News
Microsoft To Transition Enterprise Users to New Outlook
Microsoft has announced plans to transition Microsoft 365 for Enterprise users from the classic Outlook for Windows to the new Outlook experience starting in April 2026.
The rollout, designed to introduce users to a more modern interface and advanced features, will include an option to revert to the classic version.
"Our goal with this change is to give users an opportunity to try new Outlook as millions of users already have," said Microsoft in a message sent to Microsoft 365 Enterprise license users. "New Outlook gives users the most modern experience with Copilot features, theming, and a wave of valuable time-saving features like Pinning and Snoozing emails."
Microsoft said that it is providing more than 12 months of advance notice before making the switch so that organizations can properly plan for the shift, and, for those who have already made the switch, allow for user feedback before the policy becomes permanent.
The update, part of Microsoft's effort to enhance productivity tools, will be automatic and require no administrative action. However, organizations have the ability to opt out of the transition using admin controls. Additionally, users who are toggled into the new Outlook will retain the ability to switch back to the classic version if desired.
In its message to license holders, Microsoft explained how users can avoid the automatic shift:
Users will not be toggled if one or more of the following is true:
- You have opted your users out of being automatically toggled per Admin-Controlled Migration to New Outlook
- New Outlook toggle is hidden via policy
- Perpetual license is in use
- On premise account
The new Outlook experience began rolling out to users in August. Microsoft said that users will have two years of having the option to opt out before a "cutover" occurs and all future deployments and installs from Microsoft 365 subscribers will default to the new Outlook experience.