Navigating A New Outlook
If you’re an Outlook user, you’ve probably noticed some changes recently. Over the last year, Microsoft has been rolling out a new version of Outlook for Windows.
For some users, this transition has been challenging, which make sense: When you rely on Outlook day in and day out, even a small switch can feel like a big hangup. We hear from folks who are adjusting to new workflows or layouts, but we also see cases where the new Outlook experience brings better performance and tighter integration with other Microsoft 365 apps.
While the change has been difficult for some, “New Outlook” also comes with its fair share of improvements that are worth understanding. Today, we’ll help you do just that.
A new Outlook brings new improvements.
Microsoft is investing heavily in Outlook improvements, and that’s clear with some of the benefits of the new platform. New Outlook offers a modernized interface that aligns more closely with the Outlook mobile app and Outlook on the web, offering a more cohesive user experience. Aside from its slick looks, it also boasts a host of performance upgrades, including:
Faster performance: Because New Outlook is built on newer technology, it generally launches faster and handles searches more efficiently — a MAJOR upgrade, if you ask us!
Better integration with Microsoft 365: New Outlook is tightly integrated with many Microsoft 365 apps, like OneDrive, Copilot, Loop, and To-Do, to name a few. These integrations make it easier to turn emails into follow-up tasks, collaborate on projects, and work across apps.
Improved security updates: Because the new version of Outlook relies more heavily on Microsoft’s cloud services, updates and security improvements can be delivered quickly, more frequently, and without big local software changes.
From Microsoft’s perspective, these changes will deliver an overall upgrade in user experience and help build a more secure and stable platform over time.
You can still swap back to Classic Outlook — for now.
For some, New Outlook can cause slow-downs, particularly for those who rely on complex folders and features. If New Outlook really isn’t working for you, you can still swap back to Classic Outlook, too. Here’s how:
With the Outlook app open, look in the top right corner for the “New Outlook” toggle*.
Turn the “New Outlook” toggle off.
When prompted, confirm that you want to switch back to Classic Outlook.
Outlook will close and reopen in Classic mode.
*Pro tip: If you don’t see the toggle, you may already be using Classic Outlook, or your organization may be managing the setting centrally. If you’re a managed client of ours and have questions, we can always help you figure this out.
While Microsoft’s end goal is for all users to have moved over to New Outlook, there’s no fixed timeline as to when users will no longer be able to use Classic Outlook. Current guidance indicates that Classic Outlook will continue to be supported for at least the next couple of years.
Our Take
Our recommendation is simple: When you have some breathing room in your calendar, give New Outlook a try. While some users struggle, others find massive productivity gains from the program. The sooner you get acquainted with New Outlook, the easier the eventual transition will be. But, at the end of the day, productivity is king, and you can decide if New or Classic is right for you today.