TL;DR
The Outlook To Do Bar helps you stay productive by displaying your calendar, task list, and favorite contacts in a side panel. To enable it, go to View > To-Do Bar and choose Calendar, Tasks, or People. Use Alt + F2 to quickly toggle visibility. This feature boosts focus by keeping key information visible without switching tabs.
The Outlook To Do Bar is a powerful productivity feature that places your upcoming tasks, calendar events, and important contacts right next to your inbox. With one glance, you can see what meetings are coming up, which tasks are due, and quickly connect with frequent contacts.
By default, the To Do Bar may be hidden or minimized, but once activated and customized, it becomes a valuable tool to streamline your daily workflow and reduce context switching.
What Is the To Do Bar in Outlook?
The To Do Bar is a collapsible panel typically located on the right side of your Outlook window. It provides quick access to:
- Calendar: View today’s or upcoming events
- Tasks: Manage and prioritize to-do items
- People: Access frequent or favorite contacts
It is fully customizable, so you can choose to display one, two, or all three components depending on your preferences.
How to Show the Outlook To Do Bar
For Outlook Desktop (Windows)
- Open Outlook
- Go to the View tab on the ribbon
- Click To-Do Bar in the Layout group
- Choose which elements to display:
- Calendar
- Tasks
- People
You can select more than one option, and each will appear stacked in the To Do Bar.
Keyboard Shortcut
- Alt + F2: Toggles the To Do Bar (may require customization depending on version)
How to Hide or Minimize the To Do Bar
If you want to temporarily remove it:
- Go to View > To-Do Bar > Off
- Or click the X in the upper-right corner of the To Do Bar panel
This hides it until you re-enable it from the View menu.
How to Customize the To Do Bar
Adjust Size
- Hover your mouse over the left edge of the To Do Bar
- Drag left or right to resize
- Adjust vertical space by expanding or collapsing each section (Calendar, Tasks, People)
Change Task Sorting
- Right-click within the Tasks section
- Choose how tasks are sorted: by Start Date, Due Date, Priority, or Categories
Add or Remove Favorite Contacts
- Go to the People pane
- Right-click on a contact to remove
- Drag contacts into the bar from your address book to add them
This keeps your most-used contacts one click away.
How to Use the Calendar in the To Do Bar
The Calendar section shows:
- Today’s appointments
- Multi-day events
- Free/busy availability
- Quick glance at the monthly calendar
Double-click an event to open full details or create a new event from this section directly.
How to Use the Task List in the To Do Bar
The Tasks section allows you to:
- View flagged emails and manually created tasks
- Mark tasks as complete
- Sort by deadline, priority, or category
- Drag emails directly into the Tasks pane to create new tasks
This keeps your action items visible and manageable throughout your day.
How to Use the People Pane in the To Do Bar
The People section provides:
- Direct access to favorite or frequent contacts
- One-click email or calendar view for selected people
- Quick communication shortcuts
You can manage this list by dragging contacts into or out of the pane.
Benefits of Using the Outlook To Do Bar
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Calendar | View upcoming events at a glance |
| Tasks | Stay focused on daily priorities |
| People | Fast access to key contacts |
| Integration | Works alongside your inbox without needing to switch views |
| Customization | Show only what you need |
Outlook To Do Bar Not Showing? How to Fix
If the To Do Bar doesn’t appear:
- Go to View > To-Do Bar and ensure items are selected
- Restart Outlook
- Use Outlook /resetnavpane if layout settings are corrupted:
- Close Outlook
- Press Windows + R, type
outlook.exe /resetnavpane, press Enter
- Make sure Outlook is not in full-screen mode, which can hide the bar
FAQ: Outlook To Do Bar
How do I enable the To Do Bar in Outlook?
Go to View > To-Do Bar, then choose Calendar, Tasks, or People.
What is the shortcut to toggle the To Do Bar?
Press Alt + F2 (in supported versions), or use the View tab manually.
Why is my To Do Bar missing?
It may be turned off or hidden. Go to View > To-Do Bar > Calendar/Tasks/People to re-enable it.
Can I display all three sections at once?
Yes. You can show Calendar, Tasks, and People stacked vertically in the same pane.
Does the To Do Bar work in Outlook Web or Mac?
The full To Do Bar is exclusive to Outlook for Windows. Similar features exist in the sidebar of Outlook for Mac and the Web.
Can I resize the To Do Bar?
Yes. Drag the edge of the pane left or right to adjust its width.
Conclusion: Master Your Day with the Outlook To Do Bar
The Outlook To Do Bar is an underrated feature that significantly enhances your productivity. By showing your calendar, tasks, and contacts all in one place, it keeps your priorities visible without leaving your inbox. Whether you’re managing a busy schedule or juggling emails and tasks, enabling and customizing the To Do Bar can transform your Outlook experience.
Complete List of Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
If you need help for Windows, you can find a whole list of all keyboard shortcuts here.
https://keyboard-shortcuts.org/
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