 of the available screen space. Microsoft Office help tells that you can hide or unhide your ribbon, but you cannot reduce the size of your ribbon, or size of the text or the icons. False! You can change the mode and remove unnecessary white space around buttons, and, thus, reduce the ribbon size.
Adding commands to the Quick Access Toolbar

Adding commands to the Quick Access Toolbar

Suppose you'd like to add a couple more commands to the Quick Access toolbar. Also, say you want to work with every e-mail in new window. You can add the Open in New Window button to the Quick Access toolbar.