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You cannot switch back to Classic Teams today. Microsoft ended its availability on July 1, 2025, and the client no longer functions in desktop installations, VDI, or GCC, GCCH, and DoD environments. There is no current setting, toggle, supported installer, or command that restores it.

The old Settings and more (…) → turn off New Teams option belonged to the transition period when both clients were available. It is not a current solution.

What happened to the Classic Teams switch?

During Microsoft’s transition from Classic Teams to the new Teams client, users could move between the two applications. The former process was:

  1. Open Classic Teams.
  2. Select the New Teams toggle switch.
  3. Turn the toggle off to return to Classic Teams.

Microsoft also documented an option under Settings and more (…). These instructions are now obsolete because Classic Teams reached end of availability on July 1, 2025.

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Some online guides still recommend changing the toggle or setting a Teams update policy to keep Classic Teams as the default. Those methods applied during the migration period and cannot restore the retired client.

Support ended in 2024; availability ended in 2025

These dates describe different events:

Date What changed
July 1, 2024 Support for native Classic Teams clients ended. Microsoft stopped providing updates, new features, and support for the client.
July 1, 2025 Classic Teams availability ended. The client stopped functioning, including in desktop, VDI, GCC, GCCH, and DoD environments.

Saying only that “Classic Teams retired on July 1, 2024” can be misleading. That was the support end date, not the date on which the client became unavailable.

What to use instead

Install the current Teams desktop app

Download the supported Windows or Mac client from Microsoft’s Teams download page. The page provides the current Teams application, not a Classic Teams installer.

Use Teams on the web

If the desktop application cannot be installed or launched, open teams.microsoft.com in a supported browser and sign in. Microsoft recommends the new Teams web app for users who cannot upgrade to the current desktop client.

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Teams on the web is not currently supported on mobile devices. On a phone or tablet, use the Teams mobile app instead.

When Classic Teams opens with an end-of-availability message

If an old Classic Teams shortcut still opens but shows an end-of-availability message, that is expected. Microsoft identifies several possible reasons:

  • The computer’s operating system is not supported by the current Teams client.
  • An organizational Windows Group Policy blocked the upgrade.
  • The Teams installation or launch process encountered a problem.

Update the operating system where possible. If the computer belongs to an organization, contact the IT department because a policy may be preventing installation or startup of the current client. You can also use Teams on the web.

None of these conditions provides a supported way to continue using Classic Teams.

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If the new Teams app will not launch

A launch failure does not mean Classic Teams can be restored. Microsoft lists several causes of new Teams startup problems, including:

  • The Cookies or Cache shell-folder paths point to reparse points.
  • The TEMP or TMP environment variables point to reparse points.
  • Your account cannot read required folders under %APPDATA%.
  • Invalid files exist in required AppData folders.
  • The SYSTEM account or Administrators group lacks Full Control on required folders.
  • Your account lacks SYSAPPID permission for the Teams installation location.
  • The Windows AllowAllTrustedApps policy prevents the application from starting.

Microsoft provides a diagnostic PowerShell script called TeamsLaunchCheck.ps1. You can also check common reparse-point problems manually in PowerShell:

(gp ([environment]::getfolderpath(“Cookies”))).Attributes -match ‘ReparsePoint’
(gp ([environment]::getfolderpath(“InternetCache”))).Attributes -match ‘ReparsePoint’

To check the TEMP and TMP paths, run:

gci env:* | ?{@(“TEMP”, “TMP”).Contains($_.Name)} | %{$_.Value+” – “+((gp $_.Value).Attributes -match ‘ReparsePoint’)}

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These commands are diagnostic checks for the current Teams app. They do not bring back Classic Teams.

If your organization blocked the upgrade

A Group Policy or another organizational control may have prevented the transition to new Teams. In that case, changing settings as a standard user will not solve the problem. Ask your IT department to review Teams installation and update policies, the Windows version, and the permissions required by the current client.

Administrators should provide access to the supported Teams desktop application or allow users to use the web app. They cannot use a migration policy to override the July 1, 2025 end-of-availability date.

Be careful when uninstalling old Teams components

Microsoft warns that customers who uninstall Classic Teams themselves may encounter a missing Teams meeting add-in in Outlook. If the Teams meeting option disappears after removal, use Microsoft’s separate troubleshooting guidance for the Teams meeting add-in missing from Outlook and new Teams.

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Outdated solutions to ignore

Claim Why it no longer works
Turn off the New Teams toggle The toggle was part of the transition experience and is no longer a current option.
Set a Teams update policy to Classic Teams Migration-era policies cannot retain a client that is no longer available.
Install the old Classic Teams package again Microsoft states that Classic Teams no longer works after its end of availability.
Use Classic Teams in VDI Classic Teams also became unavailable in VDI on July 1, 2025.

FAQ

Can I switch from new Teams to Classic Teams?

No. Microsoft ended Classic Teams availability on July 1, 2025. There is no supported toggle, installer, command, or policy that restores it.

Why do some instructions say to turn off the New Teams toggle?

Those instructions were written during the period when Classic Teams and new Teams were installed side by side. The toggle was part of the old transition experience and is no longer a current solution.

Did Classic Teams end in 2024 or 2025?

Support ended on July 1, 2024. Availability ended on July 1, 2025. This distinction explains why the client could still exist for some users after support ended but no longer functions after the later date.

Can I download an old Classic Teams installer?

You may find old installation files, but reinstalling them is not a supported solution, and the client will not function after the end-of-availability date.

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What should I do if new Teams will not open?

Install the current Teams client from Microsoft, check documented launch conditions such as reparse points and folder permissions, run Microsoft’s TeamsLaunchCheck.ps1 diagnostic, or use Teams at teams.microsoft.com. Contact your organization’s IT department if policy or permissions are involved.

The Bottom Line

Classic Teams cannot be restored. The old switch-back option was retired during Microsoft’s migration, and Classic Teams stopped being available on July 1, 2025. Install the current Teams desktop app, use Teams on the web, or ask your organization’s IT department to fix a blocked installation or launch problem.

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