After purchasing a new computer, users discovered the Office installation is missing Outlook. This is because 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 Spring 2026.)
When the users type Outlook on the Start menu, only Outlook (new) or Outlook for Windows comes up (that is the new name for new Outlook).
Because Microsoft recently began enabling Outlook (new) for Family, Personal, and Small Business subscribers automatically, I no longer 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.
If this happens to you, you'll need to download Outlook Classic from this link: 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
More Information
If you want to see if Outlook.exe was removed, look in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\. (Note: The 32-bit path is C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ but all new computers should have 64-bit Office preinstalled.)
This instruction ONLY reinstalls NEW outlook. Do you have any other ideas? I have clicked on classic outlook using the windows key but that does not INSTALL classic. Thanks,
That definitely should not reinstall new Outlook - or if it does, also install classic.
If you type Outlook on the start menu, is only new Outlook found?
Look for Outlook exe in the hard drive -
Outlook.exe is here if it is installed - "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\OUTLOOK.EXE"
If you use 32-bit Office, it is here -"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\OUTLOOK.EXE"
MS wants very badly to force people to abandon Classic OL ey?
Yes, they do. :(