How to permanently prevent Outlook for Mac from switching to the new GUI?

I agree completely. I tried the New Outlook for Mac. Found it lacking some very key features. Switched back to legacy and once agin it is forcing me to try the New Mac. I DON'T WANT TO SWITCH. I don't like that it is forcing me to change to something that doesn't work It takes time to switch and then time to switch back.

They need to come up with a way to remove the force change.

Uhm. Maybe because some functionality is not working?

Of course, I know you are right: eventually, it's an end-of-life situation and we are simply forced to use the New Outlook for Mac.

Like I said at the beginning: I am not against updates, upgrades, changes, and improvements. I simply dislike being forced to getting switched to something that doesn't fully work (yet).

I am generally very happy with Microsoft Office. I understand Microsoft needs to streamline apps and services. Over time there will always be situations like this. I am not against that. But not being able to opt out of a switch like this, being fully aware that some features are not working, is very annoying.

Outlook power users that use it across platforms/OS's and are depending on it for daily business and operation should not be confronted with this, until a switch offers at least the same capabilities as today's version.

I 100% agree with you... They have been pushing this new "upgrade" for a while... and they have forced the update several times. Each time it is forced... I revert back to the "old" version. I like it better... it works better... UGH..

So, here we go again.

This is very, very annoying.

I DO NOT WANT ANY PIECE OF SOFTWARE TO DECIDE FOR ME WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

It simply states that it will start in the new version at a restart of the app. There is no choice. There is no way to prevent this from happening.

I did not and will not toggle the switch to start the New Outlook for Mac, for all the reasons I gave before. It is a tedious and unnecessary procedure to go through. I simply want to have a preference setting that says NO to this invasive way of pushing something I do not want, until it offers at least the same functionality and is at least as stable as what's offered in today's (legacy) version.

Business users and power users are concerned about stability and compatibility. For them, this is a serious matter, as they have to be able to rely on their productivity tools. The way Microsoft is pushing this, is beyond reasonable and very, very frustrating.

Been in contact with Microsoft Support. Very nice person explaining how to at least disable the switch/toggle and get it removed from the top bar in the app.

Using Terminal, it's possible to disable the switch by entering the following:

defaults write com.microsoft.Outlook EnableNewOutlook -int 0

As found on the Deployment Guide page on the Microsoft Documentation area:

This does not change the fact that Microsoft seems to keep pushing the New Outlook for Mac onto us.

Notice:

Please, everyone, if you think this should get the proper attention of Microsoft, make sure you raise your concerns in any way possible. Meaning: use the built-in support function in the Outlook app, or get to the User Voice / Feedback platform and make your voice heard. The more people complain, the bigger the chance it will get noticed.

Go to: https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com

And raise this issue again and again, until it's clear users are not happy with the approach or the changes.