How to Configure Outlook on Windows 11 in 2026

Outlook setup looks different than it used to, because Microsoft has been rolling new Outlook for Windows out as the default client. As of April 2026, new Outlook is the default for most Windows 11 users, with classic Outlook still available as an opt-back option during the transition (Microsoft 365 and Office LTSC customers are guaranteed classic Outlook support at least through 2029, so there’s no rush if you prefer it).

Setting up new Outlook

1. Open Outlook from the Start menu (or the taskbar icon if it’s pinned). If you’re on classic Outlook and want to try the new one, there’s a Try the new Outlook toggle in the top-right corner of the classic app.
2. On first launch, enter your email address and click Continue.
3. For Microsoft 365 / Exchange Online accounts, this is usually all that’s needed — new Outlook uses modern authentication (OAuth) and signs you straight in via your organisation’s Microsoft Entra ID login.
4. For other accounts (Gmail, iCloud, IMAP), you’ll be prompted for the account password or an app-specific password if the provider requires one.
5. Once signed in, your mail, calendar, and contacts start syncing automatically.

Switching back to classic Outlook

If new Outlook is missing a feature you rely on (add-ins support is still the most common gap), you can switch back:

1. In new Outlook, click the Try the new Outlook toggle again to turn it off, or
2. Open Settings > Apps > Advanced app settings and look for the Outlook default — this depends on your Windows 11 build and whether your organisation has enforced new Outlook via policy.

If your workplace has centrally forced new Outlook through Microsoft 365 admin center policy, the toggle may be greyed out — that’s an IT decision at the tenant level, not something fixable from the client.

Adding a second account

New Outlook supports multiple accounts in one window from the start — click your profile picture (top-right) and Add account, rather than the separate-profile juggling classic Outlook sometimes needed.

If you’re specifically on Office LTSC or a perpetual licence

Office LTSC (2021 or 2024) still ships classic Outlook by default and isn’t automatically switched to new Outlook — the opt-out rollout applies to Microsoft 365 subscription and default Windows 11 installs. If you’re on LTSC, the setup steps are the traditional classic-Outlook account wizard: File > Add Account, enter your email, and let auto-discover handle the rest for Exchange/M365 accounts.