New Outlook activated by today's update

I found today after a 365 update New Outlook replaced Outlook Classic when clicking on an address to use. It lost all my archives but was able to switch back and uninstall the app. Click on the link and select Clasic to be used. What concerned me was the new one losing my archives which would have been an enormous problem. Is this appalling behaviour how it is expexted to function if you switch to it?

Firstly, you didn’t mention your Office version. Do you have Microsoft 365 or Office 2021?
Secondly, you can backup your PST (If that’s what you mean by archive). However it shouldn’t get deleted.

PST files by default, generally live in the folder: Documents\Outlook Files\

If you are eventually forced to use the new Outlook & IMAP, then you can add (import) your PST (POP3 archive file) and have access to your old folders.
This way you’ll have modern IMAP email setup and access to the folders you are used to.
You can drag and drop emails from your IMAP account to the folder of your choice in your PST file.

Think of a PST file as a Filing Cabinet.

Thanks. Sorry 365 and nothing was lost when I got it to move back to Clasic
I was not pleased to have MS change the defult and even less pleased when it finished loading my emails to find didn't copy over the very big archives
But as said I have deleted the new and got Clasic as defult again with all the archive data OK. But do you lose archives if yo6 change to new outlook?

As mentioned, the archive (PST file) is in Documents\Outlook Files.

Back it up.

Technically you don’t lose archive folders because they are stored in the PST file. But back it up, I have read on occasion people saying the new outlook chewed up their PST file.

For my wife:

I setup IMAP accounts because she uses 3 different computers, so they sync nicely.
Then I imported the PST file
The IMAP (email) accounts are listed, and at the top, the PST file is present with all her folders.
She drags and drops mail she needs to keep, from the IMAP accounts which live server side, to the PST file which lives locally. This is a good practice in my opinion in case there is ever a catastrophic server issue (I have experienced)

John7 said:

But do you lose archives if yo6 change to new outlook?

Click to expand...

PST file support (your Archive folders) in New Outlook for Windows is still very limited.
Open and find items in an Outlook Data File (.pst) - Microsoft Support

You can open the PST in New Outlook, but you have to ask for it. It does not seem to inherit this from your Classic Outlook profile. (Or at least it didn't for me).

So far today, Classic Outlook works for me. But I'm sure "they" are coming for me and all other non-corporate users.

x509 said:

So far today, Classic Outlook works for me. But I'm sure "they" are coming for me and all other non-corporate users.

Click to expand...

Classic Outlook Support Policy

when will classic outlook end - Microsoft Q&A

Classic Outlook is NOT Going Away in 2026 | Slipstick Systems

Perpetual License

Office Home & Business 2024 which includes Classic Outlook for Windows.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/office-home-business-2024/cfq7ttc0pbm7

Classic Outlook for Windows.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/outlook/cfq7ttc0pbmd

Perpetual License = It may go out of Support and End Of Life, you may have to jump thru hoops to keep it working, but they can't take it away from you.