Outlook has a setting that can be found under File/Options/Mail entitled "Close original message window when replying or forwarding" - the idea is that when this box is checked, when either replying to a message or forwarding that message after opening it, the original message window is closed so that after either replying or forwarding the email, you are immediately taken back to whichever folder was previously opened. I've noticed, however, that this feature doesn't consistently work - if I choose to sometimes reply to a message when its window is open, Outlook doesn't always close the message window which then requires me to do it manually. Are there any specific conditions that cause this feature not to work?
11 Answer
I had both "Open replies and forwards in a new window" AND "Close original message window when replying or forwarding" and had the same problem. The fix for me is apparently to UNcheck the "new window" one. Good luck!
