New version of Outlook will not STAY on my task bar or start bar

Question

I am trying to pin the NEW outlook, but all I get is the "classic" version.

I have updated.

I have downloaded.

I have pinned it to the task bar.

BUT, the new version keeps going away!

Answer 1

Hi @Carlson, Sonya, 

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. 

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your concern regarding classic Outlook opens even after pinning and opening new Outlook. Based on your description, the behavior typically occurs when Windows is still launching Classic Outlook instead of the New Outlook for Windows, even though the new version has been installed and pinned. 

This can happen if the pinned taskbar shortcut is pointing to Classic Outlook, the default file associations are still assigned to Classic Outlook or an organizational policy is enforcing the Classic version. 

Please follow the steps below to ensure the New Outlook is properly pinned and set as default: 

1. Pin the New Outlook Correctly 

• Click Start. 
• Type "Outlook" or Outlook (new). 
• Right-click and select "Pin to taskbar". 
• Remove any existing Outlook icon from the taskbar to prevent launching the Classic version. 

After completing this, close all Outlook windows and reopen Outlook using only the newly pinned icon to confirm it opens the New version. 

2. Set New Outlook as the Default App 

• Open Settings. 
• Go to Apps > Default apps. 
• Search for "Outlook" or Outlook (new). 

• Select it and assign it as default for relevant file types and protocols such as: 
  • MAILTO 
  • .eml 
  • Other Outlook-related associations 

 

This ensures email links and Outlook files open in the New version instead of Classic. 

3. Contact IT admin 

If the issue continues after completing these steps, it may be related to Group Policies or administrative configurations applied by your IT department. I recommend contacting your IT administrator to confirm whether any policies are enforcing Classic Outlook. 

If needed, they can also create a support ticket on your behalf to investigate further. 

For instructions on submitting a support request, please refer to: Get support - Microsoft 365 admin | Microsoft Learn. 

 

I hope this information is helpful. Please follow the steps above and let me know if it works for you. If not, we can continue working together to resolve the issue.  

Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out so I can continue to support you. If you found the response useful, please consider marking it as accepted, as this may help other community members who are looking for similar guidance.  

I look forward to continuing the conversation.

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Answer 2

If the new version of Outlook is not staying pinned to your taskbar, it could be due to a few reasons. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Ensure you are using the latest version: Make sure that your Outlook is updated to the latest version. Sometimes, older versions may have bugs that affect functionality.
2. Pinning the correct version: When you pin Outlook, ensure that you are selecting the new Outlook version. If the classic version keeps appearing, try launching the new Outlook first and then pinning it to the taskbar.
3. Check for the Hide When Minimized option: If you have the "Hide When Minimized" option enabled, it can cause the Outlook icon to disappear from the taskbar when minimized. You can check this by right-clicking the Outlook icon in the notification area and adjusting the setting.
4. Registry settings: If the problem persists, it might be related to registry settings. The MinToTray DWORD value in the registry controls whether the icon is displayed in the taskbar when minimized. Ensure this value is set to 0 or is missing, which allows the icon to be displayed.
5. Reinstall Outlook: If none of the above steps work, consider uninstalling and reinstalling the new Outlook to ensure a clean installation.

If you continue to experience issues, it may be helpful to consult Microsoft support for further assistance.