when will classic outlook end

Barry A Sorkin 130

when will classic outlook end , what date has been given

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Matt Metz 15 Reputation points

2026-07-30T12:32:17.83+00:00
New Outlook is unsatisfactory on so many levels. Deficiencies include:

No unified displays - that is, for those of use with many accounts, there is no way to search for a consolidated inbox, consolidated sent items, etc.

Does not accept *@domain.com email addresses, such as used for catch-all accounts on Ionos and other hosting companies..

Ability to "send from other email address" is clunky compared to Outlook Classic

No calendar conditional formatting

Does not support CalDAV or CardDAV for those of us who wish to host our own calendar and contacts on non-Exchange accounts.

No VBA code, required for much functionality, special filtering, etc.

I will NEVER use New Outlook. eM Client is not as good as Outlook Classic, but is far better than New Outlook.

Answer accepted by question author and recommended by moderator

Anonymous

Hi @Barry A Sorkin,

Good day to you! Welcome to Microsoft Q&A.

Thank you for your great question. For your information, classic Outlook for Windows will officially begin its opt-out phase in April 2026, meaning it will no longer be the default experience for most users. At that point, Microsoft will start transitioning users to the new Outlook, which offers a modern interface and improved integration across Microsoft 365 services.

However, it's important to note that support for classic Outlook will continue until at least 2029 for users who installed it via perpetual licensing (such as Office LTSC) or Microsoft 365 subscription plans that include desktop apps. This extended support ensures that organizations relying on classic Outlook for business-critical workflows can continue using it safely and securely for several more years.

Microsoft has outlined a three-stage migration process:

Opt-in phase – currently active, allowing users to try the new Outlook while retaining access to classic Outlook.
Opt-out phase – starting April 2026, the new Outlook becomes the default, but users can still revert to classic Outlook if needed.
Cutover phase – at a future date (not yet announced), classic Outlook will be fully retired for most users, and new installations will only include the new Outlook.

If you're using Outlook through a Microsoft 365 subscription or have a perpetual license like Office LTSC 2021 or 2024, you’ll continue to receive updates and support for classic Outlook beyond 2026. This includes security patches and compatibility maintenance.

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

I'm looking forward for your reply.

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lily 0 Reputation points

2026-02-10T02:49:46.3+00:00

I received an email from [Moderator note: personal information removed] about switching to new version of email. Failure to switch will result in immediate termination of my email account. Is this a legit request? Or spam?
Hornblower409 14,820 Reputation points

2026-02-10T02:58:14.1733333+00:00

@lily said

I received an email [from aol.com] about switching to new version of email. Failure to switch will result in immediate termination of my email account. Is this a legit request? Or spam?

AOL did make some changes to their plans November 2025. But not to AOL email.

https://help.aol.com/articles/changes-to-netscape-isp

Rest assured, your Netscape/AOL email account will remain active and accessible at mail.aol.com at no cost after November 30, 2025. No action is required on your part to keep your email service.

Is that you question?

Anything else, concerning Classic Outlook or your outlook.com email account, is Spam.
Barry A Sorkin 130 Reputation points

2026-02-10T10:01:21.2+00:00

Not my ? , I have classic Outlook through a MSFT 365 subscription & wanted to know when that classic outlook expires date wise to know when to get another email platform as dont at this time like new outlooks features and its hard to use
Hornblower409 14,820 Reputation points

2026-02-10T18:25:17.6033333+00:00

@Barry A Sorkin said

I have classic Outlook through a MSFT 365 subscription & wanted to know when that classic outlook expires date wise to know when to get another email platform as dont at this time like new outlooks features and its hard to use

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5554339/when-will-classic-outlook-end

support for classic Outlook will continue until at least 2029 for users who installed it via perpetual licensing (such as Office LTSC) or Microsoft 365 subscription plans that include desktop apps.
MYRIAM GAVIRIA 0 Reputation points

2026-02-12T19:40:43.8633333+00:00

In the microsoft how much do I have to pay? When I hit upgrade and after putting in my email address it sends me to credit card info. Help is appreciated as the email I received yesterday reads that classic version will be retired tomorrow February 13 2026.
Hornblower409 14,820 Reputation points

2026-02-12T22:44:46.31+00:00

@MYRIAM GAVIRIA said

as the email I received yesterday reads that classic version will be retired tomorrow February 13 2026.

This is a SCAM email that has been reported by many people. Do NOT reply to it. Do NOT click on any embedded links.

If you want to report it, see:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/phishing-and-suspicious-behavior-in-outlook-0d882ea5-eedc-4bed-aebc-079ffa1105a3

Reporting tech support scams

Help Microsoft stop false-tech-support scammers -- whether they claim to be from Microsoft or from another tech company. Report tech support scams at this link: https://msrc.microsoft.com/report/
Rachel Gaalswyk 0 Reputation points

2026-07-07T22:36:36.85+00:00

The new outlook is terrible, why can users not continue to use the classic version? If I wanted my outlook to look like online, I would use the online version. What are you going to offer to make the experience more user friendly? I do NOT find the new outlook user friendly, everything from the color scheme being hard on my eyes (even messing the settings does not fix this), finding it difficult to see categories, and even my to do list is now a giant window instead of a small bar on the right of my app. Microsoft is purposefully slowing down my experience to get me to switch and it is horrible.
Hornblower409 14,820 Reputation points

2026-07-07T23:23:12.1166667+00:00

@Rachel Gaalswyk said

why can users not continue to use the classic version?

Classic Outlook will continue to be available and supported until at least 2029.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5554339/when-will-classic-outlook-end

support for classic Outlook will continue until at least 2029 for users who installed it via perpetual licensing (such as Office LTSC) or Microsoft 365 subscription plans that include desktop apps

Are you having problems switching back to Classic Outlook?
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/toggle-out-of-the-new-outlook-for-windows-ec102b39-5727-418e-ae1f-a1805434640c

Or are you having problems in Classic Outlook that you can not fix?
If so, start a new thread using the "Ask a question" button at the top of this page to create a new Question and include the details for your specific Classic Outlook problems.

8 additional answers

Manu 20 Reputation points

2026-02-10T16:18:23.47+00:00

Any way to modify the behaviour on april 2026 to keep Outlook classic as the default version via, for instance, an Intune policy?
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Barry A Sorkin 130 Reputation points

2026-02-10T16:37:15.8633333+00:00

will Have to go to 3rdparty service maybe like thunderbird

Hornblower409 14,820 Reputation points

2026-02-10T18:32:25.5833333+00:00

@Manu said

Any way to modify the behaviour on april 2026 to keep Outlook classic as the default version via, for instance, an Intune policy?

There is no need for you to do anything to continue to use Classic Outlook for Windows.

If Microsoft does try to switch you to New Outlook for Windows there are settings you can change to ensure that it stays on Classic Outlook.

See this article from @Diane Poremsky (Microsoft MVP) for details.

https://www.slipstick.com/outlook/classic-outlook-2026/

Manu 20 Reputation points

2026-02-11T10:20:19.37+00:00

Thanks for the answer! I know I still can use it but from a user perspective, it might be a little bit "cumbersome" having to switch back to classic instead of managing/forcing that behavior from InTune, for example.

Hornblower409 14,820 Reputation points

2026-02-11T15:52:56.4866667+00:00

@Manu said

managing/forcing that behavior [New Outlook adoption] from InTune, for example.

I can't speak to InTune. There are some Policies and Registry changes you can play with:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-apps/outlook/get-started/control-install
Barry A Sorkin 130 Reputation points

2026-02-10T16:37:22.2433333+00:00

will Have to go to 3rdparty service maybe like thunderbird
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Hornblower409 14,820 Reputation points

2026-02-10T18:38:36.7433333+00:00

That is not correct. Please see my answers and comments in this thread and the Microsoft Support Article

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5554339/when-will-classic-outlook-end

Matt Metz 15 Reputation points

2026-07-30T12:37:26.9133333+00:00

Note that Thunderbird, while a great program, does NOT have native support for Exchange accounts.

Hornblower409 14,820 Reputation points

2026-07-30T16:05:06.8766667+00:00

@Matt Metz said

Thunderbird ... does NOT have native support for Exchange accounts

Thunderbird Adds Native Microsoft Exchange Email Support
https://blog.thunderbird.net/2025/11/thunderbird-adds-native-microsoft-exchange-email-support/
Hornblower409 14,820 Reputation points

2026-02-10T18:37:03.9233333+00:00

@Barry A Sorkin said

will Have to go to 3rdparty service maybe like thunderbird

That is not required. You can continue to use Classic Outlook for Windows.

If you do not already have Classic Outlook for Windows, there are four ways to get it:

1 - Buy a Microsoft 365 subscription that includes downloadable Desktop Apps.

As of May 2025 this is all plans except "Microsoft 365 Basic" and "Microsoft 365 Business Basic".

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-apps/outlook/get-started/licensing-options#frequently-asked-questions

For some subscriptions (e.g. MS 365 Family), the default installer does not include Classic Outlook. You have to download and install it separately.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/install-or-reinstall-classic-outlook-on-a-windows-pc-5c94902b-31a5-4274-abb0-b07f4661edf5

2 - Buy a perpetual license for Office Home & Business 2024 which includes Classic Outlook for Windows.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/office-home-business-2024/cfq7ttc0pbm7

3 - Buy a perpetual license for Classic Outlook for Windows.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/outlook/cfq7ttc0pbmd

4 - Corporate Volume Licensing (Office LTSC 2024).

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/ltsc/2024/overview

None of this applies to Mac. You can only get New Outlook for Mac. No Legacy.
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Barry A Sorkin 130 Reputation points

2026-02-11T16:14:06.7266667+00:00

Thanks but you misunderstood or I errored in explanation. I have classic outlook in MSFT 365 subscription for years. I am saying when classic ends before that like in 2028 sometime I will add thunderbird , learn it and maybe use both until classic ends
Scott Toenniessen 5 Reputation points

2026-03-08T05:27:57.71+00:00

If classic outlook is discontinued that very well may force me to migrate off of O365. The new outlook is not even close yet in functionality

I need the VB for Apps support as I have custom code I run for backing up my email. Further I need pst and auto archive support.

Along with the above, the new version is just plain clunky and hard to use. It is like switching from Excel to Microsoft Works.

I feel MSFT had a good strategy going over all but is now losing it. Getting rid of the password vault support on authenticator was a big mistake and just forced me to migrate that use case to iCloud. MS Access seems to have been left to die and what has gone down with Win11 and the rumors of what will happen in Win12 are discouraging.
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when will classic outlook end

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