Windows 11 can include new Outlook without installing the older desktop program. The two apps are separate: new Outlook is distributed as a Microsoft Store app, while Microsoft provides a separate installer for classic Outlook for Windows.
If an old Outlook shortcut shows “We couldn’t verify and install this because it is not available in the Microsoft Store,” use Microsoft’s classic-Outlook download page instead of repeatedly opening that shortcut.
Download classic Outlook from Microsoft
- Open Microsoft’s Install or reinstall classic Outlook on a Windows PC page.
- Scroll to Select a language and download classic Outlook.
- Open the language dropdown and select your language. For U.S. English, select English (United States), shown with the culture code en-us.
- Select Download.
- Allow the download to run, then follow the Microsoft installation prompts.
For U.S. English, Microsoft’s download link redirects to its Click-to-Run installer endpoint:
https://c2rsetup.officeapps.live.com/c2r/download.aspx?ProductreleaseID=OutlookRetail&language=en-us&platform=def&version=O16GA
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You do not normally need to paste that address manually. The language table’s Download link is the supported route and selects the appropriate installer.
This download installs the standalone classic Outlook application. It is not the new Outlook Microsoft Store app and it does not simply enable a hidden setting in new Outlook.
Find the correct Outlook app after installation
Open the Windows 11 Start menu and type Outlook. The classic program should be listed as:
- Outlook (classic) — the older desktop application.
- Outlook with a New tag — Microsoft’s newer app.
Select Outlook (classic). If you select the app marked New, Windows will open new Outlook again, which can make it appear that the installation did not work.
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To make the correct program easier to launch, right-click Outlook (classic) in the Start-menu results and choose Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar.
Switch from new Outlook to classic Outlook
If classic Outlook is already installed, new Outlook can provide a shortcut back to it:
- Open new Outlook.
- Select the toggle in the top-right corner.
- Choose one of the available options:
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Switch back to classic Outlook | Opens classic Outlook and returns to it for subsequent launches. |
| Use classic Outlook this time | Opens classic Outlook now, but new Outlook remains the automatic destination the next time you launch Outlook. |
The toggle is not a download mechanism. If classic Outlook is not installed, the toggle may be missing. Install the classic program first using Microsoft’s download page, then launch Outlook (classic) from Start.
If the toggle is missing after installation
Microsoft’s current troubleshooting procedure uses Registry Editor. Make this change only if classic Outlook is installed but new Outlook still does not offer the expected switch:
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- Open Start, type Registry Editor, and select it.
- Navigate to:
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences
- In the right pane, double-click UseNewOutlook.
- Enter 0 in Value data.
- Select OK.
- Close Registry Editor and launch Outlook (classic) directly from the Start menu.
The value 0 is a Registry Editor setting, not a Command Prompt or PowerShell command. Microsoft’s documented procedure does not require running a command.
Keep new Outlook and classic Outlook together
You do not have to uninstall new Outlook to use classic Outlook. Microsoft currently supports running both applications side by side during the transition.
- Install or retain both versions.
- Open Start and type Outlook.
- Right-click the Outlook result and choose Pin to taskbar or Pin to Start.
- Repeat the process for Outlook (classic).
Use separate pins or shortcuts so that the app name is visible before you launch it. This avoids confusing the new Store-based app with the classic desktop program.
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Stop automatic switching to new Outlook
In classic Outlook, check whether Microsoft provides this opt-out:
File > Options > General > New Outlook options
Clear Automatically switch me to new Outlook, then apply the change. If New Outlook options is not shown, Microsoft says the account is not currently eligible for that automatic-switch setting.
Microsoft’s documented rollout began with new Outlook becoming generally available in August 2024. Automatic switching began rolling out from October 2024 for eligible personal Microsoft-account users and from January 2025 for eligible Microsoft 365 Business users on the Current Channel. Under the documented rollout rules, eligible users with third-party personal accounts such as Gmail or Yahoo were not automatically switched; work or school accounts and other account types may also follow different rules.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why you may not see the download or switch
| What you see | Likely reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The old Outlook icon says it is unavailable in the Microsoft Store. | Classic Outlook is not installed through that shortcut. | Use Microsoft’s standalone classic-Outlook download page. |
| The toggle is absent in new Outlook. | Classic Outlook is not installed, or the account or organization does not support the switch. | Install classic Outlook and launch it from Start. For a work account, contact IT if the option remains unavailable. |
| Only one Outlook result is visible. | You may be opening new Outlook, or the classic installation has not completed. | Search specifically for Outlook (classic) and rerun the official installer if necessary. |
| The automatic-switch setting is absent in classic Outlook. | The account is not currently eligible for Microsoft’s documented automatic-switch rollout. | Continue using classic Outlook; there is no setting to clear in that case. |
| A work or school account cannot install or switch apps. | Your organization may control Outlook availability or have disabled the toggle. | Ask your Microsoft 365 administrator or IT department. |
Microsoft previously documented a failure where Go back to classic Outlook closed new Outlook without opening the installation article. That issue was marked fixed on March 27, 2025. If your button still fails, bypass it and use the official standalone download page or Microsoft Store route directly.
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Can the Microsoft Store install classic Outlook?
Yes. Microsoft’s classic-Outlook installation page also lists the Microsoft Store as an alternative route. However, the standalone download section is the clearest option when a new Windows 11 computer has new Outlook but not the classic desktop app.
FAQ
Is classic Outlook still supported on Windows 11?
Yes. Windows 11 supports classic Outlook. Microsoft currently provides a standalone classic-Outlook installer and documents running classic and new Outlook side by side.
Is classic Outlook the same as new Outlook?
No. They are separate Windows applications. In Start, Microsoft identifies the older program as Outlook (classic), while the newer program may carry a New tag.
Why does the Outlook toggle not download classic Outlook?
The toggle only switches between installed applications. If classic Outlook is absent, install it first from Microsoft’s classic-Outlook download page.
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The Microsoft documentation discusses Gmail and Yahoo as third-party personal accounts in the new-Outlook rollout. Whether an account works in classic Outlook can also depend on its provider settings, authentication requirements, and account configuration.
Can my employer prevent me from using classic Outlook?
Yes. An organization can control Outlook installation and switching behavior. If a work or school account cannot install classic Outlook or has no switch option, contact the administrator.
The Bottom Line
To get the old desktop program on Windows 11, download it from Microsoft’s classic Outlook installation page, choose your language, and select Download. Afterward, launch the Start-menu entry named Outlook (classic)—not the app marked New. You can keep both versions installed and pinned separately.
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