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
    2023-05-12T19:03:55+00:00

    Doubtful that repair did since that's not its design. Look in that directory path you mentioned. Is it filled with directories and files, including outlook.exe? If so, that's not your problem.

    Assuming that's normal, it's strange that UseNewOutlook doesn't exist in the Registry (HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences) and is set to 1, since that's how it's behaving for you. Perhaps take another look to be sure.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-05-12T15:06:08+00:00

    Hello rseiler, I toggled to the new view Outlook without thinking. I subsequently discovered that the new version does not allow me to drag and drop an email into Tasks, and add notes etc. When I searched for a solution, it was suggested that I repair Office. I did this using online data repair but I was still unable to drag and drop my emails into Tasks where I can also add notes, so I have tried to return to the previous Outlook version (on Windows 10 computer). The toggle is absent, and when I click on Outlook.exe from C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 the new version opens. I have looked in the registry folder you have suggested and the key UseNewOutlook is absent. I wonder if running the Repair has actually deleted all traces of the previous version from my computer. Do you have any suggestions of what I could do to get the previous version back?

    Many thanks.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-05-10T19:11:00+00:00

    Slide toggle to off to return to old Outlook:

    I need to customize the new Outlook as I had other items in the top toolbar.

    Or go to Start, All Apps, locate Outlook-Pre, right click and choose uninstall.

    I prefer the old Outlook but will take some time to customize and get used to placement of the commands on the new version.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-05-10T18:48:24+00:00

    Yes I see it in my apps. I still prefer old Outlook. Minimal issues like the new Outlook shows a folder icon beside the folder name which I don't really like. (this was how email showed if I chose the Folder option in the side bar of the old Outlook.) Plus, the new sidebar is missing Notes and Shortcuts. The top menu bar stays white, old Outlook was grey. I have the toggle in the top right of Outlook if I want to open it so I don't need to go into apps for the new Outlook or create a shortcut to the desktop. I guess like everything else, it will take time to get used to the changes.

    OLD OUTLOOK: Email tab on side bar - Folders have no icon beside folder name. Folders can be re-ordered

    Image

    OLD OUTLOOK: Folder tab on sidebar - shows all email and icon beside folder name

    Image

    NEW OUTLOOK: Email tab on sidebar - shows icon beside folder name, Folder tab from previous version removed. Email folders cannot be reordered. OneNote cannot be pinned. Sidebar is missing Notes, Shortcuts

    Image

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