How to Switch Back to Legacy Outlook for Mac?

With every new update, applications often come with significant design and feature changes aimed at improving user experience. However, these updates don’t always meet the expectations of every user. This has been the case for many Mac users with the latest version of Microsoft Outlook.

The revamped Outlook for Mac has introduced several updates in design, layout, settings, tools, and functionality. While these changes were meant to enhance usability, many long-time users feel that key features from the classic (legacy) Outlook version have been removed or altered, reducing their overall productivity.

Outlook for Mac is one of the most commonly used desktop email clients in both professional and personal environments. Due to its popularity and importance, any disruption in its interface or functionality can lead to user frustration. As a result, many people are now looking for ways to revert to the older, more familiar classic Outlook experience.

If you’re among those who have updated to the new version but prefer the legacy layout, don’t worry. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the simple steps to switch back to the classic version of Outlook for Mac.

Why Many Users Are Reverting to the Legacy Outlook for Mac

One of the main reasons users are switching back to the classic version of Outlook for Mac is simple familiarity. Long-time users who have grown accustomed to the layout, features, and navigation of the legacy version often find it difficult to adapt to a drastically different interface. When a tool you’ve relied on for years suddenly changes, and essential functions are no longer where they used to be or missing altogether it can create major usability challenges.

Missing Features in the New Outlook for Mac

While the updated version of Outlook aims to offer a more modern and streamlined experience, especially with a design that closely resembles the web version of Outlook, many users feel it falls short in terms of core functionality. Here are some of the key features that are currently unavailable in the new Outlook for Mac, prompting users to revert to the legacy version:

• No Support for Contact Lists – Managing and accessing contact groups is no longer available, which is crucial for many business workflows.
• Lack of On-Premise Exchange Account Support – Users connected to on-premise Exchange servers cannot use them with the new Outlook.
• No Local Folders – The ability to store emails locally on the computer is missing, which affects offline accessibility and storage preferences.
• Export/Import of OLM Files – Users can no longer export or import Outlook data files (.OLM), limiting options for backups or data migration.
• Notes and Tasks View Removed – The new interface does not include built-in access to notes and task management features.
• No ‘Send As’ or ‘Send on Behalf Of’ Options in Office 365 Groups – This is a major drawback for teams relying on delegated sending permissions.
• No Audible Mail Alerts – Sound notifications for new emails are absent, which can lead to missed communications.
• No Drag-and-Drop Duplication for Calendar Events – Users can’t easily copy events by dragging and dropping them, which reduces efficiency when managing schedules.

These missing features, especially those important to professionals and enterprise environments, have made the transition to the new Outlook for Mac difficult for many users. As a result, switching back to the legacy version is often the most practical solution until full feature parity is restored.

How to Revert to the Legacy Outlook on Mac?

If you’re not satisfied with the new Outlook experience and prefer the classic version, switching back is quick and easy. Just follow the steps below:

#1: Open the Outlook application on your Mac.

#2: From the top menu bar, click on ‘Outlook’ (located in the top-left corner of your screen).

#3: In the dropdown menu, uncheck the option for ‘New Outlook’.

Once you do this, Outlook will automatically close and relaunch in the classic (legacy) view that you’re familiar with.

Alternate Method Using Help Menu

If you don’t see the option directly in the Outlook menu, you can also use the Help section:

• Open Outlook and click on ‘Help’ in the top menu.
• Select ‘Revert to Legacy Outlook’ from the list of options.

This will switch your Outlook interface back to the classic version.

Using the Toggle Switch (If Available)

In some builds of Outlook for Mac, there’s a quick switch to toggle between the new and old views:

• Look near the Search bar at the top of the Outlook window.
• If you see a toggle labeled ‘New Outlook’, simply slide it off to disable the new version.
• The app will close and relaunch with the classic interface.

That’s it! You can switch back at any time using these steps, depending on your Outlook version. Let me know if you’d like screenshots or a printable version of this guide.

Uninstall and Reinstall Microsoft Office to Restore Classic Outlook for Mac

If none of the previous methods help you revert to the classic Outlook interface, the last resort is to completely uninstall Microsoft Office from your Mac and reinstall an older version that includes the legacy Outlook.

Please note: Outlook is part of the Microsoft Office suite, so uninstalling it will also remove other Office applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.

Steps to Uninstall Microsoft Office on Mac

1. Open Finder and click on ‘Go’ in the top menu bar.
2. Select ‘Applications’ from the dropdown menu.
3. In the Applications folder, locate Microsoft Outlook.
4. Right-click on Outlook, then choose ‘Move to Trash’.
5. Repeat the same steps for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote to remove the entire Office suite.
6. Open the Trash from the Dock and click ‘Empty’ in the top-right corner to permanently delete all Microsoft Office apps from your Mac.

Reinstalling Microsoft Office with Legacy Outlook

Once you’ve removed the current Office installation, follow these instructions to reinstall a version that includes the old Outlook view:

1. Purchase or use an existing license for Microsoft Office 2021 for Mac – either Home & Student or Home & Business editions.
2. After downloading the installer, double-click the .pkg file to begin installation.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process.
4. When prompted, click ‘Sign in to activate Office’.
5. Log in using your Microsoft account credentials to activate Office and restore access to the classic Outlook version.

This method takes a bit more time and effort, but it’s a reliable way to return to the familiar interface and features of legacy Outlook. Let me know if you’d like a link to download Office 2021 or help checking your license compatibility.

Conclusion

Microsoft regularly updates its Office suite to enhance user experience and maintain consistency across platforms. As part of this initiative, a redesigned version of Outlook was rolled out, along with updated versions of Word, Excel, OneNote, and other Office apps. These updates are automatically pushed to macOS users (version 10.14 and above), which has left some users struggling to adapt to the new Outlook interface.

If you find the upgraded Outlook for Mac does not meet your needs, this guide has outlined several effective methods to revert to the classic Outlook experience. From toggling off the New Outlook to fully uninstalling and reinstalling Office, users can choose the option that best suits their workflow.

Additionally, for those looking to move from Outlook for Mac to Outlook on Windows, MacArmy OLM Converter for Mac is a powerful solution. This tool enables a smooth and accurate conversion of OLM files (used by Outlook for Mac) to PST files (used by Outlook for Windows). It supports bulk conversion, provides a comprehensive file analysis report, and allows exporting to various formats including PST, MBOX, PDF, EML, HTML, CSV, VCF, Office 365, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, IMAP, Outlook.com, etc.

MacArmy OLM File Converter is fully compatible with the latest versions of Microsoft Outlook on both Windows and macOS. It ensures secure and loss-free migration, making it an ideal choice for users who want to preserve their email data or create portable backup files.

In short, whether you’re reverting to the legacy Outlook interface or switching platforms entirely, these methods and tools can help you manage the transition smoothly and securely.