I made new Outlook look like classic Outlook on Windows 11, but there’s a catch

• New Outlook includes an optional classic appearance that changes its visual styling, layout, typography, icons, and selected interactions.
• You can enable or disable the classic Outlook style under the “Appearance” settings.
• The setting makes new Outlook look more familiar but doesn’t restore classic Outlook or its missing features.

Microsoft is bringing a familiar Outlook appearance to its modern email app, giving users more control over how they work without returning to the original desktop application.

If you use new Outlook on Windows 11 but prefer the traditional interface, you can now enable the classic Outlook theme. The option changes the application’s icons, typography, visual styling, layout, and some interactions to make the experience feel closer to the legacy desktop version.

You can find the setting under “Appearance” in Outlook settings, and you can switch between the two designs whenever you want.

However, the classic Outlook theme doesn’t restore classic Outlook or bring back missing features. It only changes the app’s appearance.

Related

How to change new Outlook app theme on Windows 11

In this guide, I’ll explain how to enable and disable the classic Outlook theme, what changes to expect, why Microsoft is introducing it, and why I think this is a welcome improvement that doesn’t address the company’s bigger Outlook problem.

• Enable the classic style in new Outlook
• Disable the classic style in new Outlook

Enable the classic style in new Outlook

To enable the classic style in the new Outlook, follow these steps:

1. Open Outlook on Windows 11.

2. Click the Settings (gear) button in the top-right corner.

3. Select the General tab.

4. Click the Appearance setting.

5. Select the “Enable classic Outlook style” checkbox.

   

Once you complete the steps, the new Outlook app will apply the classic Outlook styling to its interface.

You don’t need to reinstall the app, import your settings, or move your mailbox. The change applies to the appearance of the existing app.

Disable the classic style in new Outlook

If you decide that you prefer the modern interface, you can turn off the classic Outlook theme using the same settings page, using these steps:

1. Open Outlook.

2. Click the Settings (gear) button.

3. Select the General tab.

4. Click the Appearance setting.

5. Clear the “Enable classic Outlook style” checkbox.

   

After completing the steps, Outlook will revert to its standard new Outlook appearance.

You can repeat these instructions whenever you want to switch between the two designs.

What changes when you enable the classic Outlook style

The classic Outlook theme goes beyond changing the application’s colors or applying a different background.

Microsoft says the setting coordinates several interface changes to make New Outlook more closely resemble the traditional desktop application.

Here are the main changes you can expect.

• Visual styling: Outlook adopts a more traditional appearance across its interface.
• Typography: Text styling changes to resemble the familiar desktop experience.
• Icons: The application uses different iconography to align more closely with classic Outlook.
• Layout: Some interface elements are rearranged to make navigation feel more familiar.
• Interactions: Selected interactions change to better match the traditional Outlook experience.

The goal is to make the transition less disruptive for people who have spent years using classic Outlook. However, enabling the theme doesn’t turn new Outlook into the original desktop application. You’re still using new Outlook, with its existing capabilities and limitations.

Pureinfotech’s Take

I think the classic style is a welcome addition to the new Outlook. It’s a practical improvement that acknowledges that the new design doesn’t resonate with everyone. It also means that people don’t necessarily want to relearn an app they’ve used for years just because a newer version is available.

However, I don’t think changing the interface alone will convince everyone to abandon classic Outlook.

Microsoft’s bigger challenge is functionality. People who prefer the original app aren’t necessarily resisting change because they dislike its appearance. A lot of them have specific workflows, features, and capabilities they rely on, and a new theme doesn’t address those requirements.

I’d rather see the company prioritize closing those gaps and giving users a compelling reason to move to new Outlook instead of relying on interface adjustments to make the transition more appealing.

My bottom line is that the classic Outlook theme is a welcome step in the right direction, but Microsoft needs to do more than make New Outlook look familiar. It needs to make the application a replacement people actually want to use.