Manage Mail sidebar, viewer windows and tabs
Control-Command-S toggles Mail’s sidebar. Option-Command-N opens a viewer window, while Option-Shift-Command-N opens a viewer tab.
Mail · Reviewed 2026-11-05 · Review method
Platform, keyboard and verification notes
- Scope
- Mail · macOS app; Apple Mac documentation source checks on 4 November 2026 and editorial review on 5 November 2026. No running-app compatibility test is claimed.
- Keyboard and customization
- English-language Apple documentation. Modifier and punctuation keys may differ on other keyboard layouts.. Documented defaults, not a reading of your current menu. Check the app menu and custom App Shortcuts if a binding differs; focus and selected content can change its effect.
- Review basis
- Documentation reviewed 2026-11-05 by Codex — primary-documentation and editorial review; no hands-on runtime test. These bindings were not tested in a running app for this guide.
Keyboard shortcuts for this task
| Action | Keys | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Toggle sidebar | Control-Command-S | Reveals or hides mailbox navigation. Source ↗ |
| New viewer window | Option-Command-N | Creates another mail-viewing window, not an email draft. Source ↗ |
| New viewer tab | Option-Shift-Command-N | Creates another tab in the viewer context. Source ↗ |
| Show viewer | Command-0 | Brings the Mail viewer into the workflow. Source ↗ |
| Show Mail Activity | Control-Command-0 | Opens activity information rather than another mailbox view. Source ↗ |
Choose a viewer when you want another mailbox view
Command-N creates an email draft, so it is the wrong choice when you only want a second view of your mail. A viewer window or viewer tab is useful for comparing two mailboxes or keeping a source conversation visible while you work elsewhere. Decide whether a separate window or another tab fits the space on your screen before opening several of either.
Use the sidebar as a location check
The sidebar helps you confirm which mailbox you are working in. Hide it when reading space matters, then reveal it when changing locations or checking an apparent missing message. Bringing the Mail viewer forward is different from checking mail activity: the activity window is for operational information, not another copy of your inbox. Keep that distinction in mind when several windows are open.
Compare two mailbox locations
Open a second viewer or a new viewer tab, select a different mailbox in each, and switch between them using the visible window or tab controls. Toggle the sidebar and verify that you can still identify the current mailbox. Close the extra view when finished. This exercise is about seeing where you are, not accumulating windows that all look like the same inbox.
Sources and corrections
- Keyboard shortcuts in Mail on Mac — Apple Support — checked 2026-11-04
Found a mismatch? Email pashaseenainc@gmail.com with your app version, macOS version, keyboard layout and the command. Please leave personal document names out.
Keep going
Right there when you need it.
Keep a compact shortcut reference in your Mac’s menu bar.
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