New Outlook Gets Full PST Support, but Classic Outlook Is Still Required

New Outlook .PST support is now fully released, giving users a better way to open and search Outlook data files inside Microsoft’s newer email app, according to Windows Latest.

Microsoft has been working to close the gap between New Outlook and Classic Outlook, but the newer client still lacks several advanced features that long-time Outlook users rely on. It also continues to lag behind Classic Outlook in some areas, including notification performance.

The latest improvement focuses on PST files, one of the most important missing pieces for users with archived mail, old accounts, or local Outlook data.

New Outlook now has advanced PST support

Microsoft confirmed through its Outlook Feedback portal that advanced PST support is now fully available in New Outlook, as reported by Windows Latest.

The company has also published support guidance explaining how PST files work in the newer Outlook app.

This is a major step forward because New Outlook previously offered only basic PST support.

One of the biggest missing features was proper search support. That has now been fixed, meaning users can search through PST content more effectively inside New Outlook.

How to add .PST files in New Outlook

Users can now add .PST files in New Outlook by going to Settings > Data files > Add files.

This gives users a clearer path for opening local Outlook data files without relying only on Classic Outlook’s older interface.

One big limitation remains, as Classic Outlook is not completely removed from the process.

For now, Classic Outlook must still be installed in the background for PST files to open in New Outlook. Microsoft also says New Outlook and Classic Outlook must use the same architecture.

That means both apps need to match as either 32-bit or 64-bit versions.

This requirement may disappoint users who expected New Outlook to handle .PST files fully on its own. It also shows that Microsoft’s newer client still depends on Classic Outlook for some legacy features.

Microsoft plans to remove the Classic Outlook dependency

Microsoft says the Classic Outlook requirement for .PST support will be removed later this year.

Once that happens, New Outlook should become more independent when handling local Outlook data files.

However, Microsoft has also suggested that PST development for New Outlook may be close to finished. After Classic Outlook is no longer required and bulk import for Mail, Calendar, and Contacts becomes available, the company does not plan to keep developing PST support further.

Unified Inbox is also coming to Outlook

PST support is not the only Outlook improvement in development.

Microsoft is also adding Unified Inbox support to Outlook, which should make it easier for users to manage messages from multiple accounts in one place.

At the same time, Microsoft has retired Contact Masking, a move that has frustrated some users who relied on the feature for privacy and contact management.

For now, the update brings New Outlook closer to Classic Outlook, but it also highlights how much the newer app still depends on legacy Outlook features.