How to Make New Outlook look like Outlook Classic

Microsoft is gradually retiring Classic Outlook, and while the New Outlook has a more modern design, it doesn’t include all of the old layout options. Because of this, it isn’t possible to make New Outlook look exactly like Classic Outlook. However, there are several settings you can adjust to make the layout feel much more familiar and easier to use.

Below are the recommended changes to make New Outlook resemble Classic Outlook as closely as possible.

1. Turn Off Focused Inbox

Focused Inbox separates your mail into “Focused” and “Other,” which many people find confusing. You can turn this off so everything appears in one list.

Steps:

1. Open New Outlook
2. Select View at the top
3. Click Show Focused Inbox to turn it off 
   • When it’s off, the button will no longer be highlighted

2. Turn Off Conversation View (Threading)

If you prefer each email to appear separately instead of grouped into threads:

Steps:

1. Open New Outlook
2. Select View
3. Click Conversation View
4. Choose Off

This makes your inbox look more like Classic Outlook’s message list.

3. Enable the Folder Pane (Full Folder List)

Classic Outlook always showed the full folder tree on the left. New Outlook sometimes hides it.

Steps:

1. Go to View
2. Select Folder Pane
3. Choose Normal

This restores the full list of folders, similar to Classic Outlook.

4. Enable the Reading Pane (Right‑Side Layout)

Classic Outlook commonly used the “message list on the left, email on the right” layout.

Steps:

1. Go to View
2. Select Reading Pane
3. Choose Right

This recreates the familiar Classic Outlook layout.

5. Use Single‑Line View

This makes the message list look more like the traditional Classic Outlook list.

Steps:

1. Go to View
2. Select Message Preview
3. Choose 1 line

6. Show All Folders

New Outlook sometimes collapses or hides folders by default.

Steps:

1. In the left pane, click More (three dots)
2. Select Folders
3. Make sure Show all folders is enabled

7. Add the Ribbon (Simplified Version)

New Outlook does not support the full Classic Ribbon, but you can still show the simplified version.

Steps:

1. Go to View
2. Select Ribbon
3. Choose Show Ribbon

This gives you a more familiar toolbar at the top.

Summary

While New Outlook cannot fully replicate Classic Outlook, these adjustments will make the interface much closer to what you’re used to:

• Focused Inbox → Off
• Conversation View → Off
• Folder Pane → Normal
• Reading Pane → Right
• Message Preview → 1 line
• Show All Folders → On
• Ribbon → Shown