Template Issues

How to Find Outlook Email Templates After Creating Them

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user created several custom email templates in Outlook but is unable to locate or access them when trying to send new messages.

Product: Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to locate and open previously saved custom email templates for repetitive emailing tasks.
Observed behavior: The saved email templates do not immediately appear in the standard email composition view, leaving the user unable to apply them.

Before you start

Verify whether you are using classic Outlook, New Outlook, or Outlook on the web, as the steps to access saved templates differ significantly depending on the version.

Solution 1Recommended

Locate User Templates in Classic Outlook

Use this standard method to find and open templates saved as .oft files in the classic desktop version of Outlook.

In classic Outlook, custom templates are saved locally on your computer's file system rather than directly within the main inbox interface. You need to use the 'Choose Form' menu to browse for and open them.

Navigate to New Items

Open classic Outlook and go to the 'Home' tab. Click on 'New Items', select 'More Items' from the dropdown, and then click on 'Choose Form'.

Select the User Templates Folder

In the 'Choose Form' dialog box, click on the 'Look In' dropdown menu at the top and select 'User Templates in File System'.

Open Your Template

Your saved templates will appear in the list below. Select the desired template (.oft file) and click 'Open' to create a new email based on it.

Default Save Location: By default, Outlook templates are saved in the hidden AppData directory: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where are Outlook templates saved by default on my computer?

By default, classic Outlook saves .oft template files in your user profile's hidden AppData folder, specifically at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates.

Why can't I find the 'Choose Form' option in New Outlook?

The New Outlook interface has been simplified and currently handles templates differently than classic Outlook. Instead of the file system, you typically use the 'My Templates' add-in found in the email composition ribbon.

How do I create and save a new email template in classic Outlook?

Compose your email with the desired subject and body formatting, click 'File', select 'Save As', and then choose 'Outlook Template (*.oft)' from the 'Save as type' dropdown menu before saving.

Document & File Issues