Quick answer: Teams classic is gone. Microsoft ended support for the classic Teams desktop app on July 1, 2024 and ended its availability on July 1, 2025, so it no longer works and can’t be downloaded or switched back to. Install the new Microsoft Teams app from Microsoft’s Teams download page or the Microsoft Store (or use Teams on the web), sign in with the same account, and uninstall any leftover Microsoft Teams classic or Teams Machine-Wide Installer entries.
Applies to: Microsoft Teams for work or school on Windows 11, Windows 10 and Mac.
In this guide
What happened to Teams classic
Microsoft rebuilt the Teams desktop app in 2023 and called the old one Teams classic. For a while both versions shipped side by side, with a Try the new Teams toggle in the top-left corner. Microsoft then retired the old app in two steps:
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2024 | End of support for classic Teams on Windows and Mac: no more updates, features or support. |
| October 1, 2024 | End of support for classic Teams in virtual desktops (VDI). |
| July 1, 2025 | End of availability: the classic app stops working for everyone, including VDI. |
If you open an old classic install today, you see a message that classic Teams is no longer available, and it points you to the new app or the web version. The toggle to go back to classic was removed along the way, so there’s no setting that brings it back.
Can you still download Teams classic?
No. Microsoft no longer offers the classic installer, and a copy from a third-party download site won’t sign in because the service no longer supports it. Old installers from file-sharing sites are also a common way to pick up malware, so skip them.
If you need classic Teams because an add-in, a meeting room or an older PC depends on it, the options are the new Teams desktop app, Teams on the web at teams.microsoft.com in Edge or Chrome, or the Teams mobile app. On a work PC, ask IT: they control which version is deployed and may already have a plan for older devices.
How to install the new Teams
- Open Microsoft’s Download Microsoft Teams page (microsoft.com/microsoft-teams/download-app) and download the desktop app for Windows or Mac. On Windows you can also install it from the Microsoft Store by searching for Microsoft Teams.
- Run the installer. New Teams installs per user and doesn’t need admin rights on most PCs, though company policies can block it.
- Open Microsoft Teams from Start and sign in with your work or school account.
- If you use more than one organization, select your profile picture and Add another account. New Teams keeps the accounts signed in side by side.
On a company PC with Microsoft 365 Apps, new Teams is usually installed for you through updates. If it isn’t there, check Software Center or Company Portal before downloading it yourself.
Remove Teams classic leftovers
Microsoft tries to remove classic Teams automatically some time after the new app is installed, but that can fail. To clean up by hand on Windows:
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps (on Windows 10: Settings > Apps > Apps & features).
- Search for Teams.
- Uninstall the classic entry (shown as Microsoft Teams classic or similar). Select the … menu and Uninstall.
- If you also see Teams Machine-Wide Installer, uninstall it too, but only on a personal PC. On a managed PC leave it to IT, because removing it before new Teams is deployed can leave you without Teams.
- Leave Microsoft Teams (the new app) installed.
Don’t just delete the old Teams folders. Microsoft warns that manual deletion can leave files behind, and removing classic Teams yourself can break the Teams meeting button in Outlook (see the fixes below).
Teams classic vs new Teams
| Teams classic | New Teams | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Retired, no longer works | Current, still updated |
| Multiple organizations | Switch one at a time | Several accounts signed in together |
| Speed and memory | Heavier | Microsoft says it starts faster and uses less memory |
| Install | Per-user installer, Machine-Wide Installer for admins | Store-style app package, per user or machine-wide |
| Chats, files, meetings | Same data | Same data: nothing is lost by switching |
Your chats, channels, files and meetings live in Microsoft 365, not in the app, so switching from classic to new Teams doesn’t lose anything. Custom backgrounds and some local settings may need to be set again.
Common problems after the switch
- “Classic Teams is no longer available”: you’re still opening the old shortcut. Install new Teams, pin it to the taskbar, and uninstall classic as above.
- Teams Meeting button missing in Outlook: close Outlook, open new Teams once, then reopen Outlook. In classic Outlook check File > Options > Add-ins and enable Microsoft Teams Meeting Add-in for Microsoft Office if it’s under Disabled Items or COM Add-ins. Our Outlook classic download guide covers which Outlook you’re running.
- New Teams won’t install: make sure Windows is up to date and try the other source (Microsoft Store or the download page). On a work PC, a policy may stop it; contact IT.
- Wrong account signs in: see how to remove an account from Teams.
- Spell check or GIFs stopped working: these settings moved in new Teams; see how to turn on spell check in Teams and GIFs not working in Teams.
Related guides
- Microsoft Teams tips and tricks
- How to turn on spell check in Teams
- How to remove an account from Teams
- Outlook classic download: get it back on Windows
Official sources: for more detail, see these pages:
- Microsoft Learn: End of availability for classic Teams client
- Microsoft Learn: Uninstall the classic Teams client
- Microsoft Learn: Teams Meeting add-in missing in Outlook
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch back to Teams classic?
No. The toggle was removed and the classic app stopped working on July 1, 2025. New Teams or Teams on the web are the only desktop options.
Will I lose my chats when classic Teams is removed?
No. Chats, files and meetings are stored in your Microsoft 365 account and appear in new Teams as soon as you sign in.
Is it safe to uninstall Teams classic?
Yes, once new Teams is installed and working. On a work PC, check with IT before removing the Teams Machine-Wide Installer.
What about free personal Teams?
The personal (free) version of Teams is a separate product. This guide covers Teams for work or school, which is where the classic app was retired.
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