Unable to drag and drop outlook attachments to file explorer after new outlook preview turned on

Elie K 545

Hi Everyone,

Out organisation is now being prompted to try the new outlook version in preview. We have noticed that in this new version you cannot drag and drop attached files in an email to file explorer (downloads, OneDrive etc) you have to actually download the file and then move it to the required folder. This was possible in version 2304 build 16327.20248, but not the new preview.

Is this feature not available for the new version or is it a bug?

Meredith Koogler 345 Reputation points

2023-08-21T11:56:43.8266667+00:00

When is this resolution expected? I like the new outlook but I don't have the time toggle back and forth, it is a huge waste of time.

Why would you not include this function in a new layout?
Richard Yelland 181 Reputation points

2023-08-22T09:17:50.6666667+00:00

Looks like we are going back to the stone age, come on MS you can do better!
Santy 70 Reputation points

2023-09-01T19:25:31.59+00:00

Now i don't see the option anymore to toggle back to the classic version. It's getting worse...
Jane Jackson 165 Reputation points

2023-09-08T12:53:05.16+00:00

Ludicrous not to include it - I use it ALL the time, at least 10 times a day if not more!
Mark Farrington 130 Reputation points

2023-09-11T08:02:33.4166667+00:00

this needs rectifying asap.

Even the older version of outlooks isn't working correctly anymore.
Cyril Merienne 70 Reputation points

2023-09-13T15:52:35.2166667+00:00

Same here, instead of dragging and dropping a file in the proper folder, I need to selected it, download it, go to the download folder and drag and drop it from there to the proper one. Who is the GENIUS at Microsoft that keeps ruining good features?!
Santy 70 Reputation points

2023-09-13T16:49:29.07+00:00

We need a petition for this xD
Cyril Merienne 70 Reputation points

2023-09-13T16:54:36.09+00:00

It's pretty obvious the goal is to force the usage of One Drive to increase its dependency and ultimately the memberships. Same for attaching a file, it now shows a split screen asking if you want to use one drive or attach the file. All this is purely driven by business decision making at the expense of ergonomics.
Mark Smith 40 Reputation points

2023-09-28T18:55:10.6833333+00:00

So, we can't drag and drop attachments, and we can't "Save As". The only option is to download them to Downloads folder, then go find it in that folder and move it to the folder I want it in? This is extraordinarily inconvenient. I understand it is probably for "safety", but safety always comes at a cost of convenience. This one isn't worth it.
Meredith Wiles 15 Reputation points

2023-11-09T19:16:49.07+00:00

It's November and I am still dealing with this :( there's a lot I like about the update but this is too painful. Switching back!
Sebastian Kuhlmann 30 Reputation points

2023-11-29T13:21:23.3566667+00:00

Aboslute must and high priority to fix it! Love the new outlook, but that missing functionality is a disaster for every day work.
Michael Drakopoulos 25 Reputation points

2023-12-05T13:45:50.92+00:00

I can't believe MS is forcing organisations to move to the new Outlook when the 90% of the users are daily drag and ropping files. Y'all at Microsoft must be proud of your creation...
Tamaryn Harris 30 Reputation points

2023-12-06T23:13:17.9233333+00:00

Agree - this is ridiculous. We should be aiming at LESS clicks for the sake of efficiency, and somehow we now have more clicks for this basic function. Why on earth?
Jo 10 Reputation points

2024-01-09T02:14:32.7+00:00

Can I request to have this function back? This is so inconvenient. Download and save.

And when open attachment from an email, I cannot go back to edit or draft my reply. I need to close the opened attactments.
Hall, Chris 5 Reputation points

2024-01-12T19:52:31.7933333+00:00

In project management, it's also helpful to drag and drop the message into file explorer so the attachments and any supporting language in the email are captured together.
Give us our drag and drop back! People have been commenting on it over 6 months now.
Stefan Cramer 5 Reputation points

2024-01-19T14:17:23.4+00:00
They are getting rid of VBA after 27 years, already have in the new outlook

They screwed up Notepad's simplicity to make it more and what? More browser like??

Now they take drag and drop and break that functionality. Functionality that has been with us the last 32 years since windows 3.1

What is next on their list for removing control from the user and breaking their flow? All for what so those who do not utilize PCs to their fullest can't break something.

WHAT'S NEXT WINDOWS SE BECOMES THE ONLY AVAILIBLE WINDOWS? Sad.

Be aware that the simple drag and drop issues of attachments is not the only drag and drop they have broken.

They also made context menus random and inconsistent playing the shell game with some of the most used functions as icons. or buried in more options. It takes a real knob to think that copy path should take precedence over just plain copy.

They continue to prove time and time again that they have no interest in becoming more efficient or even staying as efficient as they once were. It's pathetic.
Azad Lassiter 5 Reputation points

2024-01-31T21:30:53.6033333+00:00

wow i assumed this would be a quick fix. here we are 1/2 a year later. still no fix
Paige Reardon 5 Reputation points

2024-02-01T02:04:50.0333333+00:00

Microsoft, please fix. This issue irritates me literally every day I use Outlook and significantly reduces efficiency.
Toby Young 5 Reputation points

2024-02-16T00:32:42.2266667+00:00

Why would you make something "new" but worse?
Eva Wilk 5 Reputation points

2024-02-27T12:22:45.9466667+00:00

Why was this not implemented? This should be a basic functionality. It takes forever to sort multiple attachements into several folders if I have to click and select a folder for each one of them. Please fix this asap.
Dennison, Lori 0 Reputation points

2024-03-04T15:26:20.1466667+00:00

I receive documents every day. Dropping and dragging to my files was so easy. Downloading and selecting a file takes a lot of time over my 8 hour day. I can longer see new emails in my old version.

MS truly needs to do better.
KBrown 0 Reputation points

2024-03-21T17:09:20.13+00:00

Feels like Microsoft took a 10-year step backwards! After updating to Windows 11 there is NO drag and drop ability to drop attachments into new mail in outlook?! (still using OLD outlook as the "new" one is awful). What on earth? This one is enough loose all respect. This is a common sense need/requirement EXPECTATION at this point. To have to go into the whole "attach... and thru the directory/file system to find a file to attach (heaven forbid you have to attach multiple files from multiple locations it takes FOREVER!) Do better. Good thing our company has been contemplating moving over to Apple for a while now (and moving away from all things MS based). This has prompted them to accelerate the implementation of new systems and programs. Can not wait until the migration happens. Microsoft is intolerable any longer.
Marc-Antoine Lachance 30 Reputation points

2024-04-11T11:53:25.2366667+00:00

Seriously!!! As bad as the rest concerning new Outlook. Why creating something as bad as this without function that are commun to almost all software that exist. You would be better not doing anything.
Kristi Carter 0 Reputation points

2024-05-04T17:40:45.8166667+00:00

This is incredibly frustrating and really slows my productivity, I use this feature all day every day. AND my previous version no longer works properly, the font spacing is extreme so even my short signature line is spread across the whole page and onto 2 lines. I think they put in little weird bugs to compel you to upgrade, so now my hands are tied. I do like some other features of the new version, but this is a huge problem for me and a time suck.
Santy 70 Reputation points

2024-05-07T10:47:19.4566667+00:00

Maybe a petition would do?
Here's one on Change.org: https://chng.it/bZCskhkKPM
Go sign it all!
Shona Anderson 0 Reputation points

2024-07-24T20:00:39.97+00:00

it is now almost August 2024 and this has not been resolved yet. I can't believe Microsoft would have forgotten to add this drag and drop feature for pictures. Are they working on it?
Steve Longobardo 0 Reputation points

2024-09-24T18:24:26.16+00:00

Same problem here. MS Sucks. Google has web based email (Because that is what the Beta is) and you can do it on their platform. Get it together MS. You also lost the ability to Drag an appointment from one screen to another which you could do in the old version. Great looking update but to many useful features have been lost. Get it together MS.
Crystal 0 Reputation points

2024-10-17T16:48:33.2966667+00:00

It's been 1 1/2 years since Microsoft has been notified with no resolutions. I just updated to Windows 11 and I'm currently having the same issue with drag and drop functions. Specifically down to the pin/shortcuts on the bottom taskbar on my desktop when dragging to an email or to file explorer.

The only work around for me is splitting the screen on my computer then dragging and dropping the files in file explorer, on my desktop and MS Teams. Hope this helps others while waiting for a fix to this bug.

FYI, I've also noticed that when you want to combine PDF files you have to right click and select show more options which will get you the option to combine files in Adobe Acrobat. Just another step added to the process.

Accepted answer

Faery Fu-MSFT 18,816 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2023-05-29T02:45:18.9933333+00:00

Hi @Elie K ,

Dragging and dropping messages and attachments is currently not supported in New Outlook for Windows, and this work is in progress and will be available in the future. As a workaround, you can switch back to the classic Outlook at any time by clicking the toggle button in the top right corner of the window.

Many features of our current products are designed and upgraded based on customers’ feedback. With requirements like this increase, the problem may well be released in the future. someone has already submitted this feedback, you can vote for him through this link, if you have any feedback or additional suggestions for improvements, please post the functions you expect and your sincere suggestions.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment". Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.
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26 people found this answer helpful.
Elie K 545 Reputation points

2023-06-05T02:14:04.9633333+00:00

Thanks for the comment, I will vote.

Wendy Allsop 25 Reputation points

2023-06-28T11:22:46.11+00:00

Most of my time is spent attaching emails to calendar appointments, switching between the two versions is not an option. I like the new outlook layout but useless for me until drag n drop is added!

Jeanette Carbaugh 15 Reputation points

2023-08-08T15:24:25.4933333+00:00

Missing this feature too. I use it on a daily basis, attaching confirmations into another app I use. Please expedite!

Gracie Williams 35 Reputation points

2023-08-15T15:50:08.27+00:00

Dragging and dropping and copy and paste are both faster for daily production. I have a lot of emails and I don't have time to find my download folder and retrieve each file and move it to job folder. It's annoying. I like the new layout but it's hard to distinguish between read emails and new emails. The difference is so suddle it causes me to miss things that need to be addressed right away. I wish I could drag the bar on the left to the bottom. It's in my display's way.

Joe 55 Reputation points

2023-08-17T16:14:54.26+00:00

How is this still not resolved? It is such a basic and vital function of any email handling service.

Russo, Luigi 20 Reputation points

2023-09-14T17:07:07.4933333+00:00

I cannot believe this is the official answer... I'm limited to believe such a useful function (I use to do that operation hundreds time a day) Must be kept with the current and every further updates. Hope MS will reconsider such a fundamental and traditional capability. We should not vote to reconquer such a logical thing we HAD till yesterday!

Roel Dirks | PCB Electronics 15 Reputation points

2023-09-19T15:10:03.4+00:00

"Many features of our current products are designed and upgraded based on customers’ feedback"

Yes, I bet you get hundreds of e-mails a day asking people to remove the drag and drop feature.

Same with logging in here. I can't set my country unless I click " please send me spam e-mails" It's all just to force people into a certain direction. Please add this feature back in please. You won't.

Mark Smith 40 Reputation points

2023-09-28T18:58:01.2366667+00:00

The problem is that the old Outlook is now SO SLOW that it is almost unusable. Whatever has been done broke the old Outlook, too.

Trevor Downing 20 Reputation points

2023-10-10T14:13:31.7866667+00:00

Now October and this issue is still causing me enough grief that I came to this forum to complain.

Please fix this problem outlook.

Jie 15 Reputation points

2023-10-16T17:44:51.2533333+00:00

PLEASE FIX THIS ASAP!!

Michael Muenich 15 Reputation points

2023-10-26T14:47:55.4733333+00:00

This is not acceptable for a beta release. Similarly, why are the recently used files not included in the file attachment button like they were previously?

Chris Hogan 20 Reputation points

2023-10-31T18:37:07.86+00:00

This issue is a deal breaker. The new outlook has some flashy features which are OK. However a streamlined workflow requires the ability to quickly drag and drop attachments from email windows, directly to open folder locations. I don't have time to "download" and navigate to folder locations. In my workflow, I generally already have the folder location open or open within 1-2 navigation bar clicks. I am not going to take the extra time to add the extra workflow if an email client already exists (old Outlook) that doesn't require it.

Roy F 15 Reputation points

2023-11-19T22:11:35.4066667+00:00

Hopeless as usual. What sort of "organisation" are you Microsoft?? Every time you make a change, the users lose out and the application goes backwards. So much shit in your programs that the majority never use, and you add more shit and take away the useful features.

Where is Outlooks simple to use SPAM blocking button?? Users have to revert to third party programs to keep the spam at bay, and fix what your hopeless programmers can't manage. And your APP for Android is even worse. So bad I have deleted it now (again) and do without email access on my phone. No wonder people go to Apple.

Your help system is SOOO hopeless, it is not worth attempting to find an answer, and users are much better off going to third party.

Drew 10 Reputation points

2023-11-20T00:00:20.17+00:00

MS, this issue has been ongoing for months. When do you plan to correct it? Why would a feature be removed from an 'update' without soliciting user feedback? Clearly this feature is one that is important to both by personal and professional users. An update on timing of release would be appreciated.

Drew, Chris (DTMB-Contractor) 10 Reputation points

2023-12-01T16:02:07.11+00:00

I am not able to "switch back to the classic Outlook at any time by clicking the toggle button in the top right corner of the window." as the button is no longer there. Please advise.

Jeremy J. Bauer 5 Reputation points

2024-01-16T19:43:31.34+00:00

I agree with everyone else that drag-and-drop from Outlook to explorer (or desktop, etc.) is absolutely essential! So much inefficient time wasting now by having to download, go to the download folder, then drag and drop to the intended destination.
As a sign of hope, the NEW Outlook did not have dictation for quite a while, but now has the dictation capability. So, I am hopeful that something this obvious will be corrected soon. Microsoft, help us be more efficient!

Nadine Dunlop 5 Reputation points

2024-01-24T19:13:45.44+00:00

What's the ETA for this function? Surely someone knows??

Purchasing Verka 5 Reputation points

2024-02-02T18:58:10.86+00:00

Can someone tell us how long is this going to take to fix

CF 5 Reputation points

2024-02-26T08:26:26.67+00:00

Why are people thanking for something that should not have been removed at all? How is this acceptable to remove features and only expect to add them if people ask enough for them? This is really bad project management from my point of view!

Bobbi Kloss 15 Reputation points

2024-03-26T15:07:02.0733333+00:00

if you want us to use the new system don't say switch back and forth. fix it please i use this feature mutiple times throughout the day and a lame response is "toggle back and forth".

Bobbi Kloss 15 Reputation points

2024-03-26T15:09:28.9066667+00:00

Also need the most recently used files being available for attachments. this new syswtem has slowed me down tremendously. New outlook should have at minimum the same functionality as old.

Peter Hepburn 5 Reputation points

2024-04-15T05:17:13.0033333+00:00

you must be kidding, this wasn't even the main reason that I didn't want to change to the "new" outlook, but it's the reason I wont be any time soon, what a joke.

Lionel Guetta 5 Reputation points

2024-04-19T08:50:42.2166667+00:00

Any delivery target ? It's so bad to step back like that

Schick, Sebastian 0 Reputation points

2024-05-06T07:31:16.65+00:00

Now it's May 2024 and this feature (for me a key feature) is still not available. Without this feature I will go with with classic version (although I like the new Outlook in general).

Scott Will 0 Reputation points

2024-05-08T20:41:08.8466667+00:00

Seriously? This is such a productivity killer. Yea, the OLD Outlook is full of quirks with the New Outlook overlay. Hurry up with the drag and drop please!!

Eddie Mottern 0 Reputation points

2024-05-16T15:25:27.2933333+00:00

It's been a year. How much longer?

Mike Busby 0 Reputation points

2024-05-20T22:47:39.5966667+00:00

really unhandy, unproductive, and ill-advised to not have this available at roll out.

Lorena Murphy 0 Reputation points

2024-05-29T16:33:09.3066667+00:00

I use this feature all day long. Besides being at a loss what was wrong with it,it immensely affected the amount of work I completed trying to get it to work as normal (of course I found this out with a huge project I needed it for). Not impressed with the choice to remove this function.

Gina S 10 Reputation points

2024-06-04T17:56:03.0533333+00:00

I am now able to drag and drop attachments from the new outlook to windows explorer. It's been working for at least a month. Not sure how this happened, but I will take it.

Michael Drakopoulos 25 Reputation points

2024-06-04T18:06:14.65+00:00

After the comment above, I tried the new outlook and the drag & drop feature seems to be working. Can someone else confirm?

Jordi Ricart 0 Reputation points

2024-06-04T20:09:30.19+00:00

Confirmed - it works now !

Santy 70 Reputation points

2024-06-04T22:22:13.88+00:00

Yes working again, halleluja!

Tijn Kahmann | Vesting Accountants 5 Reputation points

2024-06-05T06:56:48.3466667+00:00

Drag and drop into sharepoint still doesn't work on my end. Does it work with you? We use this a lot...

Schick, Sebastian 0 Reputation points

2024-06-05T06:57:08.2933333+00:00

yes, it's working with File Explorer but not with Teams and SharePoint as with the classic version. For doing this, I need to sync the libraries with OneDrive. I hope that it will work with SharePoint and Teams directly in the near future as well.

Bruce Reiersen 0 Reputation points

2024-07-11T18:56:51.35+00:00

I switched back to the "Classic" Version of Outlook and lost ALL of my signatures.

Thomson, Eric D 0 Reputation points

2024-09-26T14:47:59.0633333+00:00

How has this taken 18 months since first reported to fix? Not too many compelling reasons to use new Outlook, and obviously the development team/management are out-of-touch with what many Outlook users, at least in IT, do on a daily basis.

Heather Kasimoff 0 Reputation points

2024-09-30T13:36:01.44+00:00

I have a problem trying to switch back to the older version of Microsoft Outlook, it won't let me, and it removes my other domain emails, and won't let me add all of them. It even took me a while to get it added to the new version of outlook. I had no problems with the old version. Why do they have to change it? If it's not broken, why fix it?
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DP 130 Reputation points

2023-08-28T12:00:00.83+00:00

You have got to be kidding!!!!!!! Who could have left this off of the the update? This is a tool we use multiple times a day. You are the might Microsoft. What is happening over there? You tout ChatGPt and now nothing works the same. Please fix this today.
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26 people found this answer helpful.
Shaun Hughes 0 Reputation points

2024-03-19T16:27:12.4+00:00

Agreed!!!!!

Lorena Murphy 0 Reputation points

2024-05-29T16:25:29.0033333+00:00

We deal with a vast amount of documents in research and billing. This slowed my production down immensely, not impressed with the choice to remove this option.
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Steven 85 Reputation points

2023-10-16T17:57:42.16+00:00
agreed. major set back on the new ver.

can't drag/move attachments. what a waste of time to download everything first then move. even worse when there 2+ attachments, have to zip/unzip ...;

no more auto upper case on the first letter when starting a sentence;

unable to turn off preview. this is extremely annoying. i need to open the spreadsheets by excel, period.
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17 people found this answer helpful.
Eric Doll 0 Reputation points

2024-01-19T14:18:45.6566667+00:00

Thanks for your comment with the other critical features not being available. Im reverting back for sure now.
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savaged 65 Reputation points

2023-09-26T07:16:16.9733333+00:00

This is a major set back for our business! Please stop MS!
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13 people found this answer helpful.

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WolfgangD 55 Reputation points

2023-10-04T11:32:21.3933333+00:00

This is unbelievable. Some decision makers at MS are far away from daily business needs. I kind of like the new version, until day 2. Have to go back to the old version.
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11 people found this answer helpful.
Jo 10 Reputation points

2024-03-20T09:41:32.7866667+00:00

How come when I opened the attachments from outlook. The attachment has occupied the whole screen and I cannot go back to open another message to check or compare. That is so stupid. Every day I used this new outlook, every day I find it very annoying................. we are talking about Chatgpt today.. It is worser than before.. How could that be......

DP 130 Reputation points

2024-05-06T10:31:44.72+00:00

MS is not going to fix this apparently. It has been over a year and nothing has happened. They will just make us work around it until it is no longer an option to use the old version, and then, we will have to switch.

It is hard to believe that in this age of AI that we cannot get a simple drag and drop in a new format after a year or requesting the change.
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Unable to drag and drop outlook attachments to file explorer after new outlook preview turned on

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