What right do you have to do this?

Paul Roe 1

My Mother-in-Law (89 and not computer literate) has had the New Outlook forced on her on her home PC. It installed itself and removed her old version. She doesn't have any office products.

She not only lost her ISP based email account but also all her Contacts. Whilst she was able to get onto her ISP account on-line and I have now restored her old version (until MS do it again) her contacts are so far nowhere to be found. Of course she didn't have a clue as to which email address they were associated with and she should not be expected to need to know.

IS THIS A REASONABLE THING FOR MICROSOFT TO DO?

I have had the new version install itself on 3 occasions now on my PC. It is presently a complete non-starter for me as I consider it an imperative that all my stuff is accessible off-line.

Is there anything that be done to fix and prevent all this hassle?

3 answers

Shawn Collins 505 Reputation points

2024-04-26T00:02:04.2033333+00:00

For how you can toggle off the 'Try new outlook' in the top right. However, the 'new' apps are eventually going to be forced.
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1 person found this answer helpful.
SokiGuo-MSFT 23,401 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-04-26T05:50:05.23+00:00

Hi @Paul Roe

Welcome to our forum!

I agree with Shawn Collins. You can switch back whenever you want, just switch the toggle off in the new Outlook and it will automatically open the classic version.

For recovering contacts, you can follow the steps provided in this article: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/recover-a-deleted-contact-in-outlook-51c83288-6888-4dcd-8c99-4932daabf643.

Paul Roe 1 Reputation point

2024-04-26T10:19:35.63+00:00

I say I have put it back to the old version (Mail) and also that she does not have any office products i.e. including desktop Outlook. She is using the 'Mail' program that came free with Windows 10. So sorry neither answer is remotely useful. Setting 'try the new outlook' to 'off' has been ignored by MS twice on my laptop. As for the toggle to go back: it wasn't there.
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Paul Roe 1 Reputation point

2024-04-26T10:21:47.3266667+00:00

I say I have put it back to the old version (Mail) and also that she does not have any office products i.e. including desktop Outlook. She is using the 'Mail' program that came free with Windows 10. So sorry neither answer is remotely useful. Setting 'try the new outlook' to 'off' has been ignored by MS twice on my laptop. As for the toggle to go back: it wasn't there.
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Shawn Collins 505 Reputation points

2024-04-26T10:30:18.61+00:00

Well, when you say things like 'has had the New Outlook forced on her on her home PC. It installed itself and removed her old version' that indicates Outlook, not the default mail app. Unless her ISP was set up as POP (which would be silly), her mail and contacts are held in the cloud and would pull in automatically. You should be able to see the old profile under C:\Windows.old.

Additionally, you can turn off the new Outlook experience in the registry.

Paul Roe 1 Reputation point

2024-04-26T11:00:15.2233333+00:00

You are rather missing the point here: 89 years old, not computer literate (although way better than many) and MS have done this to her. And the fix is expecting her to know about C:\Windows.old and the registry. She is barely aware of the concept of viewing mail on-line against in a local App, and I'd suggest that is the case with the majority of casual users. The terms 'Google' and 'Outlook' have done much damage in this respect.

Stefan Blom 2,081 Reputation points MVP

2024-04-26T12:37:44.8033333+00:00

[Deleted reply—duplicate]

Stefan Blom 2,081 Reputation points MVP

2024-04-26T12:39:13.3633333+00:00

[Deleted reply]
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Stefan Blom 2,081 Reputation points MVP

2024-04-26T12:39:33.6833333+00:00

I'm afraid there is no good news here. Windows Mail will be discontinued and replaced by the new Outlook. I am not sure when this happens but the article at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/outlook-for-windows-the-future-of-mail-calendar-and-people-on-windows-11-715fc27c-e0f4-4652-9174-47faa751b199 may provide some clues.
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Paul Roe 1 Reputation point

2024-04-26T13:02:23.3733333+00:00

"The new Outlook for Windows brings the latest features"

The features are certainly late: how long? It still does not do very basic things like launch off-line

In terms of functionality that make it worse then Windows Live Mail

SokiGuo-MSFT 23,401 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-04-30T07:33:47.6+00:00

Hi

Please kindly understand that many functions are not designed at present. It is recommended that you could post the functions you expect and your sincere suggestions on the website dedicated to collecting feedback. We sincerely welcome your suggestions, and thanks for your understanding and support!

Paul Roe 1 Reputation point

2024-05-01T08:43:54.19+00:00

so after 35? years of experience with email products MS have launched one where much of it 'hasn't been designed at present' (let alone tested?) Is this April 1st?

There used to be a joke 'if microsoft made cars.....' its is sadly still very current.

I don't understand and I certianly don't support this latest offering.

I have been following another thread with the spec. The last time I looked there were 16 pages of issues, comments, suggestions. Not one reply from the orininator.
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