Microsoft will launch a new Outlook application for Windows 10 users on January 28, 2025, replacing the existing Mail and Calendar apps. While the installation is mandatory, users can choose to uninstall it. The new Outlook aims to unify features across different platforms, but some users are unhappy with the design changes and missing features. Although the classic version will remain available for now, its future is uncertain as Microsoft hints at making the new version the default in the coming years.
Microsoft’s New Outlook: An Unavoidable Upgrade for Windows 10 Users
Microsoft is set to roll out its latest Outlook application on Windows 10, whether users are ready for it or not. According to a notification sent to Microsoft 365 subscribers through the Admin Center, the new Outlook will be pre-installed on Windows 10 devices starting January 28, 2025, with a security update following on February 11, 2025.
Once this application is installed, it will take the place of the existing Mail and Calendar apps. Even if you attempt to use the Start menu shortcuts for the old programs, the new Outlook will launch instead. Fortunately for fans of the classic version, it will remain available alongside the new Outlook for the time being.
Managing the New Outlook Installation
Although the new Outlook installation on Windows 10 is mandatory, users can uninstall it if they choose. Microsoft has provided guidance on a support page detailing how to hide or remove the application for those who prefer not to use it.
This mandatory installation marks the next phase in Microsoft’s gradual transition towards the new Outlook. The company began testing the updated version in 2022, paving the way for its official rollout in 2024. Notably, the new Outlook is already pre-installed on new Windows 11 devices and those updated to the 23H2 version.
What prompts this shift to a new Outlook? The application aims to combine the features and settings of both Mail and Calendar apps, striving for a cohesive look across desktop, mobile, and web versions of Outlook. However, this change has led to dissatisfaction among users who feel that certain features from the previous applications are absent. Critics argue that the new design resembles a web interface more than a traditional Windows application, leading to a perception of poor design quality.
Concerns extend beyond aesthetics. While the classic version of Outlook remains available for now, Microsoft has hinted at a future where it may no longer be an option. In a blog post from March 2024, the company suggested that a “transition phase” could eventually lead to the new Outlook being the default for new installations of Microsoft 365, eliminating the possibility of reverting to the classic version. Although support for the classic Outlook is guaranteed until at least 2029, its future beyond that remains uncertain.
As a longtime user of the classic Outlook, the prospect of its replacement is not particularly welcome. While the classic Outlook may contain features that many users overlook, it remains a robust and effective email client that many prefer.