Hold on to your keyboards, Windows 10 users—Microsoft is shaking things up. Beginning next month, the tech giant will start installing its redesigned Outlook email client across all Windows 10 devices. Love it or hate it, the new Outlook is coming to your desktop, and there’s very little you can do about it—at least initially.
Marked by the announcement tagged MC976059 in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, this rollout signals Microsoft’s latest attempt to nudge (well, shove) users toward its modernized email platform. But what does this all mean for you as a user? Let’s break it down step by step.
Key Features of the New Outlook:
Okay, Microsoft, fair enough. But not everyone is singing kumbaya over this move.
After installation, though, you regain some semblance of control. If you don’t like it, you can remove the new Outlook entirely. But be warned—it’s not as simple as a quick right-click and delete. You’ll need to roll up your tech sleeves and dive into PowerShell commands and registry tweaks. More on this below.
On the other hand, detractors are waving the flag of user autonomy, asking why there isn’t an opt-out mechanism. After all, unsolicited software installs—even if they’re part of the greater "modernization" good—don’t always sit well. To some, this feels more like coercion than progress.
Here’s a timeline of how we got here:
So, Windows warriors—how do you plan to handle the new Outlook? Ready to give it a whirl, or are you gearing up for some PowerShell takedown action? The decision (thankfully, somewhat) is yours, but only after Microsoft has given your email client its mandatory facelift.
Got comments or questions about the new rollout? Let us know below!
Source: Computing.co.uk Microsoft forcing new Outlook on Windows 10 PCs next month
Marked by the announcement tagged MC976059 in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, this rollout signals Microsoft’s latest attempt to nudge (well, shove) users toward its modernized email platform. But what does this all mean for you as a user? Let’s break it down step by step.
Two Phases of the Rollout: Optional Today, Mandatory Tomorrow
Microsoft is planning a two-wave attack—or rollout, if you prefer:- Phase 1 – Optional Update (January 28, 2025):
Starting January 28, Windows 10 users will see the new Outlook appear as part of an optional update. If you’re keen to try the new offering, you can jump in early by manually installing this update. - Phase 2 – Mandatory Update (February 11, 2025):
Here’s where it gets interesting—or, depending on your perspective, frustrating. The mandatory phase begins with February's monthly security update, forcefully deploying the new Outlook app to all Windows 10 devices. Yes, that includes yours, whether you want it or not.
What’s Different About the New Outlook?
The new Outlook application is Microsoft’s polished, streamlined baby—a unified client designed to replace its myriad legacy email apps eventually. If you’ve previously seen its previews available since 2022 or its inclusion in last year’s Windows 11 updates, you’ll know that it leans heavily on its web-based Microsoft Outlook.com foundation. But Microsoft is carefully treading here, leaving an option for the old-school crowd of die-hard "classic" Outlook fans.Key Features of the New Outlook:
- Runs alongside the older, "classic" version of Outlook.
(Translation: it won’t automatically overwrite the old app or your existing configurations.) - Designed to act as a bridge between Microsoft's web-based email interface and its desktop roots.
- Aims to integrate seamlessly into your Windows 10 system, appearing in the Start Menu as a standalone app.
Okay, Microsoft, fair enough. But not everyone is singing kumbaya over this move.
User Control? That’s Debatable
Here’s the catch: during the installation process, you cannot block the new Outlook app from being installed on your device. For all the assurances about cohabitation with the classic app, you might feel Microsoft is leaving you strapped into the passenger seat as they take the wheel.After installation, though, you regain some semblance of control. If you don’t like it, you can remove the new Outlook entirely. But be warned—it’s not as simple as a quick right-click and delete. You’ll need to roll up your tech sleeves and dive into PowerShell commands and registry tweaks. More on this below.
How to Remove the New Outlook
Microsoft provided guidance for those who want to ditch the new client after installation. Here’s what you’ll need to do:- Open Windows PowerShell:
Run the following command to remove the app package:
Code:Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -AllUsers -Online -PackageName (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.OutlookForWindows).PackageFullName - Edit Your Registry to Block Reinstalls:
- Navigate to the path
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\Orchestrator\UScheduler_Oobe\OutlookUpdate. - Add a registry value called
BlockedOobeUpdaterswith a value of["MS_Outlook"].
Why This Matters
Microsoft’s mandatory rollout is generating more than its fair share of controversy. On one side, proponents argue the new Outlook brings feature parity, modern usability, and tighter integration with Microsoft ecosystems like Teams and OneDrive. For businesses and personal users alike, this is clearly the future of Microsoft email.On the other hand, detractors are waving the flag of user autonomy, asking why there isn’t an opt-out mechanism. After all, unsolicited software installs—even if they’re part of the greater "modernization" good—don’t always sit well. To some, this feels more like coercion than progress.
Connecting the Dots: Why Now?
The broader industry context is worth considering. Microsoft has been moving toward a unified experience across devices for years. By introducing the "new Outlook" as an app that bridges the desktop and the cloud, the company is aligning its efforts with its Windows 11 product strategy.Here’s a timeline of how we got here:
- May 2022: The first preview of the new Outlook for Windows is unveiled.
- September 2023: General availability for personal accounts via the Windows 11 Fall Update.
- August 2024: Commercial customers start receiving access.
- February 2025: Mandatory installation for Windows 10 users.
Takeaway: Embrace the Change or Fight Back?
With February 11 on the horizon, now is the time for Windows 10 users to dig in and decide how they feel about the impending email makeover. Is the new Outlook a streamlined boon to your productivity, or just another piece of bloatware crashing your personal OS ecosystem? Microsoft, as always, will argue that it’s all about user experience—and in some ways, it is. But when it comes to autonomy vs. forced upgrades, they’re still sticking to their guns.So, Windows warriors—how do you plan to handle the new Outlook? Ready to give it a whirl, or are you gearing up for some PowerShell takedown action? The decision (thankfully, somewhat) is yours, but only after Microsoft has given your email client its mandatory facelift.
Got comments or questions about the new rollout? Let us know below!
Source: Computing.co.uk Microsoft forcing new Outlook on Windows 10 PCs next month
