Switch from 'new' Outlook (2023) to 'classic' outlook

Anonymous
2023-04-18T20:26:13+00:00

I need to go back to the Classic version because the 'new' Outlook lacks some features that I need for work.

This webpage https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/getting-started-with-the-new-outlook-for-windows-656bb8d9-5a60-49b2-a98b-ba7822bc7627 states "You can switch back whenever you want, just switch the toggle off in the new Outlook and it will automatically open the classic version."

There is no toggle. Is there any other way I can undo this update and go back to the previous version?

EDIT: Moved FROM Microsoft 365 Insider / Outlook / Windows TO Outlook / Outlook for Windows / For business.

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For home

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Anonymous
2023-04-19T15:15:49+00:00

Once flipped on, the toggle is irrelevant since the "old" version still exists. Just run it. You should still be able to find its shortcut in Start (and wherever else you might have had it before), but if not you will see outlook.exe in one of these places (may vary slightly depending on edition), so if necessary make a new shortcut:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16

or here:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16

The nice thing about the New Outlook is that it's not an either/or proposition (like New Teams is). You have both old and new. You can even run them concurrently.

But if running that actually runs New Outlook for you (some have reported that's the case), then either:

  1. Uninstall Outlook

or

  1. run Regedit.exe and go here (or the same with 15.0, if you don't have 16.0):

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences

And in that you will see UseNewOutlook

Set it to 0, which means that running old Outlook actually runs it.

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-05-15T16:00:58+00:00

    But if I uninstall Outlook then how would I run old Outlook? My licence is for the Office Pro 2016 suite that I bought a few years ago but the actual Office software was downloaded. If I were to download afresh, Microsoft would only allow me to download the new version. Indeed, I think that when I ran the online Office Repair, it downloaded the newest version and overwrote all traces of the previous version.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-05-15T15:47:07+00:00

    Very strange! I might have suggested creating UseNewOutlook and setting it to 0, but earlier testing showed that having it on 0 and it not existing at all (as is the case for you) are the same thing. So, I have no explanation as for what's controlling it in your case.

    But you can uninstall new Outlook, which should then let you run old Outlook. Go to (Windows) Settings, Apps, Installed Apps. And in that list you should see Outlook. Click the little "..." menu alongside it to access Uninstall.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-05-15T10:54:33+00:00

    C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 is full of directories and files:

    I have re-searched the registry and the value UseNewOutlook is definitely absent:

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-05-13T18:04:50+00:00

    Also cannot drag an email or move it from Gmail setup under Outlook to an Outlook folder. Icon now appear beside folder name - this was an option if using Folder tab on old Outlook - looks like Email tab and Folder tab merged somewhat. No Folder tab in sidebar of new Outlook. Cant re-order email folder list in Outlook. Notes no longer on sidebar - now in email folder list. Shortcuts no longer on sidebar. Can't pin Notebook to sidebar. No File tab on top menu - now access is by right clicking email profile name in email folder list or cog wheel at top right. Multiple calendars (I have Outlook and Google) are displayed as overlay - no longer an option to view month side by side, only if select day/week/workweek. Sidebar and top Menu used to be same colour - old Outlook was grey for both using Colourful option, now top menu is white, side menu is light grey - no option to change the colour. '

    New Calendar option, now called Split View in top toolbar - different calendars cannot be viewed side my side using Month - it is greyed out, can only use Split view if selecting Day/Week/Work Week.

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