Classic Outlook to New Outlook: Classic Settings Import – Which options carry over and which do not

You are migrating from Classic Outlook for Windows to the new Outlook for Windows and need to know exactly which settings will transfer during the import process. Microsoft provides a built-in migration tool that copies your accounts, signatures, and some preferences, but not every configuration element moves over. This article lists every setting category that carries over, every category that does not, and explains what happens to your data after the switch.

Why Classic Outlook Settings Do Not All Transfer to New Outlook

Classic Outlook stores settings in two locations: the Windows Registry and profile-specific data files. New Outlook for Windows uses a completely different architecture based on cloud-synced settings and local JSON configuration files. The migration tool can read Registry keys and profile data from Classic Outlook, but it only maps the most commonly used settings to their equivalents in the new app. Less common configurations, such as custom views, advanced formatting rules, and third-party add-in settings, have no equivalent in new Outlook and are therefore ignored.

The migration process runs automatically the first time you open new Outlook after installation. It copies your email accounts, signatures, and basic preferences. After the initial transfer, any changes you make in Classic Outlook do not sync to new Outlook. You must migrate again or configure new settings manually.

What the Migration Tool Reads

The tool reads your Outlook profile from Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles. It extracts account configuration, data file paths, and selected Registry keys under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences. It does not read third-party add-in data or custom XML view definitions.

Settings That Carry Over from Classic Outlook to New Outlook

The following settings transfer automatically during the first launch migration. You do not need to export or save them manually.

1. Email Accounts
   All IMAP, POP3, Exchange, and Microsoft 365 accounts configured in Classic Outlook appear in new Outlook. Account passwords stored in Windows Credential Manager also transfer.
2. Signatures
   Every signature you created in Classic Outlook under File > Options > Mail > Signatures copies to new Outlook. Signature names and content remain unchanged.
3. Automatic Replies (Out of Office)
   If you had an OOF message configured in Classic Outlook for an Exchange account, the message body transfers to new Outlook. The schedule and internal/external settings do not transfer.
4. Work Time and Calendar Start Day
   Your work week start day and work hours from File > Options > Calendar carry over. New Outlook displays these in Settings > Calendar > Work hours.
5. Default Message Format
   The setting for sending messages in HTML, Plain Text, or Rich Text from File > Options > Mail > Compose messages transfers to new Outlook.
6. Spelling and Autocorrect Settings
   Your custom dictionary entries and autocorrect replacements from File > Options > Mail > Spelling and Autocorrect carry over.
7. Quick Steps
   All Quick Steps you created in Classic Outlook appear in new Outlook under the Home tab. Actions that rely on add-ins or custom forms may not work.
8. Data Files and Folder Structure
   Your mailbox folders, subfolders, and the associated OST or PST files remain attached. New Outlook reads the same data files without requiring a re-import.

Settings That Do NOT Carry Over to New Outlook

The following settings do not transfer. You must configure them manually after switching to new Outlook.

1. Custom Views and Column Layouts
   Any view you created in Classic Outlook under View > Change View > Manage Views does not transfer. New Outlook uses a fixed view layout. You cannot create custom views in new Outlook as of the current version.
2. Rules and Alerts
   Server-side rules for Exchange accounts remain active on the server and continue to run. Client-side rules stored in the PST do not transfer to new Outlook because new Outlook does not support client-side rules.
3. Stationery and Fonts
   Your default font, theme, and stationery choices from File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts do not transfer. Set these in new Outlook under Settings > Compose and Reply.
4. Calendar Color Categories
   Color categories assigned to calendar items in Classic Outlook do not appear in new Outlook. Category names and colors must be recreated in Settings > Calendar.
5. Weather Bar Settings
   The location and temperature unit for the weather bar on the calendar do not transfer. Add a location manually in new Outlook under Settings > Calendar > Weather.
6. Add-in Configurations
   COM add-ins installed in Classic Outlook do not load in new Outlook. New Outlook supports only web add-ins from the Microsoft AppSource store. You must install compatible add-ins again.
7. Search Folders
   Any Search Folders you created in Classic Outlook do not transfer. New Outlook does not support Search Folders. Use the search bar with saved search queries instead.
8. Navigation Pane Customization
   If you reordered or hid modules in the Classic Outlook navigation pane, those changes do not transfer. New Outlook uses a fixed navigation layout.
9. Reading Pane Position and Size
   Your preference for the reading pane being on the right, bottom, or off does not transfer. Set this in new Outlook under View > Reading Pane.
10. Trust Center and Security Settings
    All settings under File > Options > Trust Center, including macro security, add-in trust, and attachment handling, do not transfer. New Outlook uses default security settings.

What Happens to Data That Did Not Transfer

Your original Classic Outlook profile remains intact after migration. You can open Classic Outlook again at any time to access your old rules, custom views, and color categories. Uncheck the option in new Outlook Settings > General > Import to stop the migration tool from running again. Your PST and OST data files are not modified or deleted during migration.

If You Need to Recreate a Rule

Open Classic Outlook, go to File > Manage Rules & Alerts, and note the conditions and actions of each rule. Then switch to new Outlook and create the rule manually under Settings > Mail > Rules. Only server-side rules with supported conditions will work in new Outlook.

If You Need to Recreate a Custom View

In Classic Outlook, open the view you want to recreate and take screenshots of the column headers, sort order, and filter settings. New Outlook does not support custom views, but you can adjust column width and sorting in the current view by right-clicking the column header.

Classic Outlook vs New Outlook: Settings That Transfer

Setting Category	Transfers to New Outlook	Requires Manual Setup
Email accounts	Yes	No
Signatures	Yes	No
Automatic Replies (OOF)	Partial (message body only)	Schedule and internal/external settings
Work time and calendar start day	Yes	No
Default message format	Yes	No
Spelling and autocorrect	Yes	No
Quick Steps	Yes	May need add-in reinstall
Data files and folder structure	Yes	No
Custom views	No	Yes
Rules and Alerts	Server-side only	Client-side rules must be recreated
Stationery and fonts	No	Yes
Calendar color categories	No	Yes
Weather bar settings	No	Yes
COM add-ins	No	Install web add-ins from AppSource
Search Folders	No	Use saved search queries
Navigation pane customization	No	Use fixed layout
Reading pane position	No	Set in View > Reading Pane
Trust Center settings	No	Use default security settings

You can now identify exactly which settings will transfer from Classic Outlook to new Outlook and which require manual reconfiguration. After migration, open Settings in new Outlook and review the categories listed above that did not carry over. For advanced users, export your Classic Outlook Registry settings under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences as a backup before migration in case you need to reference specific values later.