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Diane Poremsky [Outlook MVP]

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Tip 1091: Outlook 2013's blue icon

It seems that Outlook's color change (from orange to blue) is not well liked by a number of users. A small sampling of the complaints I've received:

Where did the yellow-orange icon go for Outlook 2013? The new blue icon for Outlook looks too much like the blue icon for Word. We've been 'taught' through daily use over 15 years that Yellow=Outlook and Blue=Word.

Personally It is confusing to conduct support with people. Almost everyone is used to the yellow icon, images and look of what Outlook has always been, and now it looks similar to the icons, images and look of Word 2013.

I noticed that all the other programs are matching their original colors, Access, Excel, Word, etc, but not Outlook.

The Outlook icon is now blue because Microsoft wanted to update Outlook's color. Once you get used to the blue, it grows on you.

Applications pinned to the taskbar

To make it easier to distinguish Outlook from Word, pin Outlook to the taskbar (and Word if desired). Pin another app or two and position the apps (drag the buttons to rearrange them) after Outlook or between Outlook and Word, if both are pinned. When the applications are pinned to the taskbar their position on the taskbar will not change, which makes it easier to find Outlook.

After a while, you'll get used to the new icons and won't goof up even if they are side by side.

You can pin any version of Outlook to the Windows Taskbar in Windows 7 or 8.

Jump Lists

You can pin any version of Outlook to the Windows Taskbar in Windows 7 or 8. Outlook 2010 and 2013 support the Outlook jump lists (seen in the screenshot below), with the New Items commands on the list. Older versions of Outlook will have a most recently used list on the Jump List.
right click on the icon to view the jump list
You can pin frequently used files or templates to the jump list. Simply drag the file or template to the icon and drop it. When you need the template, right click on the Outlook icon and choose the template.

pin templates and files to the jump list

More Information

Learn how to change the icon to yellow:
Tip 1114: Change Outlook 2013's blue icon

Published June 3, 2013. Last updated on August 20, 2014.

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Related posts:

Tip 60: Restore the Outlook Desktop Icon Tip 1036: Outlook 2013's 50 shades of gray Hide the Notification iconsTip 984: Hiding the Outlook icon in the Notification Area Scanpst in Outlook 2013 C2RTip 1075: Scanpst.exe in Outlook 2013

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