How Do I Stop Win 11 Updating Outlook

I help and advise a family member to use her win 11 computer. I was on her computer when suddenly the screen was filled with a "message" that windows found a newer version of Outlook and was updating it. I frantically quickly closed that window and apparently the upgrade did not go through. But that was because I was sitting at the computer and saw it. Had I not been there she would have lost the Outlook she uses.

I do not want any version of Outlook on her computer except the version I had installed, which is what she knows and is happy with. How do I prevent arrogant Microsoft from trying to force an upgrade again when I'm not on her computer to stop it? How do I prevent any change to Outlook?.

The version of win 11 is 25H2. Build 26200.9445.

NewWin11User said:

How do I prevent arrogant Microsoft from trying to force an upgrade

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Their product, their rules.

BTW, which of the many variations of o/Outlook is it?

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1. Hide the "Try the New Outlook" Toggle

You can prevent the toggle from appearing in classic Outlook using the Windows Registry:
• Press Windows + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
• Navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences
• Look for or create a DWORD (32-bit) Value named HideNewOutlookToggle.
• Set its value data to 1 to hide the toggle completely.

2. Stop Automatic Migration to New Outlook

To block Windows/Office from auto-migrating your classic Outlook accounts to the new version:
• Open Registry Editor (regedit).
• Navigate to your Outlook registry key and set DoNewOutlookAutoMigration to 0 (if present in your enterprise/local policy tree).
• Alternatively, IT admins use group policies or management tools to disable OneWinNativeOutlookEnabled for Exchange mailboxes.

3. Reverting to Classic Outlook (If It Already Switched)

If Windows or an update already switched you to the new Outlook app:
• Open the new Outlook app.
• Look for the toggle at the top right and click "Switch back to classic Outlook".
• If the toggle is missing, open classic Outlook directly from the Windows Start Menu (search for "Outlook (classic)") rather than the default mail shortcut.

As I understand it Classic Outlook support is not long for this world sometime is 2029 support will end.

idgat said:

Their product, their rules.

BTW, which of the many variations of o/Outlook is it?

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Software companies exist to serve their customer base, not the other way around. But arrogance is part and parcel of Microsoft's dealings with its customers (cf. dropped popular Outlook features, forced Windows upgrades).

NewWin11User said:

Software companies exist to serve their customer base,

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Software companies exist to provide a service to their customer base, a little different to the way you've expressed it

More than not, users fail to recognise that they don't own the product, that they've simply bought a license to use the product under the terms and conditions of the EULA, to which the consumer agreed by installing the product

This is in no way a defence of Microsoft's (et al) oft reprehensible disregard for the users' needs, simply an indication of how and why EssAithchOneTee happens.

NewWin11User said:

Software companies exist to serve their customer base, not the other way around. But arrogance is part and parcel of Microsoft's dealings with its customers (cf. dropped popular Outlook features, forced Windows upgrades).

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And no other software company does that at all? How many things have Google dropped without prior warning? iOS updates? Android updates? Do you also moan about them or is Microsoft the sole target of your anger?

NewWin11User said:

I do not want any version of Outlook on her computer except the version I had installed, which is what she knows and is happy with.

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So you want her account to get hacked? Well, the best way is to use a portable version or to create a shortcut to the specific version.

markw51 said:

And no other software company does that at all? How many things have Google dropped without prior warning? iOS updates? Android updates? Do you also moan about them or is Microsoft the sole target of your anger?

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I have indeed stated my comments about google/android on other related forums. That some other vendors also treat customers with indifference, if not outright disdain, does not give Microsoft cover to follow suit.

NewWin11User said:

I have indeed stated my comments about google/android on other related forums. That some other vendors also treat customers with indifference, if not outright disdain, does not give Microsoft cover to follow suit.

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Agreed, but it's their software. You don't own it and never will, you merely have a licence to use it according to Microsoft's EULA. If that includes the ability to replace what they see as ageing software with newer versions, then that is their right and privilege. Do you have an iPhone? did you complain when they replaced iTunes with Apple Music? Did you complain when MS replaced Skype with Teams? Did you complain when MS replaced the Dos based Win 98 with the NTFS based Win XP?

markw51 said:

Agreed, but it's their software. You don't own it and never will, you merely have a licence to use it according to Microsoft's EULA. If that includes the ability to replace what they see as ageing software with newer versions, then that is their right and privilege. Do you have an iPhone? did you complain when they replaced iTunes with Apple Music? Did you complain when MS replaced Skype with Teams? Did you complain when MS replaced the Dos based Win 98 with the NTFS based Win XP?

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not to start a flame war here, but
when MS moved to NT based systems i moved to Ubuntu Linux for 20 years
so yea i was a bit upset and to be honest i still am

thankfully i uninstall all MS software on my and my wifes systems
no MS other then the operating system. we use a vast amount of open source software

and before anyone states, move back to Linux, i am already trying out MX Linux for such a move
i have no time for MS, none. i just happen to use their OS for the time being

as stated i was not planning or trying to upset anyone
best of luck Steve ..

Wow, what a discussion, just because OP wanted to prevent an upgrade.