What Is New Outlook?

by Steve Yates

The ITS Connection Online Newsletter

Update, September 2024: the product is receiving frequent updates, see the Microsoft feature comparison document, linked below.

Recently eagle-eyed folks noticed a switch in the upper right corner of the Outlook desktop app, to "try the New Outlook." Don't click it yet! Read on for an explanation.

Similar to its long term migration to New Teams, Microsoft plans to replace the classic Outlook desktop app with New Outlook, considered to be in Preview. Currently New Outlook is in an opt-in phase. At some point Microsoft will transition to an opt-out phase, where staff or network admins can opt out of using it. Eventually the plan is to cut over and only use New Outlook, much like Microsoft did with New Teams this spring. Microsoft has not published a fixed timeline, yet, but have said they will honor existing support deadlines for Outlook through 2029. They have said to expect at least one year of time between each phase, so 2026 seems the earliest possible date for the forced switchover.

New Outlook has several advantages:

  • Bundled with Windows (so, free, replacing Windows Mail)
  • Web-based
  • Looks and works like outlook.com mail (and theoretically like Outlook)
  • Supports web add-ins (plugins)
  • IMAP support

But it also has several disadvantages:

  • All data/email stored by Microsoft
  • Local data (.PST) files not yet supported
  • Government Microsoft 365 accounts not yet supported
  • No support for POP email accounts
  • No support for on-premises Exchange
  • Limited offline ability ("basic email triage and compose will be available soon")
  • Limited search functionality so far
  • Does not automatically show assigned shared Microsoft 365/Exchange mailboxes
  • Folder reordering not yet supported
  • No COM add-in (plugin) support

The New Outlook toggle switch can be disabled/hidden if desired, so inquisitive employees don't try it yet. If they do, their icon for Outlook will change, adding a tiny "new" tag on it.

For now, one can toggle from New Outlook back to (old) Outlook, at least until the "cutover" phase begins.

Our recommendation is to keep using "old Outlook" until it is out of Preview.

June 2024

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