Forum Discussion
Introducing Scheduling poll in Outlook!
Announcing FindTime as a native feature in Outlook!
We are excited to introduce Scheduling poll, bringing the capabilities of FindTime as a native feature in Outlook. Scheduling poll is currently available to all users of Outlook on the Web and Mac. It is available to Classic Outlook for Windows users in Current Channel, Monthly Enterprise Channel, and Semi-Annual Enterprise Preview. It is now available to Classic Outlook users on the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (Version 2308) as of January 2024, and will be available to the Semi-Annual Extended Channel later in June 2024.
Users who do not have access to Scheduling Poll yet can either switch to the Current Channel, Monthly Enterprise Channel, or Semi-Annual Enterprise Preview in Classic Outlook for Windows; or they can use Outlook on the Web to create polls. Please go https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/scheduling-poll-articles-7b5ff6c7-4f65-48e6-89b8-3f053c40e382 for more details on 'Scheduling poll' feature.
What’s the same
As we bring Scheduling poll directly to Outlook, users can expect to have a similar set of features and workflow as the existing FindTime add-in.
What’s different
Scheduling poll uses the same modern design and framework we use in the updated https://nam06.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftechcommunity.microsoft.com%2Ft5%2Foutlook-blog%2Ffaster-with-a-modern-design-and-new-features-the-new-outlook-on%2Fba-p%2F735222&data=05%7C01%7Csarichardson%40microsoft.com%7C9a9485b7101d4aaff29c08da6a6fc7f9%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C1%7C0%7C637939325631538316%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kFDYOHhuRskiCb2vqvFKSWldi4v79%2FAsFZTz%2BndEoH8%3D&reserved=0 and the https://nam06.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Finsider.office.com%2Fen-us%2Fblog%2Fthe-new-outlook-for-windows-helps-you-be-more-productive-and-in-control-of-your-inbox&data=05%7C01%7Csarichardson%40microsoft.com%7C9a9485b7101d4aaff29c08da6a6fc7f9%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C1%7C0%7C637939325631538316%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=LwQYSXklRrUxLTaFsnW24bkPmrhxWlBIcuHjUWi7GEQ%3D&reserved=0, making it easier to maintain and enhance for the future.
Important: What is happening to the FindTime add-in?
The FindTime add-in will stop working and be removed from Outlook for Windows, Web and Mac. Scheduling Poll is the replacement feature, which is built directly into Outlook clients for all users as a native feature.
When this will happen:
You can expect the FindTime add-in to stop working as early as December 11, 2023. We will start making the change on December 11, 2023, and expect to complete it by the end of that week.
How this will affect your organization:
Once the change has rolled out users will need to utilize Scheduling Poll as a replacement of the FindTime add-in.
When will the new Scheduling Poll feature be available?
Currently, Scheduling Poll is available to all customers worldwide for Outlook on the web and the new Mac Outlook, except for those in GCC High. It is also available to Classic Outlook for Windows users in Current Channel, Monthly Enterprise Channel, and Semi-Annual Enterprise Preview. It will become available to Classic Outlook users on the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel in January 2024, and to the Semi-Annual Extended Channel in June 2024.
What will happen to my current user experience?
When your tenant gets the update, the native feature will be added to their Outlook ribbon replacing FindTime (see more details to access Scheduling Poll https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/access-scheduling-poll-a8742e97-0b59-45c4-9359-23b582c64a27). Users do not need to do anything, this change will happen automatically, and users will be able to keep creating scheduling polls as easily as before.
FindTime Deprecation FAQs
1. What does the deletion of https://findtime.microsoft.com/ mean?
A. This webpage provides information about how to use the FindTime add-in and given that we are replacing it with Scheduling Poll, we are deleting this page. When users try to access this page post 12/12/2022, they will be redirected to the polls dashboard - https://outlook.office.com/findtime/dashboard. The add-in itself should still function as is. It will not be deprecated until Scheduling Poll is released to all supported Outlook apps - in Outlook web, Mac and Win32.
2. What do I need to do to transition from FindTime to Scheduling Poll?
A. Nothing! When Scheduling poll is rolled out to your tenant, the entry point to the FindTime Add-in will be hidden and you should see a button to open the Scheduling poll pane in the Outlook compose ribbon instead (more details https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/access-scheduling-poll-a8742e97-0b59-45c4-9359-23b582c64a27). We have made UX updates to help improve the experience. The functionality should remain the same and you should be able to create new polls just like before.
3. What happens to my existing polls?
A. All the polls you created through the FindTime add-in should remain active and actionable through the voting page and the polls dashboard even if the add-in is deprecated and replaced by the Scheduling poll UI. The only thing that has changed is the way you create a poll.
Nick Nigro Sullivan910 ph_ly
Yes, this is a known issue, i.e. when a user tries to use FindTime add-in to schedule a poll, they may run into this error/issue. FindTime engineering team is looking into it for resolution. A service incident (EX521435) has been published for impacted tenants, see below for details, if you haven't seen it yet in your M365 Admin center. Workaround is to use Scheduling poll feature in OWA.Update: This issue has been fixed.
EX521435: Exchange Online - Users can't schedule events in the Outlook desktop app using the FindTime add-inImpacted users get an error that states, "Sorry! FindTime could not load due to an unexpected error. Please try again." or "Sorry, we can't load the add-in". While we're working to remediate impact, affected users with access to Outlook on the web can use the Scheduling Poll feature to schedule meetings. See: Scheduling Poll articles - Microsoft Support for more info and share these with your users.
Current status: We're reviewing additional information, including the status of authentication components which facilitate user access to the add-in, conditional access policies related to FindTime add-in subscriptions and collecting additional service logs for further insight into how impact manifests to assist our investigation.
125 Replies
- kgreen1605Copper Contributor
The Duration dropdown for Scheduling Poll is very limited. Is there a plan to expand the available durations or incorporate a custom duration?
- AaronCouchIron Contributor
AmirHaque-MSFT PSalli
Some of our users suddenly noticed this week the "New Scheduling Poll" appear in Outlook for Windows. This appears to be lighting up the new functionality. Interestingly "Find Time" text remains on the ribbon. I'm assuming this is Microsoft's strategy to help people understand the shift? (Previously it showed as "FindTime" without the space, so that is telling).
Is this being rolled out gradually for various tenants? Is this targeted only towards certain channels (Monthly Enterprise, Semi Annual, SA-Preview, etc)? More details would be valuable to confirm with our users.
Screenshots of old button vs new button as we've observed:- AmirHaque-MSFT
Microsoft
Here'e what I have posted earlier on this topic, hope this helps!
Scheduling poll feature is now available in the following builds of Outlook for Windows.
Jan - Feb 2023 - Office Insiders
Mar - Apr 2023 - Outlook Current Channel in Production and Monthly Enterprise Channel (try to move your users to these versions/builds to ensure they can use Scheduling poll feature)
At this moment the tentative plan is to make Scheduling poll feature available thru SAC Preview channel/build sometime in Sep 2023, then it will show up in SAC in Jan 2024 and then in SAEC in June 2024 (usual disclaimer: these dates may change without any notice, see this article for release channels info: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployoffice/updates/overview-update-channels) ...
- julianuogCopper Contributor
Hi Sally_Richardson, thanks for the information.
I was wondering if you could help me - according to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/include-an-online-meeting-with-scheduling-poll-b8647a39-98ef-4e40-bda6-d29b280d3abb#:~:text=Scheduling%20Poll%20is%20integrated%20with,and%20adding%20a%20Scheduling%20Poll., Scheduling Poll is integrated into Teams, but I can't see it when I try to set up a meeting in Teams. I can access it in Outlook.
My organisation has the full business version, etc, (as far as I know - it's a large university).
Thanks for your time,
Julian
- AmirHaque-MSFT
Microsoft
Juliauog - You cannot use Scheduling poll feature from within Teams at this moment. What that statement in that article meant is that one can use Teams-based virtual meetings, when setting up meetings thru Scheduling poll feature in Outlook.
- BPaulConsultingCopper Contributor
How do I remove the "Reply with Scheduling Poll" item from the Ribbon in the main email interface? I tried to remove it by customizing the ribbon, but the Remove function was inactivated when I tried.
I don't want this item on my Ribbon. It makes other, more frequently used items smaller and I don't need this clutter.
You can follow the steps below to remove FindTime from Outlook Windows Ribbon.
File | Options |- Select Customize Ribbon
- In the third column, Customized the Classic Ribbon, make sure "Main Tabs is selected.
- Under Main Tabs, expand Home (Mail).
- Click on FindTime.
- Click on the Remove button.
- Press Ok.
- You are not deleting the app but removing it from the ribbon. You can add it back anytime.
If you find this information helpful, please mark it as the best answer to assist others with the same question.
/Teresa
#traccreations.
- BPaulConsultingCopper Contributor
Yes, I knew the steps to remove it from the ribbon. When I attempted to remove it using that method, the "Remove" button was greyed out, so I couldn't actually remove it.
A few days later, I tried again, and was able to remove it. Don't know why or how things were different. But they were.
- cschulze_Copper ContributorAre there plans to extend the functionality so that colleagues to whom I have made my calendar available with editing permission can also send scheduling polls on my behalf?
- AmirHaque-MSFT
Microsoft
That would fall into 'delegation' feature bucket. There have been requests for that in the past for FindTime/Scheduling poll, we are tracking it in our backlog, but there are no plans to work on it at this moment. Generally, when a feature in a product is being developed, rolled out or released, we list it at M365 Roadmap site (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/roadmap), so you'll see it there.
- ChickosBrass ContributorI still cannot find any service health advisory regarding this issue -
EX521435: Exchange Online - Users can't schedule events in the Outlook desktop app using the FindTime add-in
Can you please post the current status and/or post incident report?- AmirHaque-MSFT
Microsoft
I responded to other posts here last night, this issue has been resolved. I had also updated my main post above putting an update saying this issue has been fixed (in green bold fonts) ... Service Incident was not published to all M365 tenants as its impact was isolated.
- Q365LearnsCopper Contributor
Hi there,
In our org we use the Find-Time add-in in combination with the M365 Apps Semi-Annual Channel, currently v2208.
During the transition period to the next office build that includes the FindTime build-in.
Will we be able to keep deploying the add-in from the Admin center?
We want to start communication about the fact that this addin is built-in on the Outlook Web.
But only if the desktop version keeps working and there is no period where the add-in in desktop is removed and we are still on an older build of the Office Apps.
Anything you can tell me to assure me ?
The Add-in will be removed from the store in May 2023.
But will we keep the possibility to deploy the current add-in version from our Admin center?
Thanks for your feedback!
- AmirHaque-MSFT
Microsoft
Scheduling poll feature is now available in the following builds of Outlook for Windows. FindTime add-in being old technology will be removed by the date that has been mentioned in the post above. It'd be hard to keep it functioning beyond that date. Please try to move to latest builds of Outlook for Windows to start using Scheduling poll experience.
Jan - Feb 2023 - Office Insiders
Mar - Apr 2023 - Outlook Current Channel in Production and Monthly Enterprise Channel (try to move your users to these versions/builds to ensure they can use Scheduling poll feature)- AaronCouchIron Contributor
Hi AmirHaque-MSFT
Yesterday, Microsoft released the first build of Semi Annual Preview 2302, and it doesn't appear to activate the new Scheduling Poll versus older FindTime. Do you know what our expectation should be for this? (especially as we anticipate the release of Semi Annual 2302 coming in July).Thank you
- Rachel_CaldwellCopper ContributorHi Sally_Richardson,
I'm excited to have stumbled across this announcement! Do you know if the scheduling poll is available in the Government Cloud? Or when it might be available?
Thanks,- AmirHaque-MSFT
Microsoft
Hi Rachel, Scheduling poll has already been deployed to GCC Moderate tenants, they should be able to use it (in OWA). It's not available for GCC High tenants, it's in our backlog at this moment and we don't have an ETA to share at this time, when it'll be available for GCC-H tenants.- Rachel_CaldwellCopper ContributorThanks, amir_Hague! I appreciate the information.
askhetan, Simon45, and to all,
I have created a video of the New Scheduling Poll feature in Outlook.
I discussed the key components, best practices, limitations, and benefits. And I demonstrated how to create a poll, apply the settings, monitor the responses, and confirm a meeting. You will also learn about the verification code feature and much more.Hope this helps existing and new Scheduling Poll users.
#TeamSchedulingPoll/Teresa
#traccreations4e
- ChickosBrass Contributor
Teresa_Cyrus , this video is marked as private, do you have an alternate link available for us to view your video?
Thank you greatly for putting this together.Thanks. I thought I had updated all links. 🤦🏿:female_sign:
Video: https://youtu.be/GnggdDhBBLE
Please like the above post or mark it as the best response to assist others with the same question.
Thanks again.
/Teresa
Hi Sally_Richardson AmirHaque-MSFT
I have been looking forward to the release of the Scheduling Poll. I had a chance to test it to prepare a demonstration.
I was not a FindTime user, so I am coming with an unbiased perspective. I had mentioned what I liked about this feature's potential in my previous post in July. (I don't want to sound like a "hater" in this post.) Here are several limitations that I found with Outlook's latest feature, Scheduling Poll.
- Delegates unable to respond on behalf of others
- Many Admin Assistants manage calendars for executives and leaders. Now that Scheduling Poll is a core feature in Outlook, more subscribers will be using this feature. However, this missing functionality may be a deal breaker.
- Hold Dates on My Calendar Setting
- It's great that the proposed dates are available on the Organizer's calendar. It is also imperative that the invitees hold the dates on their calendars. Some users' calendars are booked 30 to 60 days ahead, depending on the role. By the time the organizer lands on a date, it may not be available. It may be best to give the attendee the option to hold the dates or not.
- Editing Voting Poll
- It was odd editing the meeting name, location, and duration from the dashboard rather than from the actual Organizer's vote page, where everything else is managed.
- Reminder message
- I was not surprised that the Organizer could not generate a custom reminder message, but I can see users asking for it.
- Also, the reminder email goes to all attendees instead of just the non-responders. This could be a time waster for those who acted immediately.
- Anyone added after the poll is created does not get the reminder message. You must send it manually.
- Add an Attendee from the Voting Page
- The user does not get the invite. You must send it from your email after adding them from the Voting Page first.
- Others
- The Organizer and invitees need easy access back to Outlook. I get it. The voting page and dashboard have been navigated from Outlook to accommodate external attendees, but it would be nice to get back to Outlook from these web pages via a link.
- The above functionality also explains why the Organizer and internal invitees must add the full email address on the voting page. This functionality is painful since users have never entered colleagues or teammates' email addresses. I am still determining how your developers will work their magic with this request, but it is on my wish list.
- This not a limitation but can you give a real-life work example when to use "Require attendee to verify identity. I was drawing a blank. Is it targeted to internal and external attendees?
- One more. I would love the option to have the Scheduling Poll icon in the top navigation for easy access to navigate to the dashboard.
Still, I plan to use Scheduling Poll. It will save time in coordinating meetings.
I anticipate and look forward to the subsequent updates. My fingers are crossed that some of these limitations are rolled out in May 2023.
- /Teresa
- #traccreations4e
- AmirHaque-MSFT
Microsoft
Thanks Teresa for this feedback, it helps in product development. Several items in your list are in our backlog as other customers have also put in request for those. We can't promise which of those will make it into the product, but as soon as we finalize to work on any of those, you may see those listed on our official M365 product roadmap site (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/roadmap). In case any of these items are major road blockers for you in using 'Scheduling poll' experience, please contact our Support (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/admin/get-help-support) to provide that feedback, preferably with a strong business impact statement, so that we can provide a formal response on that. Thank you!- ph_lyIron Contributor
AmirHaque-MSFT many of our users are reporting that the FindTime app on the old Mac experience has stopped working. They receive a"unable to load plug in" error.
This is different from what you posted regarding the transition experience.
- ChrisCPHXCopper ContributorA great feature in Findtime that I hope will make it to the Schedule Polls feature is a visual "heat map" of dates with available times when scheduling. Super useful when selecting voting options without going day by day.