In the world of digital communication and productivity, Microsoft Outlook stands as a cornerstone for both personal and professional use. With the latest update of Office 2021, users now have the opportunity to experience the new Outlook for Windows, which promises a modern, streamlined design and advanced features aimed at enhancing your productivity. In this blog post, we will delve into the major differences between the classic Outlook and the new Outlook, helping you decide which version suits your needs best.
A Glimpse into the New Outlook
The new Outlook for Windows brings the latest features, intelligent assisted capabilities, and a sleek, simplified design. This update is tailored to help users connect, organize, and complete tasks more efficiently. The new Outlook is available for those with a Microsoft 365 subscription, and Microsoft is keen on user feedback to continuously improve the experience.
Key Enhancements in the New Outlook
- Modern and Simplified Design: The new Outlook boasts a clean, user-friendly interface that enhances readability and usability.
- Microsoft Copilot Integration: This AI-driven feature assists in drafting emails, scheduling, and other tasks, making it a powerful tool for productivity.
- Improved Calendar and Event Management: Enhanced features like in-person event scheduling, meeting insights, and better integration with online meeting tools (e.g., Zoom, Webex) offer a seamless calendar experience.
- Advanced Email Management: New functionalities like email pinning, snoozing, and scheduled sending provide users with greater control over their inbox.
- Enhanced Search Capabilities: The new Outlook includes advanced search options and refiners, making it easier to find emails, files, and calendar entries.
How to Switch to the New Outlook
Switching to the new Outlook is straightforward if your accounts are supported. Look for the toggle switch in the upper-right corner of your current Outlook or Windows Mail app. Selecting this will download the new app, and you can import your settings from the classic version. If you wish to revert to the classic Outlook, simply turn off the toggle switch.
Feature Comparison: Classic vs. New Outlook
To provide a detailed comparison, let’s break down the features available in both versions of Outlook.
Account Support
Feature | Classic Outlook | New Outlook |
---|---|---|
Work or school account | Available | Available |
Microsoft accounts (Outlook.com, Hotmail.com) | Available | Available |
Gmail, iCloud, Yahoo | Available | Available |
IMAP, POP | Available | Available |
Exchange (on-prem and on-prem ADFS) | Available | Under investigation |
Multiple mail profiles | Available | Upcoming |
Shared mailbox/folders | Available | Upcoming |
App Framework
Feature | Classic Outlook | New Outlook |
---|---|---|
Calendar module | Available | Available |
Custom forms | Available | Not supported |
LDAP Support | Available | Not supported |
Multiple window support | Available | Available |
Notes module | Available | Partially available |
Offline support | Available | Upcoming |
.PST support | Available | Upcoming |
Tasks module | Available | Available |
Themes | Partially available | Available |
VDI Support | Available | Not supported |
Calendar Features
Feature | Classic Outlook | New Outlook |
---|---|---|
3-day calendar view | Available | Available |
Add attendees as optional | Available | Available |
Category colors | Available | Available |
Delegate access | Available | Upcoming |
Edit this and all following events in a series | Not supported | Available |
In-person events | Not supported | Available |
Group calendars | Available | Available |
Meeting insights | Partially available | Available |
My Day / To-do bar | Available | Available |
Quick creation of events | Available | Available |
Save meeting as a draft | Available | Available |
Sensitivity labels | Available | Available |
Shortened meetings | Available | Available |
Show as working elsewhere | Available | Available |
People Features
Feature | Classic Outlook | New Outlook |
---|---|---|
Address book | Available | Partially available |
Browsable (Global Address List) | Available | Not supported |
Contacts/People | Available | Available |
Contact Lists | Available | Available |
Contact Categories | Not Supported | Available |
Distribution groups management | Available | Upcoming |
Favorite contacts | Available | Available |
Offline support | Available | Upcoming |
Preview contacts | Available | Available |
Extensibility
Feature | Classic Outlook | New Outlook |
---|---|---|
COM add-ins | Available | Not supported |
Content forms | Available | Not supported |
Web add-ins | Available | Available |
Spam reporting, phishing, and smart alert improvements | Upcoming | Upcoming |
Folders
Feature | Classic Outlook | New Outlook |
---|---|---|
Account reorder | Available | Under investigation |
Favorite folders | Available | Available |
Favorite groups, people, categories | Not supported | Available |
Favorite shared folders | Available | Upcoming |
Folder reorder | Available | Upcoming |
Online archive | Available | Available |
Public folders | Available | Partially available |
Search folders | Available | Partially available |
Help and Support
Feature | Classic Outlook | New Outlook |
---|---|---|
Contact support (in-app) | Available | Available |
Premium support | Available | Upcoming |
Give feedback | Available | Available |
Help (in-app) | Available | Available |
Mail and Search
Feature | Classic Outlook | New Outlook |
---|---|---|
Calendar answers | Not supported | Available |
Refiners | Not supported | Available |
File answers | Not supported | Available |
File tab | Not supported | Available |
Online archive search results in primary mailbox | Not supported | Available |
Speller suggestions | Available | Available |
Search settings | Available | Available |
Search file suggestions | Available | Available |
Search mail suggestions | Available | Available |
Search calendar suggestions | Available | Available |
Teams Tab | Not supported | Available |
Top Results | Available | Available |
Security and Compliance
Feature | Classic Outlook | New Outlook |
---|---|---|
Block sender | Available | Available |
Continuous access evaluation | Available | Available |
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) | Available | Partially Available |
Mandatory labeling | Available | Available |
Report phishing or junk | Available | Available |
Spam reporting, phishing, and smart alert improvements | Upcoming | Upcoming |
Sensitivity labels | Available | Available |
S/MIME | Available | Upcoming |
Teams Integration
Feature | Classic Outlook | New Outlook |
---|---|---|
Meeting chat | Not supported | Available |
Presence indicators | Available | Available |
Reply by chat | Available | Upcoming |
Share to Teams | Available | Available |
Personalization and Customization
The new Outlook allows for extensive personalization to fit your unique workflow. Here are some of the standout customization features:
- Ribbon Customization: Adjust the size and commands of the ribbon to match your needs. This feature is particularly useful if you prefer a more streamlined or a more classic, feature-rich interface.
- Navigation Bar: Easily switch between Mail, Calendar, Contacts, and other frequently used apps.
- My Day Feature: Access your calendar or tasks without leaving your inbox, ensuring you stay on top of your schedule.
- Pinned Emails: Pin important emails to the top of your inbox for quick access.
- Snooze Emails: Temporarily remove emails from your inbox and have them reappear at a scheduled time.
Conclusion
The new Outlook for Windows, available with Office 2021, offers a host of new features and improvements designed to enhance productivity and streamline communication. Whether you prefer the classic, tried-and-true Outlook or are eager to explore the modern, feature-rich new Outlook, Microsoft provides options to suit various preferences and needs.
Switching between the classic and new Outlook is simple, allowing you to experiment and determine which version enhances your workflow. Microsoft continues to listen to user feedback, ensuring that both versions evolve to meet user demands effectively.
What do you think of the new Outlook? Have you tried it yet? Share your experiences and feedback in the comments below!
Feel free to visit our webshop, Carbide Software, to get your copy of Office 2021 and start exploring the new Outlook today!