Microsoft Outlook on Mac - Cannot revert back to Legacy mode

Question

Microsoft Outlook on Mac - Cannot revert back to Legacy mode

Jay Betito 40

Hi Support!

I'm assisting a user of mine who is having an issue of being unable to revert back to Legacy mode for Outlook. This is on Outlook for Mac. Upon selecting to revert, the app will restart but remain in New Mode. We have tried a restart of the system, and clearing the application data/experimental features to no resolve. The Microsoft Updater is currently set to Beta channel.

-Jay

10 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

HDJulie 5

I found where to download a previous version of Outlook. I was nervous installing it as I've been on the new Outlook & thought I'd lose whatever I'd gotten in the meantime, but it was all there & I had everything back, including Rules, & Contacts that were missing. I've turned off the AutoUpdates & will never let it update again.

This is the link. I downloaded just the Outlook one & chose July 15th, I think. I did a custom install so that I could tell it where to put the app & had it in a temp folder, to see if it worked. When it did, I removed the Microsoft Outlook.app from my App folder & moved the old version there. It ran just fine.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-office-for-mac

It says only the most recent release is available for download but all of the hyperlinks work. I've also copied the install file to like 7 different places so that I never lose it :-).

JAMES KENT 5 Reputation points

2025-09-09T22:51:23.23+00:00

I tried to follow your directions. When I got to the Office update page, I looked for a version without Teams. I went with May 27th. It downloaded okay, I tried to do a custom install, but the installer would not let me pick the destination. So, I let the installer pick the location. It appeared to put the old version into the Applications folder, but when I checked it was still the new version.

I have read on another post that if you saved mail in folders attached to Outlook on your computer that they will be deleted if you delete Outlook. Since the automatic update, I can no longer see my file folders, much less save or export them. I had my Update Channel set to Beta Channel, prior to the recent update, which prevents me from reverting to the Legacy Outlook. I have tried the Geek Squad (local and Pakistan) and Apple on the phone. Any suggestions? Any hope?
HDJulie 5 Reputation points

2025-09-10T01:57:16.8833333+00:00

You don't need the whole suite, you just need Outlook, & you don't need to delete the current Outlook that is installed. Below is a screenshot of the installer page & the options you have for downloads. When you run the installer, go slow. The first time I tried to install, I had the same thing as you - it was still the new Outlook. So the second time, I looked at all options on every screen that came up & found where I could change the destination. If you just aren't able to find that option, rename the current Microsoft Outlook.app in your Applications folder & then the installer should be able to install there. If you do that & it doesn't work, rename the original .app file back.
Wilson Laidlaw 5 Reputation points

2025-09-10T12:46:34.53+00:00

I found I did need to delete the current version otherwise on reinstalling, I was still stuck on the abortion that is the new Outlook with the reversion not working. When deleting, just delete the app file from Applications and not any of the associated files.
HDJulie 5 Reputation points

2025-09-10T14:21:15.86+00:00

Did you try just renaming the current one, rather than dragging it to the trash?
JAMES KENT 5 Reputation points

2025-09-10T18:06:05.18+00:00

I tried renaming the "Microsoft Outlook" folder first to something else as you suggested, then I was able to install the May version of Outlook, which recreated a new "Microsoft Outlook" folder under Applications. All my personal folders were restored. I then moved the old, renamed "Microsoft Outlook" folder to the Trash. Everything is back to normal! Thanks, HDJulie!

Answer 2

Wilson Laidlaw 5

My system has changed automatically to the ghastly new outlook. Worse than that, it appears to have lost some 20 years of archived emails - absolute disaster. I added one new account, on the new system - my Apple account but it has now lost all my other accounts and is only showing the Apple one. What total A-hole signed this off at MS - he should be sacked immediately.

Answer 3

Kimberly Olaño 19,145 Independent Advisor

Hi! Karol. Thanks for the details. I'm here to help.

Please confirm the user's license type

If they're using Office 2024 Home & Business (non-subscription), Microsoft has removed the toggle or menu option ("Revert to Legacy Outlook") entirely.

Best regards,

Kimberly

Jay Betito 40 Reputation points

2025-09-02T18:09:31.77+00:00

Hi Kimberly,

The license version is Microsoft 365 Subscription. This should be an enterprise license as the user and myself are using University issued Microsoft Office licenses.

Please advise

-Jay
crua 0 Reputation points

2025-09-02T20:48:02.15+00:00

I'm also an enterprise license user and had closed Outlook and now it only opens in New Mode. I need the legacy in order to view Public Folders.
JAMES KENT 5 Reputation points

2025-09-04T15:34:51.6466667+00:00

I have the 365 subscription, cannot revert to the Legacy version and cannot find my personal file folders. This is a very serious problem for me.
Catherine Ames 0 Reputation points

2025-09-05T09:33:58.26+00:00

Exactly the same problem for me. I cannot access any of my recent client list folders with the new Outlook and impossible to open Legacy. 20 years of accumulating this client list! There are group lists in the contacts but they are from 2018 and not up to date.

Answer 4

David Charles Stewart 0

I can not revert back to Legacy mode for Outlook for Mac

Answer 5

Kimberly Olaño 19,145 Independent Advisor

Thanks for clarifying. If you’re both on a Microsoft 365 subscription (enterprise / EDU license), then you should still have access to Legacy Outlook on Mac (at least until Microsoft permanently retires it in October 2025).

You mentioned the user is on the Beta Channel.

Microsoft sometimes removes Legacy Outlook toggle from Beta builds earlier than in Production/Current Channel.

Try switching the user’s update channel back to Current Channel (Preview) or Current Channel using Microsoft AutoUpdate:

Open any Office app → Help ▸ Check for Updates

  Click **Advanced** → Change Channel
  
     Select **Current Channel** (not Beta)
     
        Reinstall Outlook if necessary.

HDJulie 5 Reputation points

2025-09-02T22:46:00.72+00:00

I have this same problem but when I change to the Current view & tell it to look for updates, I get an error with a Silverlight plugin & it can't continue the check.
Wu 10 Reputation points

2025-09-03T08:21:03.67+00:00

I also have the same problem.

Today when I open my outlook it switch from legacy to new interface.

After I selected the legacy option under help menu, outlook reopened but still under new interface. It doesn't switch back to the legacy model.

The reason why I can't switch to the new interface is because many of my old emails can't be accessed under the new version. my folders and everything are not the same as under legacy interface.

Please help!!! I can't do my work!

I m on

Licence: Microsoft 365 Subscription

Version 16.102 (25083120)
HDJulie 5 Reputation points

2025-09-03T22:46:05.7233333+00:00

I renamed the Silverlight file on the Mac & that got me past the error. However, now that I'm on the current channel, it still says there is no update. I assume that I will have to uninstall Outlook & then download it again.
JAMES KENT 5 Reputation points

2025-09-04T16:02:34.5833333+00:00

I reset form Beta to Current Channel and it did not work for me. I am afraid to reinstall Outlook, because I have over one hundred personal folders where I have saved important emails over the years and if I reinstall, I may lose them forever.
HDJulie 5 Reputation points

2025-09-04T16:08:34.06+00:00

Same concern for me

Share via

Microsoft Outlook on Mac - Cannot revert back to Legacy mode

10 answers

Your answer