Are you using an IMAP email account in new Outlook and experiencing issues with emails or folders not syncing correctly? Switching to classic Outlook may help. Although new Outlook supports IMAP, it works differently from classic Outlook in several areas. This guide explains how to switch back to classic Outlook and which license you need to use it.
IMAP issues in new Outlook
When using an IMAP account in new Outlook, you may experience issues such as:
Emails do not appear immediately or are delayed.
Sent emails are not displayed correctly in the Sent folder.
Folders or folder structures do not synchronize correctly.
Deleted emails reappear.
Changes are not properly synchronized between different devices.
If you experience any of these issues, you can use classic Outlook to check whether your email account works correctly there.
Solution: switch back to classic Outlook
If classic Outlook is already installed on your computer, you can switch directly from new Outlook to the classic version.
Open Outlook.
Select the toggle in the upper-right corner of the Outlook window.
Select Switch back to classic Outlook.
Outlook may ask you to provide feedback about why you are switching back. For example, you can enter “IMAP is not syncing correctly” and submit your feedback.
Classic Outlook will then open.
If you only want to open classic Outlook temporarily without switching back permanently, you can select Use classic Outlook this time instead.
Install classic Outlook
If classic Outlook is not yet installed on your computer, you will need to install it first. Microsoft provides instructions for installing or reinstalling classic Outlook on a Windows PC: Install or reinstall classic Outlook on a Windows PC
After installing classic Outlook, we recommend removing new Outlook from the Windows taskbar. This helps prevent you from accidentally opening the wrong version of Outlook.
Find the new Outlook icon on the Windows taskbar.
Right-click the Outlook icon.
Select Unpin from taskbar.
Next, add classic Outlook to the taskbar so you can easily open the correct version:
Open the Windows Start menu.
Search for Outlook (classic).
Right-click Outlook (classic).
Select Pin to taskbar.
Classic Outlook will now appear on your taskbar, making it easier to open the correct version of Outlook in the future.
Next, check whether you have a valid license for classic Outlook.
Do I need a license for classic Outlook?
Yes. To use classic Outlook, you need a Microsoft 365 subscription or a standalone Office license that includes the classic Outlook desktop application.
Classic Outlook is included with options such as:
Custom business email, such as [email protected], is also available with Microsoft 365 Business Standard. This means you can consider migrating your current IMAP email hosting to Microsoft 365 instead.
Contact your IT administrator
If you do not have a suitable license for classic Outlook, or you are unsure which Microsoft 365 license is available within your organization, contact your IT administrator. They can check whether a suitable license is already available or advise you on purchasing and configuring one.
For example, you can contact:
Profcom IT: [email protected]
De Vrieze Networking: [email protected]
ForceFusion: [email protected]
Alternatively, you can purchase a suitable Microsoft 365 license directly from Microsoft: View Microsoft 365 business plans and pricing