New Outlook Snippet Library ‘My Templates’ Pane: How to Surface

In the new Outlook for Windows, the My Templates pane provides a centralized snippet library where you can store and insert frequently used text blocks. This feature is designed to replace the old Quick Parts and AutoText functionality found in classic Outlook. Many users report that the pane is hidden by default or difficult to locate after an update. This article explains exactly how to surface the My Templates pane and start using it immediately.

The My Templates pane stores reusable email snippets such as standard greetings, disclaimers, and product descriptions. Once surfaced, the pane docks to the right side of the compose window and lets you insert any template with a single click. You can create, edit, and delete templates directly from the pane. No add-ins or third-party tools are required.

This guide covers the steps to enable the pane, create your first template, and manage your snippet library. It also addresses common problems such as the pane not appearing or templates failing to save. By the end, you will have a fully functional snippet library integrated into your new Outlook workflow.

What the My Templates Pane Does and How It Works

The My Templates pane is a built-in snippet manager in the new Outlook for Windows. It stores plain text and HTML snippets that you can insert into any email message. Each template can contain formatted text, images, and hyperlinks. The pane syncs with your Microsoft 365 mailbox, so templates are available across all devices where you use the new Outlook.

The pane is part of the new Outlook client, not the classic Outlook. If you are still using classic Outlook, you will not see My Templates. You must be running new Outlook version 1.2023.9.0 or later. The feature is available for Microsoft 365 Business, Enterprise, and Education plans. Personal Microsoft 365 accounts also support My Templates.

What You Can Store in My Templates

You can store any text that you reuse regularly. Common examples include:

• Standard email signatures that are not already managed by the signature feature
• Meeting confirmation scripts
• Product support answers or troubleshooting steps
• Legal disclaimers and privacy notices
• Internal process instructions

Each template can be up to 32 KB in size. Images are stored as inline attachments, so keep file sizes small to avoid hitting the limit. Templates are stored in a hidden folder in your mailbox named My Templates. Deleting a template from the pane permanently removes it from this folder.

How to Surface the My Templates Pane

There are three ways to open the My Templates pane. Use the method that fits your current workflow.

Method 1: From the Main Outlook Ribbon

1. Open Outlook
   Launch the new Outlook for Windows. Ensure you are on the Mail view.
2. Go to the View tab
   Click the View tab in the main ribbon at the top of the window.
3. Click My Templates
   In the Layout group, click the My Templates toggle button. The pane opens on the right side of the Outlook window.

This method surfaces the pane outside of a compose window. You can browse and manage your templates before you start writing an email.

Method 2: From a Compose Window

1. Open a new email or reply
   Click New Mail or reply to an existing message to open the compose window.
2. Click the Insert tab
   In the compose window, click the Insert tab in the ribbon.
3. Click My Templates
   In the Include group, click the My Templates button. The pane opens on the right side of the compose window.

The pane stays open until you close it. You can resize it by dragging the left edge of the pane.

Method 3: Using a Keyboard Shortcut

1. Open a compose window
   Start a new email, reply, or forward.
2. Press Ctrl+Shift+T
   The My Templates pane opens immediately. This shortcut works only when a compose window is active.

If the shortcut does not work, check that no other add-in is using the same combination. You cannot remap this shortcut in the current version of new Outlook.

Creating and Managing Templates

Once the pane is visible, you can create templates directly from it.

1. Click New Template
   At the top of the My Templates pane, click the New Template button. A blank editor appears.
2. Enter a name
   Type a descriptive name in the Title field. This name appears in the template list.
3. Paste or type your content
   Use the formatting toolbar to apply bold, italic, bullet lists, and hyperlinks. You can paste formatted text from another source.
4. Click Save
   The template appears in the pane list. To insert it into an email, click the template name while the compose window is active.

To edit a template, click the three dots next to its name and select Edit. To delete a template, click the three dots and select Delete. There is no undo for deletion.

Common Problems and Fixes

The My Templates Pane Does Not Appear

If you click the toggle and nothing happens, the pane may be open but hidden behind another window. Check the right edge of the Outlook window for a narrow vertical strip. Click and drag it to the left. If the pane still does not appear, restart Outlook and try again.

Templates Are Not Syncing Across Devices

Templates sync through your mailbox. If you create a template on one computer and it does not appear on another, wait a few minutes for sync to complete. If the delay persists, sign out of Outlook on both devices and sign back in. This forces a full mailbox sync.

Cannot Insert a Template Into an Email

Click the template name in the pane while the compose window is active. If nothing happens, close the compose window and reopen it. Ensure the compose window is not in plain text mode. My Templates requires HTML or Rich Text format.

Templates Are Missing After an Update

Outlook updates do not delete your templates. If they are missing, the pane may be set to a different view. Click the three dots at the top of the pane and select Refresh. If templates still do not appear, check the My Templates hidden folder in your mailbox. Use the Outlook web app to navigate to your mailbox folders and look for a folder named My Templates. If the folder is empty, you must recreate your templates.

My Templates vs Quick Parts vs AutoText

Item	My Templates (New Outlook)	Quick Parts / AutoText (Classic Outlook)
Availability	New Outlook for Windows only	Classic Outlook 2010 through 2021
Storage location	Hidden mailbox folder (My Templates)	NormalEmail.dotm template file on local PC
Sync across devices	Automatic via mailbox sync	Manual copy of NormalEmail.dotm
Maximum template size	32 KB per template	No hard limit (depends on file size)
Formatting support	HTML and Rich Text	HTML, Rich Text, and Plain Text
Insert method	Click template name in pane	Insert > Quick Parts > AutoText or gallery
Keyboard shortcut	Ctrl+Shift+T	F4 (AutoText) or custom shortcut

My Templates does not import existing Quick Parts or AutoText entries. You must recreate them manually. Classic Outlook users who switch to new Outlook will lose access to their old snippets unless they copy the content manually.

The My Templates pane is a direct replacement, not a migration tool. Microsoft has not provided an automated import feature. Plan to rebuild your most-used snippets after switching to new Outlook.

You can now surface the My Templates pane using the View tab, the Insert tab, or the Ctrl+Shift+T shortcut. Create templates for any text you reuse in emails, from standard replies to legal disclaimers. For advanced use, organize templates by naming them with a prefix such as Support_ or Legal_ to keep the list sorted alphabetically.