My guess is you are viewing the message list pane in 'card view.' If you see a 'quick filter' button just above the message list pane, there is an icon to its right. Click that and select 'table view', which will show a menu bar where you can select ascending or descending date order. You can then revert to card view if desired.

I am now unable to bring up that menu. And even when I previously could it wouldn't allow me to change the selections.

I am not sure what you mean by 'that menu.'

I used to be able to click on a heading 'view, which would bring up several options including 'sort by'. I would then be able to select the sequence in which I wished them to be displayed. Now the headings have disappeared so I can't even get to that menu. And even when I could previously get to it, it would not let me make any changes.

re: Why can I not select the order in which I wish incoming messages to be displayed?

If you are already viewing the list of incoming emails in the 'Table View' (one email per line) then you will see columns headers at the top. You can click on a column header to reverse the sort. eg: If you want emails sorted by Date, then click on the 'Date' column header. If emails are sorted by Date but new is at the bottom and you want them at the top then click on the 'Date' column header to reverse whatever is currently displayed. This means you can choose to 'Sort by' Date and also choose whether it is ascending or descending order.

If you are viewing email list in 'Card View' (each email uses 3 lines in list) then you will not see the column headers. This is what David was discussing.

re :I used to be able to click on a heading 'view, which would bring up several options including 'sort by'.

You are talking about the 'Menu Bar' toolbar. You would need to enable it.

On the far right of the new 'Unified Toolbar' is the 'Menu app' icon - it has 3 horizontal lines

• Click on 'Menu app' icon
• Click on 'View'
• Click on 'Toolbars'
• Click on 'Menu bar'

Those headers are not there anymore and I am unable to bring them up. And even when I could previously access them the menu was frozen and would not allow me to change the preferences.

please answer some queries so we have a better understanding of what you are looking at.

The Message List - Are you using 'Card View' or 'Table View' ? Have you enabled the 'Menu Bar' toolbar ?

re :Those headers are not there anymore Do you mean...you have enabled the 'Menu Bar' toolbar, then use 'View' > 'Sort by' and you see many of the column header options are greyed out - not possible to select ? If yes: It means you have not selected to enable them in the 'Table View', so only the column headers you have already chosen to be displayed in Message List will be enabled for selection in the 'Sort by' list. Why ? because it's not possible to sort by an option which is not already been enabled in the Message List.

It would help if you posted some images so we can see what you are seeing.

I don't know what 'card view' or 'table view' are.

These are the two display options for the message list pane. Card view shows multiple rows per message and table view shows columns (subject, from, date, etc...) You can switch between the two by clicking the icon to the right of the quick search button that sits above the message list pane.

I see. It is on 'table view', but when I go into 'sort by' the selections are locked and it won't let me alter them.

How do I unlock the 'sort by' menu so that I can change the preferences?

When you click 'unthreaded' you're saying that threaded stays ticked? I've never seen that.

Yes, I cannot change that. Also, I am unable to select 'from' as a choice.

Helpful discussion – thanks to all who joined this conversation.

Yes, I cannot change that. Also, I am unable to select 'from' as a choice.

Is 'From' already selected as a column header at the top of the 'Message List' ? If no then 'View' > 'Sort by' will be greyed out because you cannot sort by something that has not been selected in the 'Message List as a column header.

So, at top of 'Message List' look on far right for icon with tooltip 'select columns to display'. Click on that icon and select the 'From' column header so it displays at top of Message List as a column header. Then you will find View > Sort by will offer 'from'.

See image below as guide - not the most of versions in this image but the icon and list are the same.

I don't know what 'card view' or 'table view' are.

David supplied the answer but for anyone else who needs it I've posted an image below as a guide.

Thanks for the help. I was able to resort as I wanted. Up until fairly recently I was able to do this simply with just a couple of clicks, so I don't know what changed.