Forum Discussion
Mail & Calendar Apps Will Be Replaced with New Outlook for Windows December 2024
Original Publish Date: June 2023 | MC650424 Revised Date: August 30, 2023, based on Microsoft's Updated Message See text in red font.
Microsoft's revised announcement states that the Mail and Calendar Apps will no longer be supported at the end of 2024 and will become the New Outlook for Windows. In the meantime, users are encouraged to try the New Outlook for Windows while they can switch back and forth between the Mail App and New Outlook versions.
At the beginning of 2024, all Windows 11 devices will include the Free version of New Outlook for Windows as the default mailbox application.
Supported Accounts: The new Outlook for Windows can currently support Microsoft 365 consumer accounts such as Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, and Live.com, as well as Microsoft 365 work or school accounts and Gmail. In the near future, we plan to add support for Yahoo!, iCloud, and other email providers through IMAP and POP. Stay tuned.
For those who want to learn more about the exciting features of the New Outlook, head over to New Outlook for Windows - YouTube for a series of how-to videos. And don't miss out on the advantages of being an early adopter - check out this must-see video to encourage a smooth transition.
Share how you use the classic feature to give Microsoft constructive feedback on missing features. To do so, select the Help option in the ribbon while in New Outlook.
Microsoft Message Center Details In Part
We will replace the Mail and Calendar apps in Windows with the new Outlook for Windows by the end of 2024.
After this change is implemented:
- Users can no longer use or download the Mail and Calendar apps.
- Users with a Microsoft 365 or Office 365 subscription with access to the Microsoft 365 desktop apps can use the new Outlook for Windows.
- Users can use the new Outlook for Windows with any personal email account (Outlook.com, Gmail, etc.), even without a subscription.
- If you would like to prevent users from adding their corporate email accounts to the new Outlook, you can follow the instructions in this document to disable the application for a single user, group of users, or the whole tenant:
- In mid-September 2023, we will begin auto-migrating Mail & Calendar app users to the new Outlook for Windows with an option to go back if they choose. Users can return to the current Mail & Calendar apps by clicking the toggle in the new Outlook for Windows. We also want to reiterate that these changes will not affect your organization’s use of classic Outlook for Windows.
What you need to do to prepare:
There is nothing you do to prepare now, but we recommend you:
- Let your Microsoft Windows users know about the change to the Mail and Calendar apps
- Start trying and testing the new Outlook for Windows
- Read this support article - Getting started with the new Outlook for Windows
- Read this article communicating the change - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/outlook-for-windows-the-future-of-mail-calendar-and-people-on-windows-11-715fc27c-e0f4-4652-9174-47faa751b199
- Read this article: Windows Mail, Calendar and People are becoming Outlook - Microsoft Support
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My Dedicated New Outlook Video Series:
https://youtu.be/d7bEb20pCZU | https://youtu.be/ehUp2usOVqo |
#traccreations4e
I've checked out the new Outlook. I'm not liking the calendar changes at all. I work in an office where I have multiple staff calendars open. They no longer auto adjust to view all on one screen and no overlay feature (which I didn't like anyway). I see you can scroll back and forth, but that is more bothersome in a busy office. I also see the Card option for viewing contacts is no longer in the program. I know there's still over a year before it comes out so hopefully they'll put these features back in.
Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I will add these features to my watch list.
I encourage you to give MS feedback.
Stay connected.
Teresa
- What about tasks? that's literally the whole best thing about Outlook and we're scrapping it? I really wouldn't know what to do with that feature.
Teresa_Cyrus It appears that with the removal of com applications, multiple third party apps are going to break sadly. Personally we are noticing Boldon James classifier and Proofpoint's phish reporting application break.
Are there plans to eventually integrate add-ins back to the ribbon?
Thank you for sharing your experience. Just remember, I am an independent advisor, so here are my comments.
You're the first to mention issues with add-ins not functioning properly. I'll need to investigate further to determine the cause.
My initial thoughts are that third-party apps must be compatible due to Microsoft's shift from classic to modern Outlook. It may also be helpful to reach out to the makers of the third-party apps to inquire about their plans. In some cases, these makers may release an application without providing updates for future development.
Also, please give MS the feedback by hitting the Help button and selecting Feedback.
If you find this information helpful, please mark it as the best response or like it which will help others.
/Teresa
#traccreations4e
- thanks, i have reached out to the third parties involved, one has documentation around how to move forward (proofpoint), while the other i dont hold out much hope for (boldon james classifier) as it looks like they need to update their architecture to support web calls.
pantherfan69 I assume that you are a user of the desktop Outlook application? While the new Outlook can be accessed from the desktop Outlook application, I believe that it is a substitute for the Windows Mail application, and hopefully it will not be a replacement for the desktop application for at the moment, at least, it does not support any automation.
You've been drinking too much from the Microsoft well! As an ex-Microsoftie and been in this business for 40+years, I've been there.
Progress is important, but basically pushing Outlook desktop as a Web app via Webview2 disables all interop between other MS applications. This means they are removing the COM object model from Outlook so developing business productivity applications and tools that integrate Outlook with Word, Excel, Powerpoint, MS Access is now not possible with the "New Outlook".
The ripple affect will be huge ! In addition MS is not providing any tools to mitigate this. They are basically saying "tough tooties" - go re-write your COM based applications, tools and add-ins to the web - a very very expensive solution if at all possible.
(Shaking my head) 😞
Just laughing at your comment:
You've been drinking too much from Microsoft well!
Thanks for sharing your comment.
- This is actually terrible. MS doesn't need to keep supporting the Mail app, but they also don't need to get rid of it and replace it with Outlook. There's only one reason to do this, and that's to upsell people to their subscription tier for Outlook to remove ads. I'm sick of companies creating problems to then sell the solution. I'll buy Mailbird instead.
- Is this downgrade going to be forced on Office 2021 users as well next year, or only those with 365 subscriptions?
Hi phen314,
Based on my understanding of Office 2021. It is a one-time purchase and download. You will not get any new features. These changes should not impact you.
Great question. Thanks for asking. This question will help other Office 2021 users.
/Teresa
- Is there any hope of adding the features of the current Outlook to new Outlook? It would take the rest of the day to list the missing features.
Hi AmyChapman
It took me some time to compile a comprehensive list of missing classic features. I'm constantly updating the list as users share their experiences, so I understand how you feel.
I'm unaware of Microsoft's process of determining which classic features will make the cut and which won't. Follow my channel to stay updated - as Microsoft rolls out new features, I will publish a video about them.
It's important to continue giving Microsoft feedback about the missing features. The more people share their experiences, the more likely the feature may be considered. When providing feedback, be sure to include details about how you use the feature and how helpful it is, rather than just asking for it to be kept.
/Teresa
- Well, let's start with the ability to add SharePoint "calendars" (i.e. a special sort of list), because that came up yesterday.
And the ability to export your entire calendar.
Teresa_Cyrus
I already use O365 for Outlook. It also appears you have already squashed my calendar on my Insider build.
What I want is my separate calendar back, the one I have shared with family, the one pulling data from multiple places. Not "Outlook for Windows" which I have no reason to use!
I did not use Windows Mail, but I did use the calendar, and in fact depended on it.
All you're doing with this drivel is making me switch to a shared Google calendar instead. Not what I wanted, but at least I can call up just the calendar, which is what I do want.
The more Microsoft pushes me into the Googlesphere, the more I start looking at other Google offerings to completely replace Microsoft. I prefer to use One set of tools, not a hodgepodge mix and match mess.
So, thanks for giving me one more reason to not renew O365 when the time comes, I guess Google Office Suite it is.Teresa_Cyrus The Windows Mail app works fine with all sorts of accounts including Exchange servers like AWS Work Mail. But the new Outlook doesn't. That's a non-starter for me since I need it for a work account. Funny that it supports Gmail, but not Exchange?
One of the greatest features of Outlook Desktop from Office365 is that you can open an email, update the subject line, close the email with the "X", and click save.
We've all gotten emails from people who reply to old threads to send you a new email where the subject has nothing to do with the content of the new email. We've also gotten emails from people who type a subject of "Question" or "Update", with no context.For compliance searches and email organizing, being able to edit Subject Lines is vital. I don't know if the New Outlook for Windows allows this because I'm afraid to install it but, if it's not able, it's a deal killer.
- I'm inclined to agree with this Steven. As a Legal IT Trainer, I always include this very thing in training for the same reason you mention above. Its useful to change the subject line for displaying the email in the Inbox but also saves time when filing the email to a DMS. I am on the new desktop but I cannot see a way to edit and save the subject line of the email. In fact, I'm finding there are quite a few things "missing" which is a bit of a wasted opportunity. I always thought that if you change something it should be for the better, not remove things that you had before. I do hope that by the time this is fully rolled out that many more of the "old" features are reintroduced otherwise I fear Microsoft will lose alot of confidence with much of its audience.
Outlook Classic has been around for 25 years and has built a reputation for being a good mail client. The features that we all know and love were not created overnight, and Microsoft has publicly stated that not all features will be carried over to the new version. However, based on users' feedback and innovation, they will incorporate the best features from various versions of Outlook, such as Mail, Outlook.com, Web, and Classic. Microsoft is requesting feedback from users and strongly encourages them to provide input.
Users who switch from New to Classic Outlook are asked to complete a feedback questionnaire. Users can provide constructive feedback by including how often they use a particular feature and how they use it. As you know, the squeaking wheel gets the attention.
As a user, I agree with many of the comments posted about the new version of Outlook. I am an early adopter of the new version and assist other users in making a smooth transition by sharing the features that have been rolled out. And sometimes, the sounding board for users to vent.
And I do give Microsoft feedback on a regular. I will end with Microsoft has acknowledged that they still need to regain the trust of their users.
Teresa
I'm extremely disappointed in the colors.
- Category Colors: They used to be bright and noticeable, now they are muted. I use the bright yellow for emails I need to respond to "today" but it shows up in my inbox as a pastel yellow. I changed it to a dark blue and it shows up as a pastel blue. What is the point of using categories if you cannot glance at your inbox and actually see them?
- Overall Appearance: My choices are the standard blue or everything in black? One extreme or another? I used the gray and loved it.Needless to say, I'm going into the busy year end and will have to figure out how to revert back to the old version as this new version is going to make things harder.
You can check this theme in Windows, after installing , in Outllook you will set as the default system settings:
Thank you for sharing.
When you revert to the classic version, I encourage you to give Microsoft feedback.
