New Outlook vs Old Outlook

Hello LeeMan888

Hi, I'm Karl and will be happy to help you today.

It would have been helpful had you included the link to the thread you are referring to get a frame of reference.

That aside, without knowing anything else, just a few points of clsrification

#1 - The "new Outlook" does not support POP accounts or PST files

#2 - The "new Outlook" is not a replacement of the Outlook desktop program (part of Office). It is completely separate and distinct. It IS a replacement of the Windows 10 / 11 Mail / People / Calendar app

To make sure we are both referring to the same things, I have an article that shows the various things that people refer to as Outlook.

Basics: Identifying YOUR Outlook https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook_com/forum/all/basics-identifying-your-outlook/10cad812-2a15-4277-8aa3-f53d4388c752

#3 - In reference to the issues regarding adding accounts, I would suggest treating that separately once there is a clear understanding of which "Outlook" this is all in reference to because right now I find it a tad confusing.

#4 - Both the Outlook desktop program and the "new Outlook" programs have their own unique icons in the Windows Start menu as shown in the attached screenshot

I look forward to your response so we can proceed further.

Clearly it doesn't support POP and PST - so isn't this a loss of functionality for users such as me ?

Previous thread https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook_com/forum/all/switch-from-new-outlook-2023-to-classic-outlook/0a2a8f02-7088-49e2-97d8-7642486be5c4

Settings Outlook

Windows 10

Error message adding an outlook email account. Similar error message for GMAIL email account.

Local PST file stored on Windows PC.

So I restate that it would seem that the functionality many users seem to required, that has been in use for many many years, is no longer available for Outlook users. BUT Microsoft apps allow save to local drive.

Thank you for your assist.

In the included image, the three Outlook program icons are very similar. In fact the icons for "Outlook" and "Outlook (PWA) seem to be identical. So are those two the same program with different links or are they different programs?

Understanding that this is a user-to-user forum, does Microsoft monitor this forum? Is there another forum or email address that is better/best to use to give feedback & suggestions to Microsoft?

I would suggest making the icons more different, and even making the names of the programs different. It seems that the "new" Outlook is kind of a LITE version of the main Outlook. If so, why not call it "Outlook Lite"? Without being told anything about it, I think most people interpret "NEW" version of same program as as having MORE features and improvements, not less.

BTW, I'm coming at this from the perspective of never using or trying the New Outlook. I came across this thread in a Google search while attempting to find out the differences between old and new Outlook. I'm glad I found it because now I know NOT to try the new Outlook.

New Outlook belongs to Windows, and it's Free. Old Outlook belongs to O365 subscription, you have to pay to use it. I wish Microsoft had not made the button in the Old Outlook to confuse us. It doesn't benefit us but creates problems when clicking that button.

First, just so there is no misunderstanding, this is a public user-to-user support forum. We're users helping other users. We do not work for Microsoft and have no input on Microsoft's policies, procedures, or design decisions.

With that said, just to make sure that we focus on one thing at a time

Clearly it doesn't support POP and PST - so isn't this a loss of functionality for users such as me ?

As stated, the: new Outlook" is not intended as a replacement of the Outlook desktop program. It is a replacement for those using the Win 10 / 11 Mail / People / Calendar app. It doesn't come close to offering the features of the Outlook desktop app

As for the errors you are encountering, just to confirm, these occurred when adding an account to the Outlook desktop - is that correct?

Going by the screenshot of the Outlook Navigation Pane (left panel otherwise called the folder list, it shows you have one data file configured using a non-standard data file name? How was that data file added? When Outlook adds a new account, it will add the email address of the email account if it is creating the data file for the account, something this is automatic for IMAP and Exchange accounts as well as for POP accounts if not configured to use an exiting PST file.

So to focus on this issue only,

#1 - What do you show when looking at your configured email accounts - is there n account configured and if yes, how (POP, IMAP, Exchange)?? To check, from within Outlook, go to

File -- Account Settings -- Account Settings -- Email tab

Also, to confirm, What type (OST or PST) of data file is configured in Outlook?

File -- Account Settings -- Account Settings -- Data Files tab

#2 - What email account were you trying to add that generated the error (jut provide the part of the email address that follows the @ character) and what steps exactly did you follow to add the account? More specifically, was it added by just entering the email address / password for the account or did you manually configure it by entering the email account settings.

Once there is a clearer picture of your environment, will be better able to provide a more specific answer.