Volume 30 Issue 8

Issue Date: February 27, 2025 « Previous Issue | Next Issue »

The following articles were included in our Exchange Messaging Outlook (EMO) newsletter published on February 27, 2025.

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Recap: Classic Outlook is Missing

As I mentioned last fall, Microsoft removed classic Outlook from the images that computer manufacturers use to install Windows and a trial for Office. Now users are reporting that Outlook is disappearing after Windows updates are installed. This appears to affect Family and Personal subscribers, not business subscribers so far. (I expect classic Outlook will remain in Enterprise subscriptions until this time next year.)

Because Microsoft recently began enabling Outlook (new) for Family, Personal, and Small Business subscribers automatically, I used to suggest users verify that outlook.exe is not in the Microsoft Office path in Program files, but it’s clear now that outlook.exe was removed by an update. My recommendation is to get the download file Microsoft made available for buyers of new computers to reinstall classic Outlook.

Microsoft offers two options to install classic Outlook in this article: You can't open classic Outlook on a new Windows PC

You can either download a setup file or install it from the Microsoft store. I recommend using the download.
Download Outlook
Install from Store

I have not yet tested it to confirm, but some users said that Outlook is still in the installation file for Offline Installer option under Choose a version when installing Office from your Microsoft account. (Outlook was still in my online installer, but it can take several weeks to update all of the servers that host the installation files.)

To hide the New Outlook switch in classic Outlook or switch back to classic Outlook, see Use Classic Outlook, not New Outlook

Classic Outlook missing from new computers

Recap: Opening PST files in New Outlook

As I mentioned previously, Microsoft is rolling out the ability to open PST files in new Outlook. At this time the PST files are read only, this is expected to change in coming months.

Currently, you must have classic Outlook installed to open a PST file in new Outlook. If Outlook was uninstalled by an update, you’ll need to reinstall it if you are using new Outlook and want to open a PST file.

The ability to open PST files in new Outlook is limited to Microsoft 365 subscribers. You need to either add your Microsoft account to new Outlook or connect your subscription to new Outlook in Settings > Accounts > Your accounts > Add subscription. If you have a perpetual version of Office, you will not be able to open a PST in new Outlook.

Note: PST files are not supported in the ARM version of new Outlook. This affects some Surface xomputers and virtual Windows installed on a Mac.

Microsoft support article: Open and find items in an Outlook Data File (.pst)

Opening PST files in New Outlook

Calendar Update Notifications

A user complained that when they created an appointment on the boss’s calendar, Outlook generated a notification to the boss’s email.

This is triggered by a setting in Outlook on the web (in the boss’s account). Look in Settings > Calendar > Shared Calendars > Calendar Updates section. Remove the checkmark beside “Calendar”. If a calendar is not shared, it will not be listed under Calendar Updates.

This option is available in both outlook.com and work or school accounts.