Microsoft wants you to upgrade to the new version of Outlook this month. The classic version of Outlook will continue to work on Windows.

Microsoft wants users to switch to its new version of Outlook, even though it has attracted some criticism. The company is initially targeting all customers who use old client software that is not the classic version of Outlook for Windows. Starting in the middle of this month, the following software will no longer work properly:

• Outlook for iOS, older than version 4.2411,
• Outlook for Android older than version 4.2342,
• Outlook for Mac older than version 16.73
• Windows Mail and Calendar

If you want to continue to use the full range of functions, i.e. continue to receive emails, you will have to switch to the new version of Outlook. Microsoft is also cleaning up its browsers. Support for older browsers is ending and the light version of Outlook Web is also disappearing.

Microsoft will begin the phase-out this month and expects to complete the process by mid-September.

Not for Microsoft 365 Outlook

What is striking in this list is that Microsoft wants to update all of its mail applications with the new version of Outlook, except for the Outlook desktop client. The trusted professional version of Outlook seems to be out of danger for now. Microsoft had previously announced that it would support classic Outlook until 2029.

A change is also an option there in the long term. At the moment, however, Microsoft does not seem to be in a hurry to force the new Outlook on Microsoft 365 users who are unwilling to pay. The mandatory change for other applications will hopefully benefit the maturity of the new Outlook.