New Outlook marches onto Windows 10 for what little time it has left

Microsoft’s new Outlook will be automatically installed on Windows 10 machines as part of an upcoming monthly security release.

According to a message in the Microsoft 365 message center, the application will be distributed as part of the optional Windows 10 updates on January 28 or with the security update on February 11.

Microsoft is keen for users to embrace the new Outlook, despite it lacking some features of its predecessor. Key features, such as support for .pst files – Outlook data files – are just beginning to roll out and, by Microsoft’s admission, are only at an early phase.

Outlook expert Lisa Hendrickson noted the feature’s arrival in a December LinkedIn post and helpfully listed several cons – New Outlook tends to freeze when opening large .pst files and, beyond reading emails, offers limited functionality with the content – as well as a pro: “New Outlook is super fast for searching and discovery.”

It appears that Windows 10 users, who are approaching the end of support for most versions of the operating system from October 14, will gain access to New Outlook through upcoming updates.

The good news is that, for the time being at least, New Outlook will co-exist with Classic Outlook. No configurations or user defaults will be changed; the two can run side-by-side.

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It is also possible to remove the installation via a PowerShell script or by applying a registry tweak to prevent Windows updates from reinstalling New Outlook.

However, Microsoft eventually wants users to give up on Classic Outlook in favor of the new version. Many users are already offered the option to switch between Outlook versions via a toggle button to see what New Outlook provides.

In 2026, Microsoft also intends to switch Microsoft 365 Enterprises users from old to new, albeit with the option to revert to the classic Outlook after they’ve recoiled in horror had time to adjust to the new interface and features (or lack thereof).

It’s unclear when Microsoft will finally pull the plug on Classic Outlook. 2029 seems likely, but the company would prefer users to have migrated before then. A recent support article stated that enterprise customers would receive at least 12 months’ notice before the New Outlook opt-out period starts, followed by another 12 months before the transition to New Outlook. ®