[Trainer-Talk] Bringing Back the Classic Outlook

[Brian Vogel]

I have not seen a single instance of a fresh installation of M365 where
both Outlook Classic and Outlook (new) are not both included and can, in
fact, be run side-by-side.

When you do a Windows search purely on "Outlook," you should get two
results: Outlook (which is New) and Outlook (classic) where that
designation is after the Outlook name and in parentheses.

In either user interface of Outlook it is a simple matter to switch to the
other, though I never do this anymore since I can choose the UI I want to
bring up via Windows search.

To switch from Outlook (new) back to Outlook (classic) from within Outlook
(new) hit Alt, E, C [Help, Go to Classic  Outlook].

To switch from Outlook (classic) to Outlook (new) from within Outlook
(classic): Hit Alt, T [Try the New Outlook toggle].

I strongly suggest working with both Outlook (new) and Outlook (Classic) as
much as possible to familiarize yourself with the new UI before classic
goes away permanently.

On Fri, Sep 18, 2026 at 2:38 PM Curtis Chong via Trainer-Talk <
trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

>
> Bringing Back the Classic Outlook
>
>
> By Curtis Chong <mailto:chong.curtis at gmail.com>
>
>
>
> Introduction
>
>
> As Microsoft pushes the world away from the Classic Outlook to what it
> calls the New Outlook, I am getting more and more emails and phone calls
> from concerned and frustrated blind people who have purchased new computers
> and installed Microsoft 365, only to find that the Classic Outlook (a
> program that they have worked with for a long time) is no longer there for
> them to handle their emails. Instead, their only option seems to be the New
> Outlook, a program which feels a lot like something that is still under
> development and which seems to lack many of the features that we have grown
> used to when handling our emails.
>
> The official word from Microsoft is that the Classic Outlook will be with
> us until some time in 2029. This article will give you the information you
> need to bring the Classic Outlook program back to your new computer.
>
>
>
> Getting the Classic Outlook Back On to Your System
>
>
> The steps listed here assume that you have already installed Microsoft 365
> on to your computer and that you have found a way to get some variant of
> Outlook started on your system. You should be able to know that you have
> started the New Outlook if you hear your screen reader say something like,
> "Outlook - Web content page"
>
> Here are the steps that you should now follow to get the Classic Outlook
> back.
>
> *       After starting the New Outlook, turn off your screen reader's
> cursor (i.e., the Virtual Cursor in JAWS or Browse Mode in NVDA). For JAWS,
> press Insert with the letter z. For NVDA, press Insert with Space.
> *       Press the Alt key to focus on the Home tab of the ribbon. Then,
> press Left Arrow to focus on the Help tab. Do not press Enter. Instead,
> press Down Arrow.
> *       Now, press the Right Arrow key about six times to focus on the Go
> to classic Outlook button. Press Space or Enter to activate this button.
> *       At this point, Microsoft will bring up a dialog asking you why you
> want to "switch back." You can skip this part simply by tabbing until you
> reach the Skip Feedback button. Activate this button to be taken to the web
> page where you can download the installation program for the Classic
> Outlook. If this does not happen and, instead, you bring up the Classic
> Outlook, then you are finished here. However, if you are taken to the
> Install or reinstall classic Outlook <
> https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/install-or-reinstall-classic-outlook-on-a-windows-pc>
> web page, download the Classic Outlook installation program and run it.
> *       Once the installation has finished, you might need to create a
> Desktop shortcut to start the Classic Outlook as opposed to the New Outlook
> program.
> *       Invoke the Windows Run command by pressing the Windows key with
> the letter r. Type "shell:appsfolder" (without the quotes) and press Enter.
> *       Scroll through the list of applications until you find: Outlook
> and Outlook (classic). Focus on the Outlook (classic) item. Right click on
> this item (Shift F10) and activate the Create Shortcut item. You will be
> asked if you really want to create the shortcut on your Desktop. Respond
> Yes.
> *       All you have to do now is to activate the shortcut you just
> created to bring up Classic Outlook.
>
>
>
> Conclusion
>
>
> It is unfortunate that Microsoft has chosen not to include the Classic
> Outlook in new installations of its Microsoft 365 product. Suffice it to
> say that this has created quite a lot of frustration and confusion among
> blind people who use screen readers to operate their Windows-based systems.
>
> Please feel free to contact me by email at chong.curtis at gmail.com <mailto:
> chong.curtis at gmail.com>  or by phone at 515-306-1654 <(515)%20306-1654>
> if any of this does not work for you. My hope is that you now have what you
> need to bring back the Classic Outlook on your computer.
>
>
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