How to Go Back to Old Yahoo Mail: Revert to Classic Mode

If you are someone who wants to know how to go back to the old Yahoo Mail, you are at the right place. Here, I will outline two simple methods to restore the classic UI in the Yahoo web app. No technical expertise or training required. Before we switch, let’s explore the reasons why anyone would want to revert to Yahoo Mail Classic View.

Why Do People Search for How to Go Back to Old Yahoo Mail?

Users Dont Like the New UI:

• Users complain that the new version is slow and takes a long time to load.
• There have been instances where the new layout and features are difficult to use.
• A “Priority” inbox feature hides some messages, which causes people to miss important emails.

“Basic” Version Is Still Popular:

• It’s quick. Plus, tasks like deleting folders in Yahoo Mail are simple.
• It shows all emails in order, so you don’t miss anything.
• The design is familiar and easy to understand.

Do this Before you Revert to Old Yahoo

You must protect your Yahoo Mail conversations. The only way to do that securely is to use the SysTools Yahoo Email Backup Tool.

Download now and follow these steps to make a safe copy of all your emails, and then move ahead to change the UI style.

• Step 1. Launch the tool.
• Step 2. Type in your Yahoo email credentials.
• Step 3. Choose the desired file format.
• Step 4. Click on browse and choose a location for the mail.
• Step 5. Tap on the Start button.

Now that you have placed your emails under a safety net, let us see the steps to return to the classic UI.

New Yahoo Mail vs Basic Yahoo Mail: Feature Comparison

Understanding the difference between the two is important if you are deciding if the transition is a good decision. Here are key features:

New Yahoo Mail

• The interface is clean with the latest layout and a user-friendly inbox
• Advanced security for better protection from spam and phishing attempts
• Compatibility is low with old phones and computers work best with the latest devices
• Ads are running continuously and feel congested visually

Basic Yahoo Mail

• Clean and user-friendly design
• Faster loading and lightweight even with the old computers
• Has basic features that attracts users
• Don’t have advanced features and tools

The basic Yahoo Mail is still popular among users who are using Yahoo from the start because they like the simplicity and loading speed which is top-notch. That’s the reason they still search for how to go back to old Yahoo Mail. 

This comparison will definitely help you if you are considering how do I go back to old Yahoo Mail.

How to Go Back to the Old Yahoo Mail from the New UI?

Here are the steps you need to follow to reverse the update.

• Step 1. Log in to the Yahoo Mail website.
• Step 2. Click on the Settings cog at the top right corner.
• Step 3. From the drop-down menu select … More settings.
  
• Step 4. On the settings page, click the Switch to basic Mail option in the left-hand pane.
• Step 5. A feedback box appears; in there, click on the blue “Switch to basic Mail” button.
  

The page will reload, and you will see the UI transform from the new version to the old. However, you need not bother with such a multi-step process; there exists a faster way to make the change. Let us see what it is.

Fastest Way to Go Back to the Old Yahoo Mail Version

All you have to do is change a letter in the URL.

Step 1. Log in to your Yahoo webmail.

Step 2. Check the browser’s address bar. You should see the following URL:

http://mail.yahoo.com/d/folder/#/

Step 3. Replace the letter “d” with “b.” (URL now becomes http://mail.yahoo.com/b/folder/#/)

Step 4. Press Enter. This is the best answer for how to go back to the Old Yahoo Mail you will find anywhere.

The UI should now update automatically to the basic version; you won’t have to navigate through the multilayer settings menu or fill in any feedback form explaining why you are switching. This is the simplest and most direct way to revert to the basic edition.

Common Problems After Switching to Basic Yahoo Mail

Although the transition is pretty simple but there are few problems you have after switching back to basic Yahoo Mail. Here are some of the problems:

• If you have made some changes to the UI then it will automatically reset after the transition
• Refreshing of the pages happens on its own repeatedly
• You will not see many new or advanced features
• There’s no permanent option to go back to basic Yahoo Mail

Switching back to the basic Yahoo Mail is session-based not a permanent solution. If you don’t bookmark the URL then the whole process is time-consuming. After all this hassle many users still search for how to go back to basic Yahoo Mail, there are issues like how to stop email going to spam. After knowing all these factors it will help you understand how do I go back to old Yahoo Mail without any surprises.

What a Return to Classic Yahoo Does Not Do?

It is important to give the users a clear idea of what they won’t be experiencing after hitting the Switch to basic Mail button.

Reverting does not reverse any server-side changes or bring back any features that have now been revoked. So if you think you can get back the free 1TB storage after the latest update, where the Yahoo Mail storage limit was slashed by 98%, then I am sorry; it’s not possible.

A true return to the original classic edition is also not possible with this mechanism that we explained. This is because of one simple reason: it does not exist anymore.

Is Yahoo Basic Mail Safe to Use in 2026?

As we know, Yahoo has evolved and has new features and UI but still Yahoo basic mail runs on Yahoo’s main server so there is no need to worry about the emails as they are protected at the backend level. However if there is a new update come it can’t be updated. Here are some keypoint you need to keep in mind:

• It is in the background but still uses secure HTTPS encryption 
• There is no risk of email deletion during the transition
• Security features like phishing and spam alerts are limited
• Might be possible that Yahoo will discontinue it

These are some limitations that make backing up the emails recommended so there is no risk of losing important emails,in scenario like when you try to import MBOX to Yahoo Mail. Most of the users still search how to go back to old Yahoo Mail because of its speed and simplicity that attracts the users. If you are still wondering how do I go back to old Yahoo Mail without risking the data, backing up your important emails first is the wise decision.

Why Yahoo Removed the Classic Mail Version?

There are many reasons why Yahoo removed the Classic Mail version but the main technical and security reasons. Here they are:

• The security system is weak
• Don’t work better on mobile phones
• Time-consuming and costly
• Didn’t evolve time to time as per users’ requirements

The current basic version only has the old layout but it works on modern systems. That’s the reason going back to the old version is next to impossible. But till users search for how to go back to old Yahoo Mail. The users who ask how do I go back to old Yahoo Mail permanently? The answer is Yahoo only offers a session not permanent restoration.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to go back to old Yahoo Mail, you can perform the operation anytime you want and for anyone else who might want to. However, it is important to realize that the basic version is not a true return to the classic edition. It is more of a patchwork that invokes some nostalgic feeling of how the UI looked before, but not much else changes. Under the hood, Yahoo still operates the same.
Moreover, before you make such a change, it is highly recommended that you prepare a backup for all your emails so you can access your emails if anything goes wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Go Back to Old Yahoo Mail

Q. I have reverted Yahoo to its basic version. Will it stay that way forever?
No, every time you close your browser, the settings reset, and you have to do the entire process again.

Q. Is the Yahoo basic version the same as the classic edition?
No, the classic edition was deprecated more than a decade ago in 2013, and the basic Yahoo version is just a trimmed-down version with a few visual similarities.

Q. For how long does Yahoo still plan to support the basic version?
Although there have been no announcements regarding the end date for its basic version, users still believe that it may happen sooner rather than later.

Q. Why does the basic version feel worse off than the new Yahoo?
It’s not just you; many other users have experienced this. There have been many subtle changes that downgrade the performance of the basic version. Like the page reloading every time you switch from one tab to another. All this is done to push people onto the new version and make them stay there.

Q. How to go back to old Yahoo Mail on mobile?
Neither the Android nor the iOS version of the Yahoo Mail app has a revert to the classic/basic button that users can trigger. If you really want to use the classic edition on mobile, you can log in to Yahoo Mail from a browser on your phone, trigger the desktop view, and follow the same steps we outlined earlier. However, beware that the UI will not be very functional.