Office Compatibility Issues

How to Fix Microsoft Access Not Sending Emails in New Outlook

John Wilson Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users are unable to automate or send emails from Microsoft Access databases after switching to the New Outlook application.

How to Fix Microsoft Access Not Sending Emails in New Outlook

Product: Microsoft Access / New Outlook
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Automating email workflows and sending database reports from Microsoft Access using Outlook integration.
Observed behavior: Email sending fails and triggers errors because the New Outlook drops support for the required COM add-ins used by Access integrations.

Before you start

Check the top right corner of your Outlook application to verify if the 'New Outlook' toggle is turned on, as this version processes external add-ins differently than the classic desktop version.

Solution 1Recommended

Revert to Classic Outlook Desktop Application

The quickest and most reliable way to restore Access email automation is to switch back to the classic Outlook version, which natively supports COM add-ins.

Because the New Outlook is built on web technologies, it drops support for legacy COM add-ins entirely. Microsoft Access relies on these COM add-ins to communicate with Outlook for automated email sending. Reverting to the classic client restores this missing bridge.

Open Outlook

Launch the New Outlook application on your computer.

Locate the Toggle

Look for the 'New Outlook' toggle switch situated in the top right corner of the main window.

Switch Off New Outlook

Click the toggle to turn it off. The application will close and automatically reopen in the classic desktop version, instantly restoring your Microsoft Access email capabilities.

Revert to Classic Outlook Desktop Application

Short-Term Fix: While this works perfectly right now, Microsoft may eventually phase out classic Outlook entirely. Use this fix while you plan for a long-term API solution.

Solution 2

Redesign Workflow Using a Third-Party Email API

Bypass the Outlook application entirely by configuring Microsoft Access to send emails directly through an external web API, such as the Gmail API.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my Access email macro stop working suddenly?

If your system recently updated to the New Outlook, your Access macro likely stopped working because the New Outlook does not support the COM add-ins required by Access to communicate with the email client.

Will New Outlook ever support COM add-ins?

Currently, Microsoft has stated that New Outlook is built on modern web technologies and will not support legacy COM add-ins. Developers are encouraged to use modern Web Add-ins instead.

Can I run both New Outlook and Classic Outlook at the same time?

Yes, you can keep both versions installed on your machine. You can use the Classic Outlook specifically for your Access database workflows while evaluating the New Outlook for standard daily email usage.

Is there a way to send emails from Access without using Outlook at all?

Yes, you can use VBA to send emails via SMTP using CDO (Collaboration Data Objects), or you can integrate with third-party web APIs like the Microsoft Graph API or the Google Gmail API.

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