Microsoft has provided a new desktop Outlook which is very similar to the web version and are slowly phasing out support for the classic Outlook. The main visual difference between the two is the missing File menu heading as shown below; 


Once you opt in for the new version, you can switch back currently by just typing in Outlook in the Windows search bar. When you do this, you will see two Outlook search results as shown below;


Other differences in functionality between the two are not as easily apparent. Below is a list of the differences that have been identified so far.

  • If IT staff give you full access to a shared mailbox it doesn’t cause the mailbox to show up automatically. You have to add either the mailbox or the calendar manually. A helpdesk solutions article has been created for this process.
  • Shared mailboxes show up in the Shared with me folder.
  • Can’t export email or calendar objects to a pst file.
  • Infosec report button is missing occasionally.
  • Quick parts is missing.
  • No address book.
  • The properties\header of an email is now located as a submenu item when you right-click an email; View>View message details.
  • Can no longer drag and drop an email into an s drive folder or onto the hard drive of your computer.
  • Emails that are in the top folder of an account can’t be viewed.
  • Spell check underlines the misspelling but doesn’t provide the correct spelling.
  • Can’t create new Outlook profiles.
  • Mail merge doesn’t work without an add-in.
  • Can’t add shared mailboxes as a separate account.

Some of the differences above may be resolved by Microsoft before they discontinue the classic Outlook but currently Microsoft hasn't provided any information that these items are on their roadmap for the new Outlook.


There are several features of the "new" Outlook that improve functionality. These features are listed below;

  • Adding public folders and shared mailboxes is much easier.
  • The ability to add a work location to your calendar and set a schedule, remote or office.
  • You can drag an email to the task area and create a task. You can then drag that task to your calendar to set a reminder.
  • The functions to move, delete, mark as unread or flag an email can be set to show up as icons when you click on the email.
  • You can snooze and email in the right-click context menu to set a reminder for yourself.