New Outlook for Windows Desktop App Features Walkthrough

Let’s look at the new Outlook for Windows Desktop App features today! The new Outlook for Windows is one Outlook that tech news portals have discussed in recent days/months. Let’s also check the New Unified Outlook Experience Overview.

The new Outlook desktop application is designed to bring consistency across Windows and Outlook Web Application (aka OWA) codebases. This helps to get a modern look and feel with the Outlook application.

My experience with the new Outlook for Windows is similar to OWA. The Outlook Web Application (a.k.a OWA) gives a modern look and more functionality than the latest Outlook desktop app. Also, the new Free Outlook Inbox App for Windows 11 First Look.

I have been using OWA for many months to understand end-user experience and limitations. More details -> Outlook Web App OWA Instead Of Outlook Desktop App 4 Months Experience.

Patch My PC

The Office Insiders Beta Channel users get the experience of the new Outlook for Windows desktop application. This is the latest Outlook client for Windows 11/10 devices. I think Outlook is the most used email client, so it’s worth the design change.

Enable New Outlook for Windows on Windows 11

Let’s try to enable New Outlook for Windows on Windows 11. As noted in the above paragraphs, you need to be part of the Office Insider Beta Channel to have this update available on your Outlook Windows application.

I have covered the details of changing the Office Insider update channel at the bottom of this post. Go over to understand the installation process of Beta Channel. Let’s follow the steps below to change Outlook to NEW OUTLOOK for Windows.

  • Launch the Outlook app once you are sure you are in the Office Insider Beta Channel.
  • Look for the option – Try the New Outlook -> Off button.
  • Enable the New Outlook experience by sliding the option to ON, as shown in the below screenshot.
  • Click on the SWITCH button to switch over to the new Outlook experience.
  • Restart the Outlook application to get a new experience.

NOTE! – When you select the Switch button, all connected experiences for the New Outlook will be Turned on and require optional diagnostic data, and Microsoft will collect required service data.

Adaptiva
New Outlook for Windows Desktop App Features Walkthrough 1
New Outlook for Windows Desktop App Features Walkthrough 22

My Outlook application was configured with two mailboxes with two different Microsoft 365 Work or School accounts. After enabling, one of the accounts got removed automatically. This preview version of Outlook supports only ONE Microsoft 365 mailbox.

New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 11
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 11

Outlook for Windows is available in Microsoft Store

Outlook for Windows is available in Microsoft Store now. You can download it from Microsoft Store and start using it. There is no change in the functionality in the Store version Vs. other Outlook for Windows version.

Link Outlook for Windows app on Microsoft Store -> https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NRX63209R7B

New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 17
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 17

Video Walkthrough New Outlook for Windows

Let’s check the video walkthrough of New Outlook for Windows.

Video Walkthrough New Outlook for Windows

Quick Walkthrough of General Changes with New Outlook for Windows App

Let’s have a Quick Walkthrough of General Changes with New Outlook for Windows App. If you are already using Outlook Web App (OWA), these changes are not very new to you.

The new Outlook for Windows App looks the same as the Outlook Web Application outlook. I have done a comprehensive review of the Outlook Web App (OWA). I recommend going through the below post to get the general overview of all the changes with the classic Outlook desktop app and OWA (and New Outlook for Windows).

Read More -> Outlook Web App OWA Instead Of Outlook Desktop App 4 Months Experience

The following screenshot provides the navigation and menu changes for the New Outlook for Windows. Let’s see some of the bullet points.

  • Classic File Menu Menu is changed -> Home and View menu.
  • Left Side Navigation Menu has better and more modern options.
  • The Topbar menu has a lot of better shortcuts, notifications,s, and settings aligned with the Windows 11 app theme.

Overall the UX changes in each workflow within the new Outlook for Windows application give a better user experience. Hopefully, the new design elements provide overall performance enhancements as well.

New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 13
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 13

New Outlook for Windows Version

Let’s find out the New Outlook for Windows Version and client version. You can click on the View button near the home. Navigate to General -> About Outlook to check the Version details of Outlook for Windows.

You can also get the details of the Client version from the same location.

  • Microsoft Outlook Version -> 1.2022.517.5
  • Client Version -> 20220513004.13
New Outlook for Windows Version
New Outlook for Windows Version

Calendar New Outlook for Windows

I like the new Calendar design, especially the board view. The New Outlook Calendar Board view‘s granular design allows us to customize each frame as per the requirement. I was able to move and resize the frames as per my need.

I didn’t spend much time experimenting with the Calendar and Board view, but it’s very promising as an end-user. I think it gives flexibility that the younger generation needs. You can add the following things to the Calendar Board View.

  • Calendars
  • Files
  • To-Do lists
  • Goals
  • Notes
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 14
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 14

The new meeting (event invite) window also gives a fresh look and feel. I thought it was easy to find the free slots with the availability (Suggested Times) and preference options. The menus are not very noisy and not confusing with many options.

The frequently used menu options are made available and easy to access in the new calendar design. The options mentioned in the below list are highlighted as part of the event menu options.

  • Response Options -> Allow Forwarding, etc.
  • Busy, Out of Office, Available, etc.
  • 15 Minutes Before -> Reminder option.
  • Categorize
  • Private

NOTE! – I love the Event Charm option (left side of the event title), where you can select the emoji for the meeting depending on the topic.

New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 15
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 15

New Sweep Cleanup Rules

Let’s understand the new options available with New Sweep Rules with New Outlook for Windows. The new Outlook has more rules to help you automate your Inbox. The Sweep is the helping agent here for the same.

The Sweep is one of the easy ways to clean up the Inbox with more options, as you can see in the list below. The Sweep allows you to move emails in batches and apply rules to future incoming messages.

NOTE! – I don’t think the rules with Outlook are normally not very useful because it won’t clean up the mail until you open the Outlook app on a Windows 11/10 PC. The mobile Outlook app doesn’t have parity with the rules, so the emails you want to delete will disturb you until you open the desktop outlook app.

  • Move All Messages from the Inbox Folder
  • Move All Messages from the Inbox Folder and Any future messages
  • Always keep the latest message and move the rest from the Inbox folder
  • Always move messages older than 10 days from the Inbox Folder
  • Move to: Deleted Items
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 16
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 16

Reminder and Pin eMails with New Outlook for Windows

Let’s check the new features available with Outlook for Windows (one Outlook). Reminder and Pin eMails with New Outlook for Windows. The PIN and UNPIN options are useful for certain scenarios, but I don’t know whether I will be using them or not.

I have seen the reminder of important messages in GMAIL, and it’s good to see these options available in Outlook Windows Application. Let’s check the following screenshot from Microsoft to glimpse these features.

NOTE! – The message reminder will also be pinned at the top of your Inbox until you dismiss it. This is an interesting feature. Hopefully, I will get an option to opt out from pinning the important emails that Outlook thinks as important.

New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 6
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 6 – Credit Microsoft

Better Search & Attach File Options with New Outlook for Windows

Let’s check the promising option available with the new Outlook for Windows. The better Search and Attach File Options with New Outlook for Windows. I always struggle with finding files when working with various teams and projects. I often don’t remember where I saved the files (on which SharePoint, etc..).

With the new feature in One Outlook, you can search and attach the files using the @document or @filename method; similarly, we tag people on social media! I like this feature, and I feel it would be very useful.

NOTE! – This helps to easily find and attach the files from the Cloud (or OneDrive/ Sharepoint).

New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 7
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 7 – credit Microsoft

Microsoft Loop Integration with New Outlook for Windows

Let’s see another feature Microsoft Loop Integration with New Outlook for Windows. The Microsoft Loop integration with Outlook looks promising for real-time updates of the status within the email itself.

I couldn’t make this work on my Outlook application yet. I will update you whenever I get hold of this Loop integration into Outlook. However, Microsoft updated in their post that With Microsoft Loop components, everyone can edit and share their thoughts while staying in the flow of their work using the Outlook app.

It’s very promising that Microsoft Loop components can be copied and pasted across Outlook emails and Teams chats, and they always stay in sync so everyone can stay up to date.

New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 12 - Creds to Microsoft
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 12 – Creds to Microsoft

NOTE! – The following features are already part of the Office Insider Current Channel (Preview). All these new features will be coming out in the later versions of the New Outlook for Windows application? But Microsoft has no confirmation to get the parity between Classic and New Outlook.

Viva Insights

Let’s check what Viva Insights New Outlook for Windows is. One of the examples of Viva Insights that I used in the new Outlook for Windows is given below. You can easily delay the delivery of the email using Viva Insights.

For me, Viva Insights is your digital assistance for the new Outlook. This helps the user easily configure specific Outlook settings rather than going through the different menu items!

For example – I have to spend more than a minute finding some of the options in Outlook and then just stop using that option because I couldn’t find it. Viva Insights will help find out the options just like the one shown in the screenshot below.

This mail will be automatically sent at 8:00 AM Fri, May 20. You get options to take further actions as well. I think this is going to provide a better end-user experience. This is Outlook Classic Version.

New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 2
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 2

I have clicked on Send Now button from Viva Insights, and it’s asking for confirmation to send this email now. This confirmation message pops up on the right side of the new Outlook application, as you can see in the screenshot below.

  • Click on the YES button from the Viva Insights blade to send the email now!

NOTE! – This is Outlook Classic Version.

New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 3
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 3

I normally set Lunch or Break events so that I won’t miss those important things. Viva Insights suggests setting Lunch Hours. This setting helps to improve recommendations for booking focus time and meetings. Another two suggestions I see from Viva Insights are:

  • Set Lunch Hours
  • Focus Plan
  • Productivity Inline Suggestions

NOTE! – This is Outlook Classic Version. I have not tested this with New Outlook for Windows.

New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough Viva Insights 1
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough Viva Insights 1

The Viva Insights is available as part of the Office platform. You can get more details on the Viva Insights from the portal https://insights.viva.office.com/. MyAnalytics is also becoming part of Microsoft Viva insights.

Viva Insights can help you with the following activities. As per my initial experience, the new outlook integration with viva allows us to perform more actions.

  • Prepare for your meetings
  • View outstanding tasks
  • Follow up on your requests
  • Book time to focus
  • Catch up on email
  • Catch up on documents
  • Add important people
  • Set lunch hours
  • Plan your time away
  • Catch up with your team
  • Meeting suggestions

Email Templates

Let’s check New Outlook for Windows eMail Templates. You have a button called view Templates in the new Outlook. My templates is an add-in that lets you create templates that you can add to your messages by selecting Insert template.

You can include text and images in your templates. It’s best to save your pictures to your control location, such as OneDrive for Business. If you link to an image on the Internet, it might be removed without your knowledge and break the image link in your add-in.

NOTE! – This is Outlook Classic Version. I have not tested this with New Outlook for Windows.

New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 1
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 1

Three(3) default templates are available if you press the continue link from the above screen. My Templates is another Outlook plug-in integrated by default. The View Template button will be available whenever you start writing a new email.

You also have options to edit and delete the default templates listed down! If you want to add your signature or custom information to the default templates.

  • I’ll Reply Later
  • I’m running late
  • Lunch?

You can also add your custom templates as part of My Templates. I see the custom Templates are useful if you are part of HelpDesk and the marketing team where you have to reply to the many customer emails with the same content.

  • + Template link will help to create a Custom Template in Outlook.

NOTE! – This is Outlook Classic Version. I have not tested this with New Outlook for Windows.

New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough My Templates 1
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough My Templates 1

Tighter Integration with Microsoft Teams

I see the tighter integration with Microsoft Teams and New Outlook for Windows. You can directly share the emails to Microsoft Teams chat with additional messages and the original email content.

The tighter integration and additional Teams buttons on the New Outlook help to improve the collaboration between the different teams in the organization. The following are some options available in the new version of Outlook for Windows.

  • Share to Teams
  • Chat with Sender
  • Chat with all the receipts of the email
  • Schedule a Teams Meeting with all the receipts of the email

NOTE! – This is Outlook Classic Version. I have not tested this with New Outlook for Windows.

New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough Teams Integration 1
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough Teams Integration 1

New Outlook Notifications

Let’s check the new outlook notification on Windows 11 device. I have not seen any major differences in the Outlook notification. However, the new email pop-up notification is changed and aligned with Windows 11 desktop app UX standard rounded corners.

NOTE! – This is Outlook Classic Version. I have not tested this with New Outlook for Windows.

New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 4
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 4

New Outlook for WindowsWhy It’s Not Available?

The new Outlook for Windows is available to Office Beta Channel users running Version Microsoft 365 App for Enterprise 2205 (Build 15225.20000) or later. I have changed the Microsoft 365 apps to Current Channel Preview.

The Out for Windows version I’m using is 15225.20150 Click to Run. However, I don’t see the New Outlook tag on the version I use. I will update the post whenever the new features are made available. I don’t know why it is not available to me.

FIX to New Outlook not available issues is to change office Insider channel to -> Beta Channel. I used the Deployment Tool to Create a Configuration.xml, as explained below.

New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough

Copy the below text and create a Configuration.XML file, and you need to use this file in the command line to change the Office Insider channel to Betachannel. The new Outlook for Windows is available only now on the Beta Channel release.

  • You can download the latest version of the Office Deployment Tool from the Microsoft Download Center.
  • Double-click the officedeploymenttool executable file to extract the setup.exe file and the sample configuration.xml files. The setup.exe file is the Office Deployment Tool.
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 9
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 9

You need to edit and change the sample configuration.xml file content (using notepad) with the content given below to change the Office Insider version to Beta Channel, where New Outlook for Windows is available.

<Configuration>
<Add OfficeClientEdition="64" Channel="BetaChannel">
<Product ID="O365ProPlusRetail"> 
<Language ID="en-us"/>
</Product>
</Add>
</Configuration>

It’s time to run the following command to reinstall the Microsoft 365 Apps (aka Office applications) to change the insider channel of Office 365 app updates. I use Windows Terminal to run this command. Make sure you run this command from the command prompt, not PowerShell.

NOTE! – You get the following error if you try to run the Office Setup command from PowerShell. The command setup.exe was not found but does exist in the current location. Windows PowerShell does not load commands from the current location by default.

setup.exe /configure configuration.xml
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 10
New Outlook for Windows Features Walkthrough 10

The Office Setup command will initiate an Office reinstall process. So, you need to have an internet connection and administrative access on the Windows 11/10 PC to run this. Also, you need to close all the Office applications as part of the Office Insider Channel change process.

3 thoughts on “New Outlook for Windows Desktop App Features Walkthrough”

  1. I can’t see the toggle switch even though I have the beta version of Outlook for Business. I am running it on Windows Server 2012 R2. Any ideas?

    Reply
  2. HI, Great info. I have this downloaded but don’t know how to add an external data file. In the classic version I would have clicked on file, then open and export and then on Open outlook Data file. This seems to be missing as an option unless I am doing something in correct. Could you assist?

    Thanks

    Reply

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