Outlook Desktop 2016 new design? March 2024. Why does Outlook look different today?

Yes! So glad someone else noticed this - exactly the same happened to me, and I hate the new waste of screen real estate! I hate it even more that ms thought it was ok to change a bunch of stuff without asking me whether it's what I wanted, or giving me the option to refuse.

I posted for a fix here: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook\_com/forum/all/the-format-of-my-email-messages-has-changed-how-do/4f109737-5323-476d-ab74-76da7b6cc818

and got a reply about how to roll back to a previous version. Apologies, I don't know how to link directly to that reply post, but it's the second post from Diane Poremsky.

Update: My version wasn't listed on the latest releases, but had a lower sequence number than the 29 March update, so following Diane's instructions, I reverted to the 12 March update Version 2402 (Build 17328.20184), which fixed the problem and put everything back the way it was.

Then provide a solution which allows the old compose screen with updates turned on. The new screen is un-functionable for many. Spend a minute and think about that. The old screen is functionable. In fact, when I had Office 2013 as a workaround I was amazed at how easy it was on the eyes and how easy it was to read. The new screens may look "pretty" to the young programming teams designing them, but to those of us without their youthful eyesight, the new screens are nothing more than made by children playing with fingerpaints to entertain themselves. If a product is to be meaningful, it must meet everyone's needs. Ironically, those who are in the age bracket who can see the light lines prefer methods of communication other than e-mail. It is those of us who have used it for 25+ years who are still using it, and our eyes are not what they were 25 years ago. If someone says to themselves that it is too bad for older people then think about that statement - they are saying it is Ok to discriminate.

This solved it for me too. Thank you.

For Outlook/Office 2016: open command prompt as admin

type and hit enter. Office will update to this version:

"C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun\officec2rclient.exe" /update user updatetoversion=16.0.17328.20184

This will revert Outlook/Office 2016 to the March 12, 2024 version. Under account, office update, set the dropdown to never update.

METOO.

I have Outlook 2016 and just started a new email today April 10th.

The message looked awful! A plain piece of white paper with a few faint ruled lines!

I paid for a Ferrari and MS changed it to a Lada!

I checked and found: version 2403 (Build 17425.20176 Click-to-Run). ( Note that I installed Office 2016 a few years ago yet they changed it to say Click-to-Run; not sure what that's all about.)

I agree totally with SteveKenthowmany times; give us an update with the proper style of message that we paid for in Outlook 2016 (the "Ferrari" model), and not the children's painting of the new update. As Steve said "...the old compose screen with updates turned on".

I just ran that command to revert versions. Phew, it worked - a professional looking compose form again (The "Ferrari").

I have also disabled updates to protect my Outlook.

From the View tab on the Ribbon, select the Use Tighter Spacing button to help:

Off:

On: