VBA Developer Mode?

DPA 25 Reputation points
2026-07-28T11:44:44.43+00:00

Hi Community.  DPA here.  See attached screenshot.

I need pointed in the right direction.  I don’t know how to get started in VBA Developer mode in Outlook.  I have read through both the “Visual Basic Guide” and the “Office VBA Reference/Outlook” in Learn about objects, methods and properties.

I don’t know what to do next.  How does one create a Project?  Is there documentation/training that explains the Project windows and the inter-relationship among those windows when developing a Project?

I am not asking how to write code.  I am just asking in general about the steps to create an Outlook VBA Project itself.  Thanks.

Developer technologies | Visual Basic for Applications
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Taki Ly (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 4,275 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-07-29T04:09:17.6833333+00:00

Hello @DPA ,

It is possible that you are using classic Outlook, where setting up a VBA project has a few unique steps compared to other Office applications.

It might be beneficial to first ensure the Developer tab is enabled to access the Visual Basic environment. You can do this by navigating to File > Options > Customize Ribbon and checking the "Developer" box on the right side. Once the tab is visible, you can click the "Visual Basic" button to open the Visual Basic Editor.

Regarding how to create a project, Outlook works differently from applications like Excel or Access. Outlook only supports a single background VBA project named "Project1" (stored as VbaProject.OTM). This project is automatically provided for you, so you do not need to create a new project file from scratch. You simply add your modules and forms into this existing environment.

To better understand the Project windows (such as the Project Explorer and Properties window) and their inter-relationships, I suggest reviewing these specific documentation articles. They provide a great overview of the interface and setup process:

As a quick side note, it is worth mentioning that the "New Outlook for Windows" currently does not support VBA. The steps and documentation above apply to the classic desktop version of Outlook.

If you found my response helpful or informative, I would greatly appreciate it if you could follow this guide as it may help other users encountering the same issue find the solution more easily.

Thank you.

Was this answer helpful?

2 people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

4 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Julie Huynh 2,900 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-07-28T12:33:04.3966667+00:00

    Dear @DPA,

    Good day! Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum!

    Based on your description, I understand that you're new to Outlook VBA development and are looking for guidance on how to get started with creating an Outlook VBA project. You've reviewed the VBA documentation but need help understanding the VBA Project structure, the purpose of the Project Explorer and related windows, and the general steps involved in setting up and working with an Outlook VBA project.

    As a starting point, please review the this article: Run in Developer Mode in Outlook, which explains how to enable and run Outlook in Developer Mode by displaying the Developer tab in the Outlook ribbon.

    Based on your question about creating a VBA project, it may be helpful to know that Outlook works differently from applications such as Excel or Access. Outlook supports a single VBA project, Project1, which is stored as VbaProject.OTM. The VBA project is automatically provided by Outlook, and developers typically add modules, forms, and code within this existing project rather than creating separate VBA projects from scratch.

    For more information about Outlook VBA projects and project management, please review the following articles:

    Additionally, if you feel there is a need for more documentation regarding Outlook VBA project architecture, onboarding, or training materials, I encourage you to submit feedback through the Microsoft Feedback Portal for review by the appropriate product and documentation teams: https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/

    Thank you for your kindness and understanding!

    If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment". 

    Note: Please follow the steps in [our documentation] to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread. 

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  2. Bruce (SqlWork.com) 85,111 Reputation points
    2026-07-28T14:37:00.43+00:00

    As stated new versions of outlook no longer support VBA, as they are they are html and JavaScript based. This allows the same code to run on the server website and the desktop client

    For the new outlook (and other office products) you create JavaScript addins.

    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dev/add-ins/outlook/apis

    for look and feel you use the Fluent UI toolkit:

    https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/fluentui#/

    While office uses react, you can use another framework. But office has a complete react library for Fluent UI.

    https://github.com/microsoft/fluentui

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Senthil kumar 2,080 Reputation points
    2026-07-28T12:10:19.9633333+00:00

    Hi @DPA

    Old Outlook -> Outlook → Developer → Visual Basic.

    New Outlook for Windows → NO VBA Support

    Microsoft removed:

    • VBA
    • COM Add‑ins
    • Macros
    • Custom forms
    • Local PST access
    • Local rules

    Thanks.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments

  4. AI answer

    2026-07-28T11:45:05.4866667+00:00

    In Outlook, there is only one VBA project at a time: Project1. Outlook does not create multiple named VBA projects the way some other Office apps or Visual Studio do. That single project is stored as VbaProject.OTM for the current user.

    A practical way to get started is:

    1. Enable the Developer tab
      In Outlook, go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon, select Developer, and click OK.
    2. Open the VBA environment
      On the Developer tab, choose Macros, type a macro name, and click Create. This opens Visual Basic for Applications.
    3. Understand what “the project” is in Outlook
      All Outlook VBA code lives inside that one project, Project1. A project can contain:
      • code modules
      • UserForm modules
    4. Use the Visual Basic Editor to build inside Project1
      The Visual Basic Editor is where modules are created and removed, UserForms are designed, and code is edited. It also includes development tools such as an Object Browser and debugger.
    5. Know the Outlook-specific limitation
      Outlook supports only one VBA project at a time. If a different VBA project must be run, Outlook must be closed, the current VbaProject.OTM renamed, the other project named VbaProject.OTM, and then Outlook restarted. If several solutions are needed regularly, they can be manually combined into one VbaProject.OTM.
    6. Choose the right model for the goal
      Outlook VBA is intended as a personal macro development environment and is not designed for broad deployment or distribution. If the solution is meant for more than a few people, the recommended path is an Outlook COM Add-in.

    For form scripting specifically, the Developer tab also gives access to Design This Form and View Code for the Script Editor, but that is separate from the main Outlook VBA project model.

    For learning the editor and project structure, the most relevant starting points are:

    • the Outlook VBA overview for how Outlook organizes VBA code into Project1
    • the Office VBA getting-started article for how the Developer tab and Visual Basic Editor fit together
    • the Outlook developer home for broader Outlook development guidance

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.