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

Anonymous

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.

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Anonymous

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:

Uninstall Outlook

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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177 additional answers

Anonymous

2023-05-10T17:52:40+00:00

Its frustrating to see so many people keep saying "oh its so easy to switch back just click a button" which is completely untrue for some depending on god knows what factors.

I made the mistake of trying the new look version, which i was originally able to turn off, but after a week or two it suddenly became the default option, to the point old outlook would open and instantly close to boot the new one (even trying some of the previous methods of finding the old launch etc).

Im not necessarily recommending this but for me I removed the "Microsoft Edge Webview2 Runtime" in the Apps & features within settings, Outlook does need this to open so you intially will get an error but will be prompted to download it again, I didnt actually agree to the download and it just appeared again about 10minutes later and Outlook was back to the old look with the "Try new outlook" prompt back in the corner as if it hadnt ever been activated.

No idea if its replicatable, but just my steps since everyone seems to be having different experiences.
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Anonymous

2023-05-10T17:31:30+00:00

If you go to your start menu, you should see two versions of Outlook. I have two. One is the old version and the other one is the new one. Hopefully this helps you get back to the old one. There are alot of missing features in the new version that is needed for my job.
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Anonymous

2023-05-10T17:12:44+00:00

I dont have the view button either and I am stuck on the new outlook, which doesn't have features needed. Please end instructions on how to get back to classic. When I do got to view settings it will not allow me to click on change or customize your view.

Thank you
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Anonymous

2023-05-10T17:03:04+00:00

On Windows? I'd be curious if the Registry item I mentioned is actually changing state when you close Outlook. If it's not changing, what value is it?
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