Outlook templates can vanish even when the template data is still there. That usually happens because Outlook has separate template systems: My Templates, Mail Templates, classic .oft files, and Mac .emltpl files.
Start with the Outlook version you use, then try the recovery path that matches your account and template type. The fixes below move from the quickest button checks to the account and admin issues that need more work.
Check for the My Templates service issue
Microsoft listed a 2026 issue where the My Templates or View Templates button disappeared from classic Outlook’s compose ribbon. In the same issue, My Templates could disappear from All Apps, adding it back could show “Something went wrong,” and some users could not find it under All Apps > Add Apps.
Microsoft marked incident EX1255397 fixed on March 27, 2026. Work or school mailboxes can still show the same symptoms when the tenant has EWS disabled.
If those symptoms do not match what you see, open the template button from the correct Outlook compose window next.
Open My Templates from the compose window
In new Outlook for Windows, go to the Home ribbon.
Choose New, then select Mail.
In the message window, open the Message tab.
Choose My Templates.
In classic Outlook for Windows, choose New Email from the ribbon.
In that message window, open the Message tab.
Choose View Templates.
In Outlook on the web, go to the ribbon.
Choose New, then select Mail.
In the message window, open the Message tab.
Choose My Templates.
If My Templates is not listed, check two requirements. To use Mail Templates and the My Templates add-in, your account needs a qualifying Microsoft 365 subscription. Your organization may also have Outlook add-ins turned off.
Find and pin My Templates
The most common reason the button feels missing is that the add-in is installed but no longer pinned to the ribbon.
In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, create or reply to a message and open the Message tab. Choose the add-in from the ribbon when it appears there.
When it is not visible, select Apps to view installed add-ins. For quicker access next time, select More apps from the ribbon, right-click the add-in, and choose Pin.
Add My Templates back to Outlook
In new Outlook, open More apps from the ribbon or navigation bar, choose Add apps, search for My Templates, select it, then choose Add.
In classic Outlook, go to Home > All Apps. If you use the Simplified Ribbon, choose ... > All Apps, then select Add Apps or Get Add-ins depending on your Outlook version and account type.
In Outlook on the web, open More apps from the ribbon or app bar, choose Add apps, search for My Templates, then choose Add.
If My Templates does not appear in search, reconnect Outlook to the internet, close and reopen Outlook, then try the same add-in path again.
Save with the newer Mail Templates area
In Outlook on the web or new Outlook for Windows, open the Home ribbon.
Choose New, then select Mail.
Add the message content, recipients, subject, and attachments you want saved with the template.
Open the Message ribbon.
Choose Mail template, then select Save email as template.
To view saved templates, open the Settings page.
Go to Mail > Templates.
Mail Templates created in Outlook on the web are saved to the composing account and can also be accessed from that mailbox in new Outlook for Windows.
Recover classic .oft templates
By default, classic Outlook saves Outlook Template files in c:\users\username\appdata\roaming\microsoft\templates. If you changed Outlook versions, your old templates may still be local .oft files instead of entries in the newer template list.
To use one in classic Outlook, go to New Items > More Items > Choose Form. In Look In, choose User Templates in File System, select the template, then choose Open.
If the template is stored somewhere else, choose Browse in the same window and select it from that location.
If you want those .oft files in the newer Mail Templates area, use the import option next.
Import .oft files into Mail Templates
The most common cause after switching to new Outlook is that your old .oft files did not automatically become Mail Templates. To use .oft files in new Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web, your account needs a qualifying Microsoft 365 subscription.
Open the Settings page, then go to Mail > Templates > Add > Add OFT. In the Add mail templates dialog, choose Choose.
In File Explorer, select the .oft files you want to import, then choose Add. To back up or move a saved Mail Template later, go to Settings > Mail > Templates, find the template, select Save as OFT, and choose a save location in File Explorer.
Fix Outlook client problems that hide add-ins
If all add-ins are missing, not just templates, check the connection first. When Outlook launches without an internet connection, installed add-ins should appear after you reconnect; if they do not, close and reopen Outlook.
In classic Outlook, add-ins are unavailable when the Reading Pane is not set to the supported layout. Go to View > Reading Pane, then set it to Right or Bottom.
To update Microsoft 365 or Office for Windows, open a Microsoft 365 app. In classic Outlook, go to File > Office Account, then under Product Information, choose Update Options > Update Now; choose Enable Updates first when that option appears.
If Outlook itself is broken, repair Office. On Windows 11, right-click Start > Installed apps, select your Microsoft 365 or Office product, choose ... > Modify > Online Repair > Repair. On Windows 10, right-click Start > Apps and Features, select the product, then choose Modify > Online Repair > Repair.
Handle Mac and work mailbox limits
Use this method when templates are missing on Outlook for Mac, or when the missing templates are tied to a shared, work, or school mailbox.
The built-in template controls in Outlook for Mac are available to Microsoft 365 subscribers and to users on version 15.35 (170610) and later of Outlook for Mac. On Outlook for Mac, save a built-in template by selecting the email message, then choosing File > Save As Template. Enter a name, choose a location, then select Save.
To use that Mac template, choose File > New > Email From Template, select the .emltpl template, then choose Open.
For My Templates on Mac, choose New Mail, open My Templates from the ribbon, select +Template, fill in the Title field and message text, then choose Save. My Templates works with Microsoft Exchange accounts on Mac, but it is not available in shared mailboxes opened in Outlook for Mac.
For shared mailboxes, the template behavior depends on how the mailbox is opened. In classic Outlook, My Templates created in a shared mailbox are only available to your account; in new Outlook, templates you create in a shared mailbox can be viewed and edited only by people who also open that mailbox in new Outlook and promote it to a full account; in Outlook on the web, only by people who also open it in a separate tab or window with Open another mailbox.
If this is a work or school mailbox and My Templates is missing everywhere, contact your Microsoft 365 admin. They may need to enable Outlook add-ins, assign the My Templates add-in, or address the EX1255397/EWS issue for the tenant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did My Templates disappear from Outlook?
It can happen because the add-in is not pinned, Outlook add-ins are unavailable, your organization has add-ins turned off, or your mailbox was affected by Microsoft’s 2026 My Templates service issue.
Are classic Outlook .oft templates gone in new Outlook?
Not necessarily. Classic .oft files may still be in c:\users\username\appdata\roaming\microsoft\templates. You can open them through Choose Form in classic Outlook, drag and drop them into new Outlook or Outlook on the web, or import them into Mail Templates.
Can shared mailbox users see the same My Templates?
In classic Outlook, templates created in a shared mailbox are only available to your account. In new Outlook, those templates are viewable and editable only by people who also open the shared mailbox and promote it to a full account. Outlook for Mac does not support My Templates in shared mailboxes.
Do I need to reinstall Outlook to restore templates?
Usually no. Reinstalling is only useful when Outlook is missing, broken, or too old to show the supported template and add-in surfaces. Try the template paths, add-in pinning, updates, and Office repair first.