Use Report Phishing or Junk in New Outlook After Switching From Classic Outlook

When you switch from Classic Outlook to the new Outlook for Windows, the built-in buttons to report phishing and junk messages may not appear where you expect them. This happens because the new Outlook uses a different user interface and a different set of add-ins compared to Classic Outlook. This article explains where to find the report phishing and junk buttons in new Outlook, how to enable them if they are missing, and what to do when the buttons behave differently than in Classic Outlook.

Why the Report Buttons Change After Switching to New Outlook

Classic Outlook loads COM add-ins that are registered in the Windows Registry. The Microsoft Report Message add-in and the Report Phishing add-in are COM add-ins that add a button to the ribbon or to the right-click context menu. New Outlook does not support COM add-ins. It uses a web-based add-in platform. When you switch to new Outlook, those COM-based add-ins are not loaded. The new Outlook includes a built-in reporting feature, but it may be disabled by default or hidden in a different location.

Another reason the buttons may be missing is that your organization uses Microsoft 365 Defender or Exchange Online Protection policies that control which reporting buttons appear. In some cases, the administrator has disabled the built-in reporting button and requires users to install a specific add-in from the Microsoft AppSource store. New Outlook also changes the right-click context menu. The Report Junk and Report Phishing options that appeared in Classic Outlook are replaced by a single Junk option in the ribbon in new Outlook.

Where to Find the Built-in Report Phishing and Junk Buttons in New Outlook

New Outlook has a built-in reporting button on the Home tab of the ribbon. Follow these steps to use it:

1. Select the suspicious message in your inbox
   Click the email you want to report. Do not open it in a separate window unless you prefer to use the ribbon while reading.
2. Go to the Home tab on the ribbon
   At the top of the new Outlook window, click the Home tab if it is not already selected.
3. Click the Junk button in the Delete group
   The Junk button is located in the Delete section of the ribbon. It looks like a shield with a red exclamation mark.
4. Select Phishing from the dropdown menu
   Click the arrow next to the Junk button to open a dropdown. Choose Phishing to open the report dialog.
5. Click Report to send the message to Microsoft
   A dialog box appears asking if you want to report the message. Click Report to send the message to Microsoft for analysis. The message is moved to your Junk Email folder.

If you want to report a message as junk rather than phishing, click the Junk button directly (not the arrow) and select Junk from the dropdown. The process is the same.

How to Enable the Report Message Add-in in New Outlook

If the built-in Junk button does not include a Phishing option, or if your organization requires the Microsoft Report Message add-in, you can install it from the Add-ins store. This add-in adds a Report button directly to the ribbon and to the right-click menu.

1. Open the Get Add-ins dialog
   Click the Home tab. On the far right of the ribbon, click the Get Add-ins button (the icon looks like a shopping bag with a plus sign).
2. Search for Report Message or Report Phishing
   In the Add-ins store, type Report Message in the search box. You will see two add-ins: Report Message and Report Phishing. Both are published by Microsoft.
3. Click Add next to the add-in you need
   Click the Add button for Report Message to add the generic reporting add-in. Click Add for Report Phishing if you only want the phishing-specific version.
4. Review permissions and confirm
   A dialog shows the permissions the add-in requires. Click Continue to install it.
5. Use the add-in from the ribbon or right-click menu
   After installation, a Report Message or Report Phishing button appears on the Home tab. You can also right-click any email and select Report Message or Report Phishing from the context menu.

What to Do If the Report Buttons Still Do Not Appear

If you have installed the add-in but the buttons are still missing, check these settings:

New Outlook Shows No Junk Button on the Ribbon

The Junk button may be hidden if your ribbon is in a collapsed state. Double-click any tab name (Home, View, etc.) to expand the ribbon fully. If the Junk button is still missing, your administrator may have disabled the built-in reporting feature. In that case, you must use the add-in method described above.

Add-in Appears as Disabled or Greyed Out

Some add-ins require that the message be in your inbox and not in a different folder like Drafts or Sent Items. Move the message to your inbox and try again. If the add-in remains greyed out, your organization may have a policy that blocks the add-in. Contact your IT administrator.

Right-Click Menu Does Not Show Report Options

The new Outlook right-click menu is limited compared to Classic Outlook. The built-in right-click menu does not include Report Junk or Report Phishing by default. The only way to add these options to the right-click menu is to install the Report Message add-in from the Add-ins store. After installation, the options appear at the bottom of the right-click menu.

New Outlook vs Classic Outlook: Reporting Features Compared

Item	New Outlook	Classic Outlook
Built-in junk reporting button	Home > Junk button (ribbon)	Home > Junk button (ribbon)
Built-in phishing reporting button	Home > Junk > Phishing (dropdown)	Home > Junk > Phishing (dropdown) or right-click
COM add-in support	Not supported	Supported
Web add-in (AppSource) support	Supported	Supported (limited)
Right-click report options	Only with Report Message add-in installed	Built-in or with add-in
Administrator policy control	Yes, via Microsoft 365 Defender	Yes, via Group Policy and Registry

If Outlook Still Has Issues After the Main Fix

Report Button Does Nothing When Clicked

If you click the Report button and nothing happens, the add-in may be blocked by your browser or by a security setting. New Outlook uses a web-based engine. Open the new Outlook in a private or incognito browser window to test if an extension is interfering. Also check that pop-ups are not blocked for the Outlook web domain.

Messages Are Not Being Sent to Microsoft

The reporting feature sends a copy of the email to Microsoft. If your network blocks outbound connections to Microsoft servers, the report will fail. Check with your IT team to ensure that URLs for outlook.office.com and outlook.live.com are allowed through your firewall. Also verify that your account has a valid Microsoft 365 license that includes Exchange Online.

Junk Email Folder Is Not Being Populated

After you report a message as junk, the message should move to the Junk Email folder. If it does not move, your administrator may have configured a policy that only marks the message but does not move it. Check your junk email settings in new Outlook by going to Settings > Mail > Junk email. Ensure that the option to move junk email to the Junk Email folder is enabled.

You can now locate and use the report phishing and junk buttons in new Outlook after switching from Classic Outlook. To make reporting faster, install the Report Message add-in from the Add-ins store so the button appears on both the ribbon and the right-click menu. If you manage multiple accounts, note that each account requires the add-in to be installed separately.