Split view and the menu

As in Gmail, a conversation can open beside the list instead of in its place. Use the split button at the right end of the list's toolbar: the button turns the split on or off, its arrow picks one.

• No split: the conversation takes the list's place (Back, or u, returns to it).
• Vertical split: the conversation on the right. A narrow list shows each conversation on three lines: the sender and date, the subject, the snippet.
• Horizontal split: the conversation under the list.

With a split, j and k show the next and previous conversation beside the list, and the one open is marked in the list. Archive or delete the one open, there or in the list, and the conversation that takes its place opens: the one below, else the one above (Settings → General → After archiving or deleting can pick the newer or older one instead). Close (×), u or Esc closes it. Choose several conversations with their boxes and the pane counts them; the toolbar above acts on them, and Esc lets go of them.

Drag the line between the list and the conversation to give either more room (or focus it and use the arrow keys); a double click puts it back. The size is kept on this device, so a laptop and a big screen can differ. The split itself follows you, and is also under Settings → General → Reading pane. On a phone a conversation always opens on its own screen.

The menu button (☰) at the top left makes the menu on the left show only its icons, for more room for mail; a dot marks places with unread mail. Point at it, or drag mail onto it, and it opens over the mail. The button brings it back in full.