Troubleshooting Question
I have noticed a change in how Outlook’s reminder window behaves. Previously, it used to reliably pop up on top of all other open windows whenever there was an upcoming meeting or event. However, recently, I’ve encountered a situation where the reminder window still appears but gets hidden beneath other open windows. This has led to instances where I miss important meetings because I inadvertently join my Teams call late.
Additionally, I often mute my speaker, so relying solely on the chime is not a dependable solution. Furthermore, the Outlook icon in the taskbar now displays a small red dot to indicate new activity or reminders, but it’s so inconspicuous that I frequently overlook it.
For reference, my current Outlook version is 2306 Build 16.0.16529.20100, and I am running it on Windows 11.
How can I configure Outlook to ensure that its reminder window consistently pops up on top of all other open windows, just like it used to?
I’m looking for a solution that guarantees the Outlook reminder window’s visibility and prominence, so I can stay on top of my scheduled meetings and appointments without any further inconvenience. Your assistance in resolving this issue would be greatly appreciated.
Solution
To make sure that the Outlook reminder window always appears on top of other open windows, you can tweak some settings within Outlook. Follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Launch Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
Step 2: Locate and click on the “File” tab located in the top-left corner of the Outlook window.
Step 3: Within the File menu, find and select “Options” at the bottom of the menu on the left. This action will open a new window called “Outlook Options.”
Step 4: In the “Outlook Options” window, look to the left-hand side and choose “Advanced.”
Step 5: Scroll down until you see the “Reminders” section.
Step 6: To ensure the reminder window always takes precedence, check the box next to “Show reminders on top of other windows.”
Step 7: Finally, click the “OK” button at the bottom of the window to save your changes and close the “Outlook Options” window.
By completing these steps, you’ve configured Outlook to display reminders on top of other open applications, ensuring they are more noticeable and less likely to get hidden behind other windows.
Bonus Tip: If you frequently mute your speakers and want additional notification methods, you can customize your reminder settings as follows:
Step 8: While still in the “Outlook Options” window, select “Calendar” from the left-hand menu.
Step 9: Under the “Calendar options” section, locate the “Reminders” heading.
Step 10: Here, you can tailor your reminder preferences. For instance, you can choose “Display a Desktop Alert” for a pop-up notification on your screen, or “Play a sound” to have a specific sound play when a reminder occurs.
Step 11: After making your desired changes, click the “OK” button at the bottom to save your adjustments and close the “Outlook Options” window.
With these settings, you can enhance the visibility of the Outlook reminder window and stay better informed about your upcoming meetings and Teams calls.