Classic Outlook download: how to get it back on Windows 11 and 10

Applies to: classic Outlook for Windows (Outlook for Microsoft 365 and Office versions that include Outlook) on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Which Outlook do you have?

Windows now ships with two different email apps that are both called Outlook, which is why so many people search for a classic Outlook download:

App	How to recognise it	Notes
Classic Outlook	Listed as Outlook (classic) in the Start menu; has the File tab and the full ribbon	Part of Microsoft 365 and Office. Supports PST files, COM add-ins and offline-heavy setups
New Outlook	Shows a New tag on its icon; looks like Outlook on the web	Free with Windows. Replaced the old Mail and Calendar apps, and is preinstalled on many new PCs

If the app you open has a File tab at the top left, you’re already in classic Outlook and don’t need to download anything.

Do you need a licence for classic Outlook?

Yes. Unlike new Outlook, classic Outlook is not free. It’s included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions that include the desktop apps (such as Personal, Family and most business plans) and with one-time Office editions that list Outlook, such as Office Home & Business. Some one-time editions, including Office Home 2024, don’t include Outlook, so check what your edition lists before you download.

The installer itself is free to download, but Outlook asks you to sign in with the account that holds the licence. Without one it won’t activate.

Method 1: Switch back from new Outlook

Use this when classic Outlook is installed but Windows keeps opening new Outlook.

1. Open new Outlook.
2. At the top right of the window, select the New Outlook toggle.
3. Choose Switch back to classic Outlook. Outlook may ask for feedback first; you can skip or answer it.
4. Classic Outlook opens. From now on, launching Outlook opens the classic version.

The same menu also offers Use classic Outlook this time, which opens classic once but keeps sending you to new Outlook afterwards. On the new Outlook ribbon, Help > Go to classic Outlook does the same job as the toggle.

Method 2: Download and install classic Outlook

Use this when there’s no Outlook (classic) entry in the Start menu, or clicking it shows “We couldn’t verify and install this because it is not available in the Microsoft Store”.

1. Open Microsoft’s Install or reinstall classic Outlook on a Windows PC page.
2. Under Select a language and download classic Outlook, pick your language and select Download.
3. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts. Keep the PC online until it finishes.
4. Open Outlook (classic) from the Start menu and sign in with the Microsoft account or work account that has your licence.
5. Add your email account when prompted. For a work mailbox, see how to add a shared mailbox in Outlook once your own mailbox is set up.

Microsoft also lists classic Outlook in the Microsoft Store as an alternative. If the Store version fails, use the download from the support page instead. If you already have Microsoft 365, reinstalling the desktop apps from your Microsoft 365 account page usually installs classic Outlook as well.

On a work or school PC, installs may be managed by your IT department. If the download is blocked, ask them rather than working around it.

Stop Outlook switching you to new Outlook

Microsoft is moving some Microsoft 365 users to new Outlook automatically. To opt out in classic Outlook:

1. Select File > Options > General.
2. Under New Outlook options, clear Automatically switch me to new Outlook.
3. Select OK.

If you don’t see New Outlook options, your account isn’t currently set for the automatic switch, so there’s nothing to change. In a business, admins can turn off the switch and hide the Try the new Outlook toggle for everyone.

If the toggle is missing or classic won’t open

Microsoft notes that the toggle doesn’t appear when classic Outlook isn’t installed; use Method 2 in that case. If classic is installed but new Outlook keeps opening instead, reset the preference in the registry:

1. Close Outlook.
2. Press Win + R, type regedit and press Enter.
3. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences.
4. Double-click UseNewOutlook, set Value data to 0 and select OK.
5. Open Outlook from the Start menu and pick the icon without the New tag.

If classic Outlook opens but says the product isn’t activated, the cause is the licence or sign-in, not the download. The steps in Word product activation failed apply to Outlook too, because all Office apps share one licence.

How long will classic Outlook be supported?

Microsoft has said it will keep supporting classic Outlook for Windows until at least 2029, with the exact end date still to be announced. New features go to new Outlook first, but classic Outlook keeps getting security and quality updates in the meantime, so it’s safe to keep using it.

Related guides

• Outlook tips and tricks: 12 ways to manage email faster in Outlook for Windows
• How to add a shared mailbox in Outlook (Windows, Mac, web and mobile)
• Word product activation failed: 7 ways to fix it
• How to remove an account from Teams (Windows, phone, web)

Official sources: for more detail, see these pages:

• Microsoft Support: Install or reinstall classic Outlook on a Windows PC
• Microsoft Support: Toggle out of the new Outlook for Windows
• Microsoft Support: Switch to new Outlook for Windows

Frequently asked questions

Is classic Outlook free to download?

The installer is free, but using classic Outlook needs a Microsoft 365 or Office licence that includes Outlook. New Outlook is the free option.

Will switching back delete my email?

No. Your mail stays on the server for Outlook.com, Microsoft 365 and most IMAP accounts, so it appears in either app. Settings such as signatures and rules may need setting up again in classic Outlook.

Why does my new laptop only have new Outlook?

Many PCs sold since 2024 come with new Outlook preinstalled and without classic Outlook. Install it with Method 2 using your Microsoft 365 or Office licence.

Can I keep both versions?

Yes. Both can be installed side by side. The Start menu shows the classic one as Outlook (classic) and the new one with a New tag.