At this time, ITS does not recommend using the "new" Outlook because so many features are missing and if using shared accounts or shared calendars, there have been some issues. 

Outlook for Windows now has a toggle button that you can use to try out the “new” version of Outlook for Windows. While there are some new features that are nice to have, there are some differences and missing features. 

 

For more information, see the following articles:

Getting started with the new Outlook for Windows

Feature comparison between new Outlook and classic Outlook 

Youtube videos for new Outlook

Microsoft to support classic Outlook for Windows until at least 2029

Starting to support third-party accounts in New Outlook for Windows Preview

New Features of Outlook New
  • "Request in-person" meeting option - this option allows you to select the option to make the meeting in-person instead of online
  • The ability to pin important emails to the top of your inbox – you can pin important emails you don't want to forget about 
  • Limited support for 3rd party email and calendars such as Gmail.
  • Autoreplies can now include having your calendar blocked off and cancelling meetings you have scheduled during your time away.  See Setting Up Auto Replies and Out of Office Messages
  • Shared account calendar – you can remove a shared calendar from your calendar list if you only use the shared account for email
  • Search results show which folder the message appears in
  • Undo send option for up to a 10 second delay before sending a message.  Allows you time to stop it from going out and re-thinking what to send.  Settings (gear icon) | Mail | Compose and Reply | Undo Send – slide bar for amount of delay
  • More Settings options – you can now setup and configure the following in Outlook “New”
  • Settings | Storage - gives a breakdown of mailbox folders and amount of space used
  • Can set Microsoft 365 email forwarding
  • Can share and publish calendars (used to have to be done in OWA)
  • Bookings with me is configurable in Outlook “New”
  • Work hours and locations feature

Issues or Missing Features
  • Shared Accounts – if you access or manage a shared departmental account, you will see changes.
    • When you switch to the “new” version, some (or all) of your shared accounts may not transfer over and you will have to re-add them individually.  In Mail, right click on your email address in the folder pane.  Select Add shared folder or mailbox, type the account name or email address and click Add
    • Shared accounts are now viewed under the “Shared with me” folder.  Each account is listed there.
    • You are not able to add a shared account Inbox to your Favorites (feature should be coming soon)
  • Depending on your view, the sort view of the shared account may seem “off” Yesterday messages may be listed above today’s even if you have it sorted by Newest on Top
  • Signatures – if you use roaming signatures, those do not appear in the “new” Outlook.  You may have to add them all manually.  Check Settings (gear icon) | Accounts | Signatures – to see if your signatures transferred.
  • Messages that have been opened don’t change to "Read". You may need to change your settings for how that feature works – Settings (gear icon) | Mail | Message handling – Mark as read section
  • ToDo bar is not available – Use My Day instead. Click the My Day icon in upper right corner of Outlook window.
  • Rules are missing options – the number of actions for rules is less than what Outlook for Windows (Classic) offers.  You are now limited to these actions to take on a message:  
outlook new rules

 

 

 

    

outlook old rules

 

  • PST files are not fully supported - .pst files can be opened but view only access at this time
  • No Import/Export option
  • If you use color coding with the View feature, that is not available.  Assigning a category will now show in the message list in the Subject field but the whole message will not have the category color
  • The new interface has the look and feel of Outlook on the web (OWA)
  • No Address Book icon to lookup users - have to go to People
  • No Folders View
  • User opens multiple calendars, they don't fit on one screen, you have to scroll to see all of them
  • Categories set on a shared account don't come across in New Outlook when viewing mailbox - only shows personal
  • Using the Notes feature, when view a note, depending on the text in the note, the line wrapping gets messed up and carries back to Old Outlook
  • In Calendar, no way to view calendar in different ways -- by list, preview, active, calendar etc.  You can't manage the views either
  • View menu missing -- can't change views or settings for the current view to apply color coding, settings, etc.

Important Dates

  • February 2025 Microsoft will begin installing New Outlook in the background as part of the standard Office updates. While users will not be required to use New Outlook, the apps will experience a renaming to clarify the multiple versions. At this point the apps will become Outlook and Outlook (classic). Moving forward, this will be Microsoft’s naming convention for the two versions. 

  • March 2025 – April 2026 Microsoft is referring to this stage as Opt-In. Users will continue to be able to switch between Outlook and Outlook (classic) using the built-in toggle button. 

  • April 2026 Microsoft is referring to this stage as Opt-Out, and will begin prompting Outlook (classic) users to switch to Outlook. Outlook (classic) will continue to be available as needed. This date is far enough away that it is possible the situation may change, but this is the best information available today. 

  • 2029 Microsoft has committed to supporting Outlook (classic) with this comment, “Please note that the cutover stage does not signify the end of support for classic Outlook for Windows. We will continue to honor published support timelines for existing version of classic Outlook for Windows until at least 2029.” 

NOTE -- these dates are subject to change

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