When you switch from Classic Outlook to the new Outlook for Windows, the location of add-ins for secondary accounts changes completely. In Classic Outlook, each email account had its own add-in management page under File > Options > Add-ins. The new Outlook consolidates all add-in management into a single global interface, which can make it hard to find add-ins tied to a specific secondary account. This article shows you exactly where to locate and manage add-ins for secondary accounts in new Outlook and how to ensure those add-ins remain active.
Key Takeaways: Locating Secondary Account Add-ins in New Outlook
- Get Add-ins button in the ribbon: Opens the unified add-in store where you can install add-ins for any connected account.
- Account-specific add-in list under Settings > Mail > Customize actions: Shows add-ins assigned to a secondary account from the store.
- Admin-managed add-ins in the Microsoft 365 admin center: Deployed add-ins appear automatically for all accounts and cannot be removed per account in new Outlook.
How New Outlook Manages Add-ins Compared to Classic Outlook
Classic Outlook stored add-in settings per profile and per account in the Windows Registry and the COM add-ins list. Each account had its own Add-ins dialog accessible from File > Options > Add-ins. The new Outlook is a web-based application built on the same framework as Outlook on the web. It uses a single unified add-in store and a single settings page for all accounts.
In new Outlook, add-ins are either installed from the store or deployed by an administrator through the Microsoft 365 admin center. Once installed, an add-in is available to all accounts that have the correct permissions. However, some add-ins are designed to work with only one account, such as a CRM add-in that connects to a specific mailbox. These account-specific add-ins appear under the account settings, not the global add-in list.
What Changed for Secondary Account Add-ins
In Classic Outlook, you could open the Add-ins dialog and see a separate section for each email account. You could enable or disable an add-in for one account without affecting others. In new Outlook, the add-in store is global. When you install an add-in from the store, it asks you which account to use it with. After installation, the add-in appears in a per-account list inside Settings > Mail > Customize actions. The global add-in list under Settings > General > Manage add-ins shows all installed add-ins, but it does not indicate which account they belong to.
Steps to Find and Manage Add-ins for a Secondary Account
- Open new Outlook and select the secondary account
Click the account button in the top-left corner of the ribbon. A dropdown list shows all connected accounts. Click the secondary account you want to manage add-ins for. The ribbon and navigation pane update to show that account’s data. - Open the Get Add-ins dialog from the ribbon
With the secondary account selected, click the Home tab on the ribbon. Look for the Get Add-ins button in the Add-ins group. It is a square icon with a plus sign. Click it to open the add-in store. The store shows add-ins that are compatible with the current account. - Install or manage an add-in for the secondary account
In the add-in store, browse or search for the add-in you need. Click Add or Get it now. A dialog asks you to confirm the account. The secondary account should already be selected. Click Continue or Add. The add-in installs and becomes active for that account only. - View existing add-ins for the secondary account
Click the Settings gear icon in the top-right corner of the window. Select Mail from the Settings menu. In the Mail settings, click Customize actions. This page lists all add-ins installed for the currently selected account. You can toggle add-ins on or off, remove them, or reconfigure permissions. - Switch to another secondary account to check its add-ins
Repeat step 1 to select a different secondary account. Then repeat step 4 to see the add-ins installed for that account. Each account has its own Customize actions list.
How to Tell If an Add-in Is Working for the Right Account
After installing an add-in for a secondary account, open a message in that account’s inbox. The add-in should appear in the reading pane or in the ribbon when that message is selected. If the add-in does not appear, verify that it is enabled in Customize actions for that account. Also check that the add-in is not disabled in the global add-in list under Settings > General > Manage add-ins. Disabling an add-in globally disables it for all accounts.
If the Add-in Does Not Appear for the Secondary Account
Add-in installed but not visible in the secondary account
This usually happens when the add-in was installed while the primary account was selected. The add-in may be tied to the primary account only. To fix this, remove the add-in from the primary account and reinstall it while the secondary account is selected. Go to Settings > Mail > Customize actions for the primary account. Find the add-in and click Remove. Then select the secondary account and install the add-in from the store again.
Administrator-deployed add-in not working for a secondary account
Admin-deployed add-ins are assigned to users, not accounts. If you have multiple accounts in the same Microsoft 365 tenant, the add-in should work for all of them. If it does not, contact your administrator. They can check the add-in assignment in the Microsoft 365 admin center under Settings > Integrated apps. The add-in may be assigned to a specific group that does not include the secondary account’s mailbox.
Add-in store does not show the secondary account
The add-in store in new Outlook only shows accounts that have an Exchange Online mailbox. If the secondary account is an IMAP or POP account, the store will not list it. Add-ins in new Outlook only work with Exchange Online accounts. To use add-ins with an IMAP or POP account, switch back to Classic Outlook or use Outlook on the web for that account.
| Item | Classic Outlook | New Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Add-in location per account | File > Options > Add-ins, then select account from dropdown | Settings > Mail > Customize actions, visible only when that account is selected |
| Install add-in for a specific account | Install from store, then enable or disable per account in Add-ins dialog | Select the account first, then click Get Add-ins in the ribbon |
| Global add-in list | File > Options > Add-ins, COM Add-ins list | Settings > General > Manage add-ins, shows all installed add-ins without account filter |
| Admin-deployed add-in behavior | Appears per user profile, can be disabled per account | Appears for all accounts in the same tenant, cannot be disabled per account |
| Add-in support for IMAP/POP accounts | Full support for COM and store add-ins | No add-in support for non-Exchange accounts |
After switching to new Outlook, you can find and manage secondary account add-ins through the account-specific Customize actions page. Always select the secondary account before installing a new add-in to ensure it is linked correctly. For IMAP or POP accounts, add-ins are not available in new Outlook. Use Classic Outlook or Outlook on the web for those accounts if you need add-in functionality. The global Manage add-ins page under Settings > General remains the place to disable an add-in across all accounts at once.