May 02 2017 04:04 PM - edited Nov 10 2017 01:02 PM
Edited: Nov 10, 2017 with updated information.
Focused Inbox is coming to an Outlook near you! Here is an update on our status for Outlook 2016 for Windows. If you want to see our latest for other platforms, see our blog post, as these details haven’t changed.
Note: we have provided admins the ability to control the rollout of Focused Inbox in their organizations. For more details, read our blog post on admin controls.
Rollout status
As a reminder, there is a client and service side component required for Focused Inbox to appear in Outlook. The user’s mailbox in Office 365 & Outlook.com must receive a service side update to be Focused Inbox enabled. Secondly, the user must have a build of Outlook that includes the client-side updates necessary for Focused Inbox to appear.
Service side status:
We deployed to 100% of Office 365 (Exchange Online) and Outlook.com mailboxes. This is no longer a factor in availabilty.
Client side status:
There are a few client side requirements:
Sep 29 2017 07:32 AM
Focused Inbox using Outlook 2016 as part of my office 365 home edition connecting to outlook.com just started working today.
Sep 29 2017 07:44 AM
Hi Llloyd:
What version and build of O365 are you using? Can someone tell me if this is a universal roll out or just by accounts? If I don't use outlook.com, will it still work? (I use IMAP accounts primarily).
@Lloyd Cox wrote:Focused Inbox using Outlook 2016 as part of my office 365 home edition connecting to outlook.com just started working today.
Sep 29 2017 07:47 AM
I am on office 365 ProPlus (home edition) version 1709 build 8528.2084, insider, monthly channel (targeted).
I know from this blog that MS was working to fix outlook 2016 so it would work with outlook.com accounts (personal accounts, not O365 business accounts) and that has finally happened since I now see the focused inbox option in Outlook 2016.
Oct 17 2017 09:49 AM
Hi Allen, I picked up on this post because I am thoroughly confused by Focused inbox availability. My office is currently on Office 2013, stand alone, but use Microsoft's Exchange Online as our email server. My boss opened Outlook 2013 one day to find cluttered had disappeared. Clutter completely changed the way she did email in a good way! And it's gone. But focused inbox is not available for Outlook 2013.
So I was thinking we will move to Office 2016, again, stand alone. But you're saying here that Office 2016 will never get the Focused Inbox?
I just find your analogy of a car so frustrating and here's why: We're driving along on stone wheels (like the Flintstones) with Office 2013 when Microsoft shows up and hands us rubber tires. Didn't have to upgrade to new versions or change the way we purchase Office...didn't have to buy the new car!
Then a year later Microsoft comes back and takes the tires back because they have a new and improved tubeless tire. But, sorry, you have to buy the new car and no, you can't keep using clutter, so back to the stone age for you with no recourse.
Oh, and by the way, the latest model of the car also won't use the new and improved tubeless tire. Only cars you rent from us.
Now I've wasted half my morning wondering if purchasing Office Professional Plus 2016 will get her a focused inbox or not.
I am venting. It's ridiculous.
Can you answer one question for me: As of October 17, 2017 does the Office Professional Plus 2016 version of Outlook have focused inbox?
Oct 17 2017 09:55 AM
Oct 17 2017 12:56 PM
Oct 17 2017 01:01 PM
Oct 17 2017 01:06 PM
Thanks for response, Allen. Forgive my tirade. I was not aware that clutter was still available and had really spent most of my morning looking at all the ways FI was not available for our typical way of doing things when I have a host of other things I need to get done.
She did exactly as you said...logged on to the web version and clutter disappeared.
Please provide the non-powershell way to turn it back on.
We will get ready for the changes. Honestly, if I could get her to use OWA it would be so much easier! So much better.
Anyway, thanks!
Oct 17 2017 01:10 PM
Oct 17 2017 01:25 PM
It's back. Thanks again! Now we can take a few months to plan for future changes.
Oct 18 2017 04:27 PM
So now that my Exchange account has been moved to Microsoft servers -- I do get focused inbox on that email account only -- however I only use my exchange account for tasks, calendars, notes, and people and not much email (Except text message backup)
There are no focused inbox option on my IMAP accounts - which make up the majority of my email aaccounts -- do I have to wait until Modern Authorization is disabled?
Oct 18 2017 05:54 PM
Oct 18 2017 06:25 PM
So when will it work against IMAP accounts just like my Android --- by the end of the year when Modern Authorization requirement is dropped? - Please confirm.
Oct 19 2017 10:02 AM
Oct 19 2017 10:23 AM
Oct 21 2017 07:18 PM
I have the latest update of Outlook 2016, shouldn't I see this by know?
Oct 23 2017 10:59 AM
Oct 23 2017 06:55 PM
I have Outlook.com which supports exchange so I should see it, so why don't I?
Oct 23 2017 08:22 PM
Oct 24 2017 08:05 AM
This thread has confused me even more, I'm afraid. Still not sure why we don't have focused inbox for the Targeted Semi-annual Channel. We are O365 clients (exchange online, etc), have modern auth and FI enabled. The monthly channel sees FI in Outlook 2016, but the rest don't. The semi-annual users are up to version 1708, have FI for OWA and iOS apps, but complain that they don't have it on the desktop.
When exactly should we see FI available across all of Outlook 2016 (O365 pro-plus) update channels?