How to switch back to Yahoo! Mail Classic?

By Sandy on July 21, 2011

The new version of Yahoo! Mail is sleek, stylish and fast. But you need a faster Internet connection for better browsing experience. In slow connections you may experience some problems in opening your emails. Are you on Yahoo! too? Not happy with your Internet speed and unable to open your mails? Want to switch back to a previous version or Yahoo Mail Classic? If yes, follow the steps below and switch back to Yahoo! Mail Classic today.

 Switch to Yahoo Mail Classic

How to return to Yahoo! Mail Classic:

  • In Firefox go to Tools and open Options.
  • Under the Content tab uncheck “Enable JavaScript”.
  • Open Yahoo mail URL and login using your id and password.
  • A notice will appear saying that JavaScript is needed to be enabled for using the new Yahoo! Mail. There you’ll see two options to return to a previous version of Yahoo! Mail. Choose the first option to switch just for one time or second option to return to a previous version.
  • Now you are back to the classic version.
  • In order to access all web sites properly, don’t forget to Enable JavaScript from the Content tab under Options in Firefox.
  • Refer the screenshot below for help.

Return to Old Yahoo Mail

Earlier Yahoo! used to display a handy “Return to Original Mail” link in help menu. But now it is gone. Because Yahoo recommends everyone to use the new version. I am also a Yahoo! Mail user. The new interface is great and I love it. My recommendation is that you use the newer version and switch to the classic version temporarily only when you are unable to open your emails on a slow Internet connection.

Update:

How to Switch Back using Internet Explorer?

  • From Tools Menu in your browser, go to Internet Options
  • In Internet Options, select Security tab.
  • The Security options for Internet is highlighted. Press the Custom Level button below.
  • Various settings will appear. Scroll down to Scripting section and select Disable radio button under Active scripting option.
  • Press OK button. A warning messaging will appear. Press Yes for that.
  • Again press OK on the Internet Options panel
  • Now Open Yahoo mail and login. Just like I wrote above, you’ll be greeted with a message to switch back (as in screenshot).
  • After switching don’t forget to re-enable Scripting. Otherwise you’ll miss a lot of the Internet!

TG

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140 responses to “How to switch back to Yahoo! Mail Classic?”

  1. oh dear thanks a lot for this tip. on gprs it is almost impossible to open yahoo mail here. now classic mail working fine.

    Reply ↓

    • We posted this after testing 2-3 times. It should work this way. Did you disable JavaScript before loading Yahoo! mail?

      Reply ↓

      • I just tried it, and it worked like a charm (which is more than I can say for the New Yahoo Mail).

        I don’t know if this made a difference, but after disabling Javascript, I exited Firefox and restarted it before I tried logging into Yahoo mail.

        Thanks Sandy!

        Reply ↓

        • You dont need to restart.just disable java script, log off from your yahoo and log in again. try to open your inbox and you will get the java script error message and the option to switch back.

  3. I think yahoo should give the option, who wants the New Yahoo Mail or stay with the Yahoo Classic Mail. I want my Yahoo Classic Mail back.

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  4. total LIFESAVING advice – thank you! … I hate everything about the New Yahoo Mail, very glad to be back to Classic version!

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  6. thank you! the new version is/was annoying me and they made it so much more tricky to go back to the classic version.

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  9. I tried this and it didn’t work. All I got on the Yahoo mail page was a mostly blank page, with no options. I’m afraid the Nazis at Yahoo have closed this way back to a version of their email that is legible.

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  10. Thank you! I just don’t like it, because I’m used to hitting back when reading an email and returning to the inbox. After seeing the log in page several times I was a little frustrated, and over it.

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  12. As far as I’m concerned, the “new” Mail Classic isn’t worth shit. It hesitates, jams, needs to be signed into again and again. When working my email list and I go back to the list from reading an email, classic doesn’t return to to the spot where I left off, like the old one DID! AWFUL! I’m constantly clicking to correct and get back on track. Improvement my asp. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Did they ask you if it was ok to change? Huh?

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  13. Thanks for providing the way to switch back to the Yahoo Classic Email. It worked and I clicked the second link to permanently change back. If Yahoo made the right-side AD panel removable (widening the mail list and content area) and the fonts of email list customable (larger size is needed), I wouldn’t have switched back to the Classic.

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  14. After yahoo’s deadline to upgrade expired a few days ago, this trick does not seem to work anymore unfortuntately. If you haven’t accepted the new terms yet (which is not something one likes to do authorizing yahoo to go through your emails and start spamming you with advertisements), you will get to a ‘trap’ page, which forces you to hit the Upgrade Now button and there is no choice to get to classic email. If there is a trick around that would be fantastic as I have enjoyed yahoo mail (classic since inception), however, now will be looking for a new free easy internet email without advertising and violating one’s privacy.

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  17. Thank you. It’s working so far. Classic provides a less complicated page, extended content, words instead of indecipherable icons.

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  18. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
    I cannot agree with you about the new yahoo mail. Using mac osx it is still super buggy!
    So grateful for your help.
    jeffrey

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  24. I hate this new Yahoo mail. plus it not working for me, to go back. The used to have a chat box on the left side and it’s gone now. Stinks!!

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  26. Thanks so much for making it easier to switch from new yahoo mail back to classic mail. I went through alot till I was almost giving up and opening another email like from gmail, hotmail just to escape trouble. Thanks alot

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  30. I have trouble making mail options work in the new Yahoo mail. Doesnt anybody else? Nobody seems to have written about this, I click on OPTIONS…get the dropdown menu…select Mail Options and I get a tab. created on the tab bar just below. I select that tab… but nothing happens….What did I miss? Any kind soul can help me out here?

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  32. Disabling JavaScript is the way to go!!

    ..for now, seems like the “fixed” the resolution way to switch back, so who knows how long this will last!

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  36. THANK YOU A LOT!
    new yahoo mail is biggest piece of sh&^$#!
    Back to Classic Yahoo mail is sweet.

    They did everything wrong with the new mail.
    Just leave the hell alone, Yahoo.

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  38. I upgraded to the new yahoo mail, & now i am unable to use yahoo mail on my cell phone using GPRS. Is this because i upgraded to the new yahoo mail ?

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  39. Hey, I just want to say you a VERY BIG THANK YOU. It worked now I’m happy using yahoo classic.

    Would like to thank the Firefox team as well.

    Cheers!!!

    Reply ↓

  40. Yes–thank you so much! GEEZ I hated the new Yahoo email. Hello again, nice, clean, fast-loading blue & white interface–I missed you!

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  41. New email is the WORST! I am harrassed by messenger and can’t get it off. Where the heck do these messages come from anyway? I can’t enjoy my email. Good by Yahoo!!!!

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  43. I refused to switch to the “new” Yahoo! mail for a long time, simply because I was very irritated by the “trap” message pleading me to upgrade each time I signed on. I got sick and tired of having to click “No thanks, continue to Yahoo! mail classic” every time I wanted to read my email. Thanks to this brilliant method, the trap message no longer appears. Thank you very much!!!

    Reply ↓

  47. Thanks for this tip! Using Google Chrome, go to: Options – Under the bonnet – Content settings – Javascript – Manage exceptions, then add mail.yahoo.com and block. Seems to be working so far! Thanks again!

    Reply ↓

  48. Thank you Sandy. It works great!

    I was forced to upgrade and used yahoo online chat help by chatting with a yahoo agent. they want to access your account, verify your birthday… What a crappy crap!

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  50. Thanks for this, my netbook with small screen depth doesn’t work so well with the newer Mail, also the buttons like delete etc in the new mail didn’t work sometimes…

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  51. Thank you so much…totally hated the newer version and so did my computer. Have been trying to change back forever and your tips are the only ones that worked…awesome,,thank you…

    Reply ↓

    • Your comments are marked spam as it contains a link. Sorry for that. Your solution works. But you need to bookmark the link. Otherwise new mail interface appears again. Anyway, thanks for the tip.

      Note that, what we posted here doesn’t require you to keep JavaScript disabled all the time. You just need to disable it just for switching back. Later enable JS and enjoy Classic mail.

      Reply ↓

  55. Thank you thank you thank you!

    BTW, Safari users can do the same trick. Open preferences>security then uncheck the javascript enable box.

    Ha! Take that, silly Yahoo “improvements”.

    Reply ↓

  58. To UI4K:I have google and was hoping to find info on how to change the options to get to open yahoo mail!!It has not been working for me for days,and I did as you said and blocked it,and my mail came up immediatelty!!Yay!Tahnks so much!Hopefully they won’t find a way to block this,too!

    Reply ↓

    • Did you enabled JavaScript after switching back to classic? If not do it. Because, we can’t find any problem using chat in Y Mail Classic.

      FYI, to return to New Yahoo mail, simply click the “Newest version of Y! Mail ” link on top left side of your Yahoo account.

      Reply ↓

  63. How about google chrome? I am using google chrome and don’t know how to switch back to the older version. I will be glad if you help me.

    Reply ↓

  71. Thanks a lot, it works well. Yahoo actually forced me to change it to the new design by not giving me an option to remain in Yahoo Classic (previously they gave me an option to do so but not few weeks back, and that prompted my unwilling migration to the new one). Thanks man. Old is GOLD.

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  75. Hi dear .
    Thanks………a lot…
    i was just handicapped with new yahoo mail.
    but now i am back to classic…
    cheers …& thanks to firefox team………

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  77. Dear Friends,

    For using internet explorer.
    switch back to yahoo mail classic,

    go to Tools,
    then Internet Option,
    then Security,
    then Custom Level,
    then Scripting Option,
    then Active scripting Disable,

    A notice will appear saying that JavaScript is needed to be enabled for using the new Yahoo! Mail. There you’ll see two options to return to a previous version of Yahoo! Mail. Choose the first option to switch just for one time or second option to return to a previous version.

    Now you are back to the classic version.

    after that don’t forget enable active scripting option in internet explorer.

    Reply ↓

  81. it brought me back to the classic mail but still can’t make any adjustment to the disposable addresses. i can’t click the options anymore.

    classic mail can give you access to disposable addresses even if you don’t have a yahoo! mail plus account.

    Reply ↓

    • disregard my previous comment.. i know what to do already to get disposable addresses even on classic mail..thanks for the tip on getting back to classic.. :)

      Reply ↓

  84. Wow! Thanks for this. Worked great for me. The text editor for the New Yahoo Mail is dreadful. Impossible to keep format from being screwed up. Even plain text is a disaster. I use Yahoo Business for professional correspondence. It was becoming an embarrassment. I was about to bail and start using the Outlook client because of all of the problems. Now I can hold off until Yahoo finally kill of the Classic Mail, which I’m sure they will at some point.

    Reply ↓

  87. Thank-You Very Much.
    I Cannot Stand The ‘New’ Yahoo Mail.
    No Thank-You.
    It Cut Off Half Of My Writing In Drafts.
    Hint: ‘Select All’ Will Recover..
    Any Writing That You Cannot See…
    Bam! Outtro…

    Reply ↓

  90. Thanks its! works for me its really helpful, actually i was trying to do that since 2 to 3 months but i don’t get the option. but now these steps really helpful for me.

    Reply ↓

  93. Sorry to rant on your blog but yahoo sucks and the mailing is horrible! I’ll just leave it at that before I list 100 points why it sucks so hard.

    I just started my own mail server to get away from these data mining, lame ad serving ewhores like yahoo.

    Reply ↓

  97. THANK YOU! B/c without ur much needed HELP!!!! I’d be COMPLETELY LOST!

    Also ur instructions above for how to do, etc,
    worked like a CHARM! So EASY &IT WORKS!

    0nce again, I THANK YOU!!!!!!! Sincerely, David.

    Reply ↓

  100. yahoo team plsssssssssss read this feedbacks they are very important. OBVIOUSLY THE CLASSIC WORKS BETTER THAN THE NEW MAIL…THE NEW MAIL IS FULL OF OPENINGS OF POP UPS AND UNNECESSARY WINDOWS…DON’T FOREGT THE INTERNET SPEED IS NOT THE SAME IN EVERY COUNTRY

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  101. I now have to open every mail to check if spam – before I couyld just hover over it to view the sender’s email address por the subject to view the complete heading. The new mail’s view is not at all user friendly and very clumsy to use. It just looks a cluttered mess. Adverts stopping a full page view – it’s terrible!

    Reply ↓

  103. could someone send the directions on how to switch back to yahoo classic using Internet Explorer, I do not use Firefox, and would LOVE to switch back to classic. Thanks

    Reply ↓

  105. Mozilla FireFox..
    ThiS Is Easy And Fun…
    ToolS.. OptionS.. Content..
    Disable Javascript..
    Boom! Go To Your Yahoo! Email..
    Refresh The Page..
    Switch Back To The ClaSSIc Yahoo! Mail..
    That You Love The Most!

    Go Back!
    Don’t Forget To Re-Enable Javascript!

    Reply ↓

    • STOP READING HERE! Joey’s version is short sweet and concise. And WORKS as of 29 March 2012.
      Don’t forget to delete your old bookmarks(and/or Home Page!) and re-make them or the fool thing will change you from Classic BACK to the New version.

      I bumped myself back twice that way.

      Thanks LOADS Sandy and Joey!!!!

      I h-e-a-r-t Yahoo Mail Classic

      Reply ↓

      • Thanks for leaving your own input. You referred to Joey’s comment, where all the steps are mentioned in a few words. Yes, some people hate to read a lot of words. But we must not forget about the users who are not familiar with tools, options, JS etc. That’s why I tried to explain the steps properly. I guess my words are not that bad ;) !

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  106. Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you

    Oh god I hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate that new version of Yahoo Mail.

    Ok, back to whatever I was TRYING to do.

    Reply ↓

  107. Thank you soooooo much for this. I used the firefox method, then signed out and went in via chrome and still had yahoo classic. The need to trash that new mail ASAP. The tabs are completely pointless, the interface is terrible. Classic mail is still much better.

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  108. THANK YOU! New yahoo mail is slow and takes my privacy where it isn’t wanted. If they continue along this line, email may be a thing of the past for me. TAHNKS AGAIN!
    I just want my email and not ANYTHING else. Now (again) I have it.

    Reply ↓

  109. I can’t get none of those options to work….can someone do it for me on there computer? so when i log in it will be changed? please

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Miranda,
      Please try once again with JavaScript disabled on any browser. Never share your passwords with others.
      That’s my suggestion. But if you still want some help, you can send me an email.

      Reply ↓

  114. You are a LIFE SAVER! Hate the text set up, the list, etc., etc., of the New Yahoo. I hoped others did too so instructions would be left for getting back to the old one. Your instructions worked perfectly! Thank you SO MUCH!

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  115. Sorry folks, but this does NOT work anymore.
    Nor does the resolution switch trick, I do believe the Mussollini’s at Yahoo have intentionally disabled it in a way to enforce that piece of crap of their new UI down our throats.

    I say switch email.

    Reply ↓

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