Outlook calendar - click and drag to create a new event not working

Question

On outlook calendar online, I used to be able to drag or click a open 30 minute block and quick create an event and adjust details as needed. As of yesterday, 30 jan 2026, while at my work computer at my office, I found myself unable to do that and I was puzzled as to why this is the case. I didn't change any outlook settings to my knowledge.

I found this very convenient and I find it annoying to have to manually right click and press "new event' to create this. Was there a recent update that changed this or is there a setting that I now have to change to do this?

To note, I use my work's email and credentials for Microsoft office.

Just wondering if anyone else has experience this and if this is an update change to the online calendar experience or setting to tick.

Answer 1

I found the same thing as @Tim Wijnhoven where you can drag to select a time block and hit enter or start typing to create the event.

Unfortunately, this means that if you want to create an event in another calendar, make a private event, categorize a new event, or really change anything other than time interval and title, you have to either do so from the New Event button (where you can't use the convenient click-and-drag time blocking) or click-and-drag to create the event and then re-open it to edit it.

Edit: this issue persists for me on the app and in the browser version.

Answer 2

@Andrae Snegirev @Jeff Smith To others experiencing the same issue:

By freak accident, I just found out that after selecting a timeslot by clicking and dragging in calendar, if you simply start typing, it will create a block.

It's not a 1:1 solution, because it doesn't give the pop-up screen where you can invite others or set a location for the meeting, but it something.

Answer 3

I've got the same issue here - I remember seeing a pop up about Quick adding events that I didn't realize was there but then clicked out of, and now I can't find the setting to reenable click and drag time-blocking. Any other insight greatly appreciated here :)

Answer 4

Same issue. Just noticed it tonight. The "popup" that used to appear after highlighting a timespan no longer appears. You can only type in the event title. You then have to open the event and add the details. That's not efficient or better at all. Is there some setting to revert this behavior back?

Answer 5

It seems that the ability to click and drag to create a new event in Outlook Calendar online may be affected by several factors, including potential updates or changes in settings. While the context does not specifically mention a recent update that would disable this feature, it's possible that there could be a temporary issue or a change in permissions related to your work account.

Here are a few troubleshooting steps you might consider:

1. Refresh the Browser: Sometimes, simply refreshing the page can resolve temporary glitches.
2. Clear Browser Cache: Clearing your browser's cache might help if there are any corrupted files affecting the functionality.
3. Check Permissions: Ensure that your account has the necessary permissions to create events in the calendar. If you are using a shared or organizational account, there might be restrictions in place.
4. Try a Different Browser: Sometimes, browser compatibility issues can affect functionality. Trying a different browser may help.
5. Contact IT Support: If the problem persists, it may be worth reaching out to your IT department to see if there have been any changes to the Outlook settings or permissions.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, it could be beneficial to check for any announcements from Microsoft regarding changes to Outlook Calendar features.