The New Outlook for Windows was introduced by Microsoft a couple years ago and became “Generally Available” in August of 2024. The “New Outlook for Windows” is a big leap from the current version of Outlook (henceforth called “Classic Outlook”). The New Outlook for Windows brings the latest features, AI-assisted capabilities, modern and feature-rich client with a simplified Outlook app design.
Microsoft has announced the transition from the Classic Outlook to the New Outlook for Windows that starts in January 2025 with the Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium customers. In this blog, we will explore the roll-out timelines and deployment options, and best practices to roll out the new Outlook for Windows to the organization.
An important consideration when transitioning to the New Outlook client is that traditional COM add-ins are no longer supported in favor of web add-ins. As many integrated applications currently only provide a COM add-in, this may limit the ability to adopt the New Outlook client until a compatible web add-in is available. Further information is available in the following article:
Add-ins in the new Outlook for Windows | Microsoft Community Hub
The transition from the Classic Outlook to the New Outlook for Windows
Users within the organization holding the following Microsoft 365 licenses will shift from the Classic Outlook to the New Outlook for Windows according to the timelines outlined below. From these dates onward, users will automatically access the New Outlook for Windows for their emails, calendars, contacts, and more.
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium: Migration begins on January 6, 2025.
- Microsoft 365 Enterprise: Migration begins on April 1, 2026.
Microsoft has also provided information on the dates when the New Outlook will begin installing on users’ devices as part of Windows Update.
- Windows 11 builds after 23H2 have the New Outlook app preinstalled for all users.
- Currently, there isn't a way to block the New Outlook from being installed - if you prefer not to have the New Outlook show up on your organization's devices, it can be removed after it's installed.
- The New Outlook for Windows will be automatically installed on Windows 10 devices as part of the optional Windows 10 release on January 28, 2025, and more broadly released as part of the monthly security update release for Windows 10 on February 11, 2025.
- To prevent the installation of New Outlook on your organization's devices, add the following registry value. This is noted in registry file format, so the double-quotes do not need to be escaped with a backslash when applied through Group Policy.
- [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\Orchestrator\UScheduler_Oobe\OutlookUpdate]
"BlockedOobeUpdaters"= " [\"MS_Outlook\"]"
Once the rollout is fully completed, users will still have the option to revert to the Classic Outlook version. This flexibility is being offered to ensure that everyone can take their time and become familiar with the New Outlook for Windows at their own pace.
Rolling Out the New Outlook for Windows to Pilot Users
To facilitate a seamless transition, it is recommended to deploy the New Outlook for Windows to a group of pilot users first. This allows the Administrators to gather feedback, make any changes to the Roll-out process, and ensure a smooth transition.
As part of the transition, it is essential to update relevant documentation to reflect the changes, train the Help desk team and provide guidance to the users. This includes updating user manuals, FAQs, and support articles to ensure users have access to the latest information about the New Outlook for Windows.
Registry Settings for Managing New Outlook Migration
To manage the migration to New Outlook, Administrators can use the following Windows registry settings:
Use the “NewOutlookMigrationUserSetting” registry setting to pause or resume the automatic migration for the pilot and users accordingly. The Classic Outlook is expected to retire permanently by the year 2030, and until then users should be able to use the following registry setting to pause the automatic migration if there are no further announcements from Microsoft on the retirement dates. It is highly recommended to proceed with the migration at this time.
- [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\preferences]
- "NewOutlookMigrationUserSetting"=dword:00000000
Once the users are migrated to the New Outlook for Windows, use the “HideNewOutlookToggle” registry setting to hide the option to switch back to Classic Outlook for the users. This setting can also be used to hide the option to switch to New Outlook in the first place
- [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\General]
"HideNewOutlookToggle"=dword:00000001
Additionally, Administrators can disable the migration using Group Policy, Cloud Policy, or Intune. If this configuration is applied, it will take precedence over the NewOutlookMigrationUserSetting value and any user-defined settings.
- Setting name: Admin-Controlled Migration to New Outlook
- Group Policy Path:
- User Configuration\Policies\Microsoft Outlook 2016\Outlook Options\Other
- Registry Value (value reflects a disabled state):[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\General]
- "DoNewOutlookAutoMigration"= dword:0000000
Conclusion
Helient strongly recommends customers be aware of the transition to the New Outlook for Windows, corresponding timelines, and roll-out options, and prepare for “Phased Deployment” to have a seamless transition to the New Outlook for Windows. If you would like more information or assistance in the roll-out, please contact our industry-leading experts at service@helient.com.
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