How to Switch to New Outlook (and How to Switch Back)

Microsoft is moving everyone from classic Outlook to the new Outlook for Windows, and the prompts to switch are getting harder to ignore. The good news is that switching is a single toggle and it's reversible. The less good news is that a few things you might rely on don't work the same way yet, so it's worth knowing what you're switching to.

How to switch to new Outlook, step by step

1. Open classic Outlook.
2. Look in the top-right corner for the Try the new Outlook toggle and turn it on.
3. Wait while Windows downloads the new Outlook app. Microsoft says this might take several minutes.
4. Classic Outlook closes and new Outlook opens. Sign in when asked.
5. Choose to import your accounts and settings so your email addresses and preferences come across.

If you don't see the toggle, your version of classic Outlook may not show it, or your organisation's IT admin may have turned it off for work accounts.

How to go back to classic Outlook

In new Outlook, click the same toggle at the top right. You'll get two choices, and they behave differently:

Option	What happens
Switch back to classic Outlook	You go back for good. Next time you open Outlook, classic opens.
Use classic Outlook this time	Classic opens once. Next time, you're sent to new Outlook again.

Microsoft also lists classic Outlook as Outlook (classic) in the Start menu. Choose the icon without the New tag.

The catch: while the toggle is on, classic Outlook redirects

This is what confuses people. Once you've switched, trying to open classic Outlook, or the old Windows Mail app, sends you straight to new Outlook. It looks as if classic Outlook has disappeared. It hasn't. You just need to use the toggle inside new Outlook, or pick Use classic Outlook this time, to get back to it.

Will Microsoft switch you automatically?

For many people, yes. Microsoft's support page explains that business users of classic Outlook on the Current Channel are being moved to new Outlook automatically after a series of in-app notifications, and personal Microsoft accounts are being switched too. Both users and IT admins can turn off the automatic switch if they're not ready, and you can still switch back with the toggle afterwards.

What changes when you switch

• The layout. New Outlook looks much more like Outlook on the web, with a Settings button instead of the old File menu.
• Your settings. Accounts and settings are migrated when you toggle on, but check signatures, rules and views afterwards.
• Data files. Calendar and contacts saved in .pst files aren't available in new Outlook yet, and importing a .pst still needs classic Outlook.
• Add-ins. Older add-ins built for classic Outlook may not appear.

Before you switch: a five-minute checklist

1. Make a note of your email signature, or copy it into a document.
2. Screenshot your rules so you can rebuild any that don't come across.
3. If you keep old email in a .pst file, export it from classic Outlook first, using File, Open & Export, Import/Export.
4. Check any add-ins you rely on, such as a CRM or a meeting tool.
5. Pick a quiet morning, not the day before a deadline.

Running both side by side

You don't have to choose one forever. Microsoft lets you open classic Outlook without switching out of new Outlook. When you do, new Outlook is minimised in the taskbar and its notifications and reminders are paused for that session, so you don't get every alert twice. It's a sensible way to try new Outlook for a week while keeping classic for the jobs it still does better.

Things to check in your first week on new Outlook

• Signature. Open Settings, Account, Signatures and check it came across with the right formatting.
• Rules. Compare your rules list with the screenshot you took and rebuild anything missing.
• Shared mailboxes and calendars. Make sure they all appear in the folder list and calendar.
• Notifications. Check desktop alerts are on, so you don't miss client emails.
• Search. Try finding an old email. If it's missing, raise the days of email saved offline in Settings, General, Offline.

Give it a full working week before you decide. Most people find the first two days slower simply because menus have moved, and that passes quickly.

Who should wait before switching

If your business depends on a classic-only add-in, on .pst files with years of archived calendar entries, or on complex rules built over many years, there's no prize for moving early. Keep classic Outlook for now, test new Outlook alongside it with the side-by-side option, and move when the features you need are there. If you're on a business plan and the automatic switch is coming, your IT admin can turn it off while you prepare.

My verdict

Switching to new Outlook is one toggle, and so is switching back, so there's little risk in trying it. Do the checklist first, especially if you use .pst files or rely on add-ins, and remember that classic Outlook hasn't been deleted when it seems to vanish: the toggle and the Outlook (classic) icon still get you there. If you're reviewing how your team works more widely, my guide to team chat apps is a good next read, and so is my take on whether Proton Mail is safe if you're rethinking email altogether.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use new Outlook and classic Outlook at the same time?

Yes. You can open classic Outlook without switching out of new Outlook, and new Outlook's notifications are paused for that session.

How do I switch to the new Outlook?

Open classic Outlook and turn on the Try the new Outlook toggle in the top-right corner, then sign in and import your settings.

Can I go back to classic Outlook?

Yes. Use the toggle in new Outlook and choose Switch back to classic Outlook.

Why does classic Outlook keep opening new Outlook?

While the toggle is on, launching classic Outlook redirects you. Switch back with the toggle, or choose Use classic Outlook this time.

Why don't I see the new Outlook toggle?

Your version may not show it, classic Outlook may not be installed, or your IT admin may have turned it off.

Does new Outlook support .pst files?

Partly. You can open email in .pst files, but calendar and contacts in .pst files aren't available yet.