[Trainer-Talk] Bringing Back the Classic Outlook

Sun Sep 20 21:03:43 UTC 2026

I had the Microsoft accessibility desk do it for me.
Amy

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 20, 2026, at 3:36 PM, Matt D via Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I have seen it often in an install of Office 2024 I just setup a brand new system on Friday and after Office install there is no classic, even a Windows R for run and typing outlook gives the error that outlook doesn't exist. New outlook is present.  I did not see the option to revert to outlook classic under help but I'll check again.
> 
> 
> 
> Matt Diemert
> Independent Assistive Technology Provider
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Brian Vogel via Trainer-Talk
> Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2026 3:28 PM
> To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Brian Vogel <britechguy at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] Bringing Back the Classic Outlook
> 
> 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-class
>> ic-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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