Add Outlook 2003 Desktop Icon

Used to the behavior of the Outlook desktop icon from versions previous to 2003? Where you could right click on the icon and select Properties in order to change mail server settings and profile settings.

By default, Outlook 2003 no longer creates this icon on the desktop, but makes you use the icon created in the Start Menu instead.

Here's how to create the icon on your desktop (click here for original Microsoft Office Article):

To re-create the Outlook desktop icon

1. On the Add/Remove Registry Entries page in the Custom Installation Wizard or the Custom Maintenance Wizard, click Add.
2. On the Add/Modify Registry Entry page, complete the fields to create a new registry key:
   • Root: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
   • Data type: REG_SZ
   • Key: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
3. Select the Create empty key check box.
4. Click OK.

Comments

[Arif Khan]

Cant you just go into Start-->Programs-->Ms office--> Outlook ... right click on it and perform a send to desktop (create shortcut)?

[Arif Khan]

Unless you were refering to quick launch icon instead of desktop icon?

[Alexander Scoble]

Hi Arif,

Thanks for the questions. No it isn't the same as doing that will not allow you to set up Profiles/Accounts when right clicking the icon and selecting Properties. You can try it for yourself.

It's not a shortcut in the traditional sense as it does have that special functionality when you go to Properties of the icon.

For most people it's not a big deal, however, for Windows support techs it lowers frustration when working with Outlook as they don't have to go through multiple menus to set up new accounts/profiles or to work on existing ones.

We lose enough time in the land of a thousand reboots without wasting it hunting for the right setup icon.

Some organizations will choose not to do this as they don't want to expose the settings to the user on the desktop...you have to weigh the benefits to the risks in your organization. But personally, I don't know a lot of people who mess with their Outlook settings...email is too important for them to go around screwing up their email client directly, I guess.

[Jeff]

I would like to do the same thing with Outlook 2007. Any idea on how to do this?

[Ed]

Unfortunately, this registry entry does not work for WindowsXP x64.

Any idea how to get the OULOOK icon on the x64 desktop?

[Doug Gibson]

Are you all serious? People don't have a problem trying to get the icon ON their pc. They want it off!