New Outlook for Windows is a modern replacement for the classic desktop application. It offers a simpler interface and better integration with Microsoft 365 cloud services. But it does not support every feature from the classic version. Public Folders, a legacy collaboration feature used by many organizations, have limited functionality in New Outlook. This article explains exactly which Public Folder tasks still require Classic Outlook and which ones work in the new app.
Key Takeaways: Public Folder Support in New Outlook
- File > Options > Add-ins > Manage COM Add-ins: This Classic Outlook menu is required to enable or disable the Public Folder add-in, which New Outlook does not expose.
- Folder Properties > Permissions: Only Classic Outlook lets you set granular permissions on a Public Folder to control read, write, and delete access for other users.
- Outlook Web App (OWA) > Public Folders: If you only need to read or post items, OWA works as a temporary bridge without switching back to Classic Outlook.
What Public Folders Are and Why They Persist in Organizations
Public Folders are a shared storage system introduced in Exchange Server. They allow users in an organization to store and access mail, calendar entries, contacts, and tasks in a common hierarchy. Many companies still rely on them for shared mailboxes, team calendars, and collaborative contact lists.
New Outlook was built primarily for cloud-first environments using Microsoft 365 shared mailboxes and groups. Because Public Folders are an on-premises or hybrid feature, the new app does not replicate all the management tools found in Classic Outlook. Microsoft has stated that New Outlook will not gain full Public Folder management capabilities. Instead, the company recommends migrating Public Folder data to Microsoft 365 Groups or shared mailboxes.
For organizations that cannot migrate immediately, understanding which operations work in New Outlook and which require Classic Outlook is essential for daily productivity.
What You Can Do With Public Folders in New Outlook
New Outlook supports basic read and write operations on Public Folders. If your role only involves viewing items or adding new posts, you may not need to switch applications.
- View Public Folder content
Open New Outlook and go to the left navigation pane. If your administrator has enabled Public Folders, you will see a Public Folders section. Click any folder to view its items, including mail, calendar events, and contacts. - Create new items in a folder
Right-click a Public Folder and choose New Post, New Appointment, or New Contact. The item is saved directly to the folder and is visible to all users with access. - Reply to posts in a Public Folder
Open an existing post and click Reply All. Your reply appears as a new message in the same folder thread. - Add a Public Folder to Favorites
Right-click the folder and select Add to Favorites. The folder appears in your Favorites list for quick access.
These actions cover the most common daily tasks for end users. If your work stops at reading and posting, New Outlook is sufficient.
What Still Requires Classic Outlook
Several administrative and advanced features are missing from New Outlook. If you need to perform any of the following tasks, you must use Classic Outlook.
Setting Folder Permissions
Classic Outlook provides a Permissions tab in the folder Properties dialog. You can assign roles such as Reviewer, Contributor, Editor, or Owner to individual users or groups. New Outlook does not expose this dialog. To change permissions, open Classic Outlook, right-click the folder, choose Properties, go to the Permissions tab, and add or modify user roles.
Creating or Deleting Public Folders
New Outlook cannot create a new Public Folder or remove an existing one. Use Classic Outlook or the Exchange Admin Center to manage the folder hierarchy. In Classic Outlook, right-click the parent folder under Public Folders, select New Folder, and name it. To delete, right-click the folder and choose Delete Folder.
Moving Items Between Folders
Drag-and-drop or cut-and-paste operations to move items from one Public Folder to another are not supported in New Outlook. Classic Outlook allows you to select items, press Ctrl+X, navigate to the target folder, and press Ctrl+V to move them. This is necessary when reorganizing folder content.
Viewing Folder Size and Quota Information
Classic Outlook shows folder size and quota limits in the folder Properties dialog under the General tab. New Outlook does not display this data. To check how much space a Public Folder uses, open Classic Outlook, right-click the folder, choose Properties, and look at the Folder Size button.
Enabling or Disabling the Public Folder Feature
If Public Folders do not appear in New Outlook, the feature may be disabled by your administrator. In Classic Outlook, go to File > Options > Add-ins > Manage COM Add-ins and check if the Microsoft Exchange Add-in is enabled. New Outlook does not provide a COM Add-in management interface.
If You Do Not Have Access to Classic Outlook
Some organizations have removed Classic Outlook from new devices. In this situation, you have two alternatives.
Use Outlook Web App
Outlook Web App supports Public Folders in most Exchange environments. Open a web browser, sign in to your organization’s Outlook Web App URL, and navigate to the Public Folders section. You can view, post, and reply to items. You cannot manage permissions or create folders in OWA either, but it gives you basic read and write access without installing Classic Outlook.
Request Migration to Microsoft 365 Groups
If your team relies heavily on Public Folders, ask your administrator to migrate the folder content to a Microsoft 365 Group or shared mailbox. These modern alternatives work fully in New Outlook and support permissions, mobile access, and cloud sync. Microsoft provides a Public Folder migration script in the Exchange Admin Center.
Public Folder Operations: New Outlook vs Classic Outlook
| Operation | New Outlook | Classic Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| View folder content | Yes | Yes |
| Create new posts or items | Yes | Yes |
| Reply to existing posts | Yes | Yes |
| Set folder permissions | No | Yes |
| Create or delete folders | No | Yes |
| Move items between folders | No | Yes |
| View folder size and quota | No | Yes |
| Manage COM Add-ins for Public Folders | No | Yes |
New Outlook supports only the basic read and write operations that cover most end-user tasks. All administrative and structural changes require Classic Outlook or the Exchange Admin Center.
If your daily work involves only reading posts and adding new items, you can stay in New Outlook. For permission changes, folder creation, or moving content, switch to Classic Outlook. Press Ctrl+Shift+Tab in Classic Outlook to quickly navigate the folder list. If you cannot use Classic Outlook, rely on Outlook Web App for basic access until your organization migrates to a modern alternative.