RetroInbox

How to get the old Yahoo Mail look back

Updated October 27, 2026

Short answer

There is no setting for it any more: Yahoo replaced classic and basic Yahoo Mail on desktop with the new Yahoo Mail, and says they can't be switched back. On a computer with Google Chrome, the RetroInbox extension brings back the classic layout and removes the ads. Your Yahoo account and settings stay as they are.

What happened to classic Yahoo Mail

Since early 2025, people have reported being moved to the new Yahoo Mail without being asked. Yahoo's own help page now says that classic and basic Yahoo Mail on desktop "aren't available to switch back to". Your mailbox, folders, contacts and password did not change, only the way the page looks and works.

That is why older tips that tell you to look for "Switch to basic mail" or a similar option in Settings no longer help.

What RetroInbox brings back

  • Folders on the left, with Inbox, Unread, Starred, Drafts and Sent always in view.
  • Mail grouped by date under Today, Yesterday, Last week and Earlier this month.
  • Compact rows without the large initials circles, so more email fits on the screen.
  • An action bar with words: Archive · Move · Delete · Spam, not just icons.
  • The Classic 2024 colors: the dark plum header and lavender buttons many people remember. Light and dark themes are there too.
  • No ads: no sponsored rows between your emails, no banners on the side, no promotional pop-ups.
30-second tour of RetroInbox. Turn the sound on for the music.

How to set it up

  1. Install RetroInbox in Google Chrome from the install page. It takes about two minutes.
  2. Open Yahoo Mail in Chrome. The classic look is already on.
  3. To change the theme, the text size or anything else, click the RetroInbox button next to Chrome's address bar.

Good to know

  • It works in Google Chrome on a computer: Windows, Mac, Linux or Chromebook. It does not change the Yahoo Mail app on your phone.
  • It only changes how the page looks in your browser. Turn it off and Yahoo Mail looks exactly as before.
  • Your email stays on your computer. RetroInbox does not copy, store or send your messages.
  • You can try it free for 7 days. After that it costs €5.99 a year.
Install RetroInbox for Chrome7 days free, then €5.99 a year. No card needed for the trial.

More guides

How to remove ads from Yahoo MailThree ways, with what each one costs.Make Yahoo Mail easier to readBigger text, clearer unread mail, the real sender address.

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