What Happened to Outlook Mac Email Threads?
The current Outlook for Mac issue is a software bug in a recent update that removes previous messages from replies and forwards, causing email threads to lose their visible conversation history and disrupting how users track ongoing discussions. In version 16.110 (build 26061317), users report that the reply area no longer includes the original email content, leaving a blank compose window where the quoted thread used to appear. This means recipients cannot see what you are responding to unless you manually include that context. For many people, email threading is a core Outlook function that underpins daily workflows, collaboration, and record-keeping. When email threading is broken in this way, it affects productivity, increases the risk of miscommunication, and forces users into awkward manual workarounds while waiting for a permanent Outlook Mac bug fix from Microsoft.
How the Bug Shows Up in Replies and Forwards
After installing Outlook for Mac version 16.110, users noticed that replying to a message no longer pulls in the original text below the cursor. Instead, the reply window is empty, so the conversation history is missing from the outgoing message unless you add it by hand. The same problem appears when forwarding messages, which undermines the whole purpose of forwarding an existing email chain. As one user highlighted on Microsoft’s own platform, when the original content is not included, forwarding “defeats the purpose of forwarding.” This behaviour affects both short exchanges and long, complex Outlook Mac email threads that people rely on for context. Because this bug touches one of the most basic expectations of an email client, it feels more disruptive than minor interface glitches or cosmetic changes.
Official Status and Why There’s No Patch Yet
Microsoft has not yet released an official fix for this Outlook Mac email threads problem, and there is no public timeline for a patch. Reports indicate the bug appeared in version 16.110, build 26061317, which rolled out in mid-June. According to The Register, Microsoft has so far declined to comment on how such a basic regression passed testing, though a moderator labeled as Microsoft external staff has acknowledged the issue on Microsoft’s own Learn platform. That moderator confirmed that conversation history missing from replies and forwards is a known problem in this specific build and pointed users toward a temporary workaround rather than a permanent Outlook Mac bug fix. Until Microsoft ships an update that restores normal threading, users and IT teams must choose between rolling back Outlook or living with broken threads and relying on manual context.
Rollback Workaround: Revert Outlook for Mac to an Earlier Version
The most reliable workaround today is to revert Outlook for Mac to version 16.109.3 or earlier, where email threading works as expected. To do this on a device you control, uninstall Outlook 16.110 (build 26061317), then download and install an earlier release from Microsoft’s official distribution channel. Once you are back on a working version, disable automatic updates so the buggy build does not reinstall itself. In Outlook, open the Help menu, choose Check for Updates, and clear the option Automatically keep Microsoft apps up to date. This freezes Outlook on the working build while you wait for a fix. Remember to return to this setting and re-enable automatic updates after Microsoft confirms that a patched version restores conversation history and no longer leaves email threading broken.
Alternatives for Managed Devices and Team Environments
If your Mac is managed by an employer or IT department, you may not be allowed to roll back Outlook yourself. In that case, report that conversation history is missing in replies and forwards and share the affected version number so IT can decide whether to push an earlier build or wait for Microsoft’s patch. Meanwhile, you can use practical stopgaps. When responding, copy and paste the relevant parts of the previous email into your reply, trimming long signatures and old noise to keep messages readable. For forwards, select and include the sections your recipient needs for context. While this is more work, it keeps discussions understandable while Outlook Mac email threads remain broken. Teams that depend heavily on email archives may also want to keep more detailed notes in shared documents until threading is restored.
