How do I open my classic Outlook on my laptop?

Question

Outlook classic which I use will not open on my laptop. I do not like the new version of outlook. I can open on my phone but not sure what version. I can get the new outlook to open on my laptop so how do I switch to the classic. Not sure why it stopped.

Kim

Answer 1

Hi! Are you having trouble opening Outlook Classic, or adding an account?

Try reinstalling Outlook Classic and adding the account via Mail in the Control Panel.

1. Open Windows Settings > Apps > Installed Apps > Find Outlook Classic (or Microsoft 365 if you can't find Classic) > Click the 3 dots (●●●) > Uninstall.
2. Restart your computer.
3. Download and install Outlook Classic.

• Outlook Classic: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/install-or-reinstall-classic-outlook-on-a-windows-pc-5c94902b-31a5-4274-abb0-b07f4661edf5
• Outlook Classic 365: https://account.microsoft.com/account > Log in > Go to Subscription > Expand Microsoft 365 > Install apps...

4. Press Windows + R > Type control > Click View By > Large Icons > Search for Mail (Microsoft Outlook).
5. Click Email Accounts > New > Enter your credentials.

• If you can't log in, select "Manual setup or additional server types" and follow the instructions.

Answer 2

On many newer Windows laptops, classic Outlook is not installed by default and the new Outlook app opens instead. To use classic Outlook again, follow these steps:

1. Check if classic Outlook is installed
   • Open the Start menu.
   • Look in the app list for “Outlook (classic)” (the classic app does not have a New tag on the icon).
   • If Outlook (classic) appears, select it to open.
2. If classic Outlook is installed but new Outlook keeps opening
   • Open new Outlook for Windows.
   • In the top-right corner, locate the toggle that controls classic vs new Outlook.
   • Click the toggle; when prompted, choose:
     • Switch back to classic Outlook to make classic Outlook the default again, or
     • Use classic Outlook this time to open it just once without changing the default.
3. If there is no toggle in new Outlook
   • This usually means classic Outlook is not installed on the laptop.
   • Install classic Outlook using the instructions in “You can't open classic Outlook on a new Windows PC”, which provides the Microsoft Store install link for classic Outlook for Windows.
4. If classic Outlook still will not open
   • From the Start menu, type Registry Editor and open it.
   • Go to: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences
   • Double‑click UseNewOutlook and set Value data to 0.
   • Close Registry Editor and try launching Outlook (classic) again from the Start menu.

If classic Outlook is not present in the Start menu at all, it must be installed first via the classic Outlook install link described in the “You can't open classic Outlook on a new Windows PC” article.

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References:

• You can't open classic Outlook on a new Windows PC
• Toggle out of the new Outlook for Windows
• Switch to new Outlook for Windows
• Getting started with the new Outlook for Windows
• Go back to classic Outlook button not working correctly in new Outlook