Where to Find Meeting Drafts in New Outlook After Leaving Classic Outlook

When you switch from the classic version of Outlook to the new Outlook for Windows, meeting drafts you started in classic Outlook can seem to disappear. This happens because new Outlook stores meeting drafts in a different location than classic Outlook. The new Outlook app uses a cloud-based storage system that does not automatically sync drafts from the classic desktop version. This article explains where new Outlook stores meeting drafts and how to recover drafts you created in classic Outlook.

Why Meeting Drafts Do Not Appear in New Outlook Automatically

Classic Outlook stores meeting drafts in a local data file on your computer. This file can be a PST file for POP3 accounts or an OST file for Exchange and IMAP accounts. The drafts in these files are not synced to Microsoft 365 cloud storage unless you manually move them. New Outlook for Windows uses a cloud-first architecture. It only shows items stored on the Exchange Online server or in your Microsoft 365 mailbox. Local files from classic Outlook are not imported when you switch apps. This is why your meeting drafts appear to be missing after you leave classic Outlook.

Another reason is that new Outlook does not open the same data file that classic Outlook used. Each Outlook version maintains its own profile and data file references. When you launch new Outlook, it creates a fresh connection to your email server and ignores the local cache from classic Outlook. The drafts you saved in classic Outlook remain in the old local data file, which new Outlook cannot see.

Where Classic Outlook Stores Meeting Drafts

Classic Outlook stores all unsaved meeting requests and appointments in the Drafts folder of the email account you were using. For example, if you use an Exchange account, the draft is saved in the Drafts folder of that Exchange mailbox. However, the draft is only present in the local OST cache file. The server copy of the Drafts folder may not contain the draft because classic Outlook often delays syncing drafts to the server until you send the item. This local-only storage means the draft is not available in new Outlook.

Steps to Find and Recover Meeting Drafts in New Outlook

To recover meeting drafts you created in classic Outlook, you must first open classic Outlook and locate the draft. Then you need to manually copy the meeting details into new Outlook. Follow these steps.

1. Open classic Outlook
   Launch the classic version of Outlook on your computer. If you already uninstalled it, you may need to reinstall it from the Microsoft 365 installer or your company portal. Do not open new Outlook yet.
2. Go to the Drafts folder
   In the folder pane on the left side of the window, click the Drafts folder under your email account. If you have multiple accounts, check the Drafts folder under each account where you might have created the meeting draft.
3. Find the meeting draft
   Look for items in the Drafts folder that have a meeting icon. The meeting icon looks like a small calendar with a clock. You can also sort the list by icon type to group meeting drafts together.
4. Double-click the draft to open it
   Double-click the meeting draft to open it in a new window. This shows the full meeting details including attendees, subject, location, and body text.
5. Copy the meeting details
   Select all text in the meeting body by pressing Ctrl+A. Copy it with Ctrl+C. Write down or copy the attendees list, subject, location, and start/end times separately. You can also take a screenshot for reference.
6. Close classic Outlook
   Close the classic Outlook application. You do not need to save the draft again. It will remain in the Drafts folder until you delete it.
7. Open new Outlook
   Launch the new Outlook for Windows application. Sign in with the same email account you used in classic Outlook.
8. Create a new meeting in new Outlook
   Click the Calendar icon in the left navigation pane. Click the New Event button at the top of the calendar view. Alternatively, press Ctrl+Shift+Q to open a new meeting request.
9. Paste the copied meeting details
   In the new meeting window, enter the subject, location, start and end times, and attendees from the original draft. Paste the body text by pressing Ctrl+V in the meeting description area.
10. Save or send the meeting
    Click the Send button to send the meeting invitation to attendees. If you are not ready to send it, click the Save button in the ribbon. The draft is saved in the Drafts folder of new Outlook and will be visible the next time you open the app.

Using the Import Feature to Move Drafts Automatically

New Outlook does not have a direct import option for classic Outlook drafts. However, you can export the entire Drafts folder from classic Outlook as a PST file and then import it into new Outlook. This method moves all drafts at once, not just meeting drafts.

1. Export drafts from classic Outlook
   In classic Outlook, go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export. Choose Export to a file and select Outlook Data File (.pst). Select the Drafts folder and choose a location to save the PST file.
2. Import the PST file into new Outlook
   In new Outlook, click File > Open & Export > Import/Export. Choose Import from another program or file and select Outlook Data File (.pst). Browse to the PST file you exported and select Import items into the same folder. New Outlook places the drafts into the Drafts folder of your account.
3. Check the imported drafts
   Open the Drafts folder in new Outlook. You should see all your meeting drafts now listed. Double-click any meeting draft to open and send it.

If Meeting Drafts Still Do Not Appear After Import

If the import method does not bring your meeting drafts into new Outlook, the drafts may have been stored in a secondary data file or a different account. Check the following scenarios.

Drafts Were Saved in a PST File That Is Not the Default

Classic Outlook allows you to create additional PST files for archiving or separate projects. If you saved the meeting draft in a non-default PST file, you need to open that PST file in classic Outlook first. Go to File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File and select the PST file. Then locate the Drafts folder inside that PST file. Export that specific PST file and import it into new Outlook.

Drafts Were Created in a Shared Mailbox

If you created the meeting draft in a shared mailbox you had added to classic Outlook, the draft is stored in that shared mailbox’s Drafts folder. In classic Outlook, right-click the shared mailbox name in the folder pane and select Open in new window. Then navigate to the Drafts folder in that window. Export the Drafts folder from the shared mailbox. In new Outlook, add the shared mailbox again by going to View > Add shared folder. Then import the PST file into that shared mailbox’s Drafts folder.

Drafts Were Lost After a Failed Migration

If you uninstalled classic Outlook before copying your drafts, the local OST or PST file may have been deleted. In this case, you cannot recover the drafts. To prevent this, always copy your drafts before uninstalling classic Outlook. If the PST file still exists on your computer, you can open it in classic Outlook by double-clicking the file. Then follow the export steps above.

Item	Classic Outlook	New Outlook
Draft storage location	Local PST or OST file	Cloud mailbox (Exchange Online)
Draft visibility across devices	Only on the device where the draft was created	Visible on all devices signed into the same account
Method to recover drafts after switching	Not applicable	Manual copy or PST import
Automatic sync of drafts	Drafts sync to server only when sent	Drafts sync immediately to the cloud

You can now locate and recover meeting drafts from classic Outlook when using new Outlook. The most reliable method is to open classic Outlook, find the draft in the Drafts folder, and copy the meeting details into a new meeting in new Outlook. For bulk recovery, use the PST export and import feature. To avoid losing drafts in the future, always send or save meeting drafts in new Outlook instead of classic Outlook. As an advanced tip, you can enable the classic Outlook add-in called Meeting Suggestion to automatically save meeting drafts as appointments in your calendar, making them easier to find in any Outlook version.