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How do I fix the Outlook toggle and view new features in Microsoft 365 Insider Version 2601?

By: Author Alex Lim

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Home » Microsoft » How do I fix the Outlook toggle and view new features in Microsoft 365 Insider Version 2601?

Is the Microsoft 365 Insider Build 19611.20002 stable enough for daily use on Windows 11?

Microsoft 365 Insider Preview Build 19611.20002 (Version 2601): Technical Overview
Microsoft has deployed Insider Preview Build 19611.20002 (Version 2601) to the Beta Channel. This update applies specifically to users running Windows 10 or Windows 11. The release introduces functional enhancements to productivity apps and addresses specific interface inconsistencies.

Core Feature Enhancements

The development team prioritized accessibility and language management in this cycle.

  • OneNote Language Proofing: Users can now exercise granular control over proofing languages. This update prevents the application from incorrectly flagging valid text as errors when working in multilingual documents.
  • PowerPoint Accessibility: Presenters can now add closed captions to audio objects. This ensures presentations remain inclusive and compliant with accessibility standards for hearing-impaired audiences.
  • General Stability: The build includes multiple under-the-hood performance optimizations and critical security patches to fortify the suite against recent vulnerabilities.

Advisor Tip: Controlling the New Outlook Experience

Many power users prefer the classic Outlook interface over the “New Outlook” wrapper. This build supports a registry modification to manage the “Try the new Outlook” toggle located in the title bar.

Registry Modification Steps:

  1. Open the Registry Editor (regedit).
  2. Navigate to the following path:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\General
  3. Modify the HideNewOutlookToggle DWORD value:
    • Set to 0: The toggle remains visible.
    • Set to 1: The toggle is hidden.

Note: Always back up your registry before making manual changes.

Documented Known Issues

Beta builds inherently contain instability. You should be aware of the following bugs before deploying this version in a production environment:

  • Visual Interface Bugs: The “Mica” background effect remains absent, and the Backstage view (File menu) lacks the latest UI updates.
  • Windows 11 Animations: Transition animations may appear jagged or unpolished on Windows 11 systems.
  • Dark Mode Conflicts: Preview galleries for Data Types and Shapes display incorrect colors in Dark Grey themes. You must expand the gallery to view the content correctly.
  • Title Bar Misalignment: Document titles may drift from the center alignment within the window frame.

Installation and Upgrade Path

Microsoft pushes this update automatically to devices enrolled in the Beta Channel. No manual intervention is required. If the update fails to trigger, you can force a check via File > Account > Update Options > Update Now within any Office application.