Outlook is Microsoft’s email app for Windows users. It lets you manage your email, calendar, and contacts, and also use other Microsoft apps and services like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and Teams.
In 2024, Microsoft will add new features and improvements to Outlook for Windows to make it more up-to-date, smarter, and safer.
A new design and better organization
The new Outlook for Windows will look and feel more like Windows 11, with a cleaner and simpler design. You can customize the look and feel of Outlook by changing the theme, colors, and fonts, and you can also reorder folders to match your preferences.
Outlook will also get new features to make reading and finding your messages easier, such as conditional formatting, collapsible headers, and universal search.
Here are some examples of how these features could be used:
- Conditional formatting: You could use conditional formatting to highlight important messages or messages from specific people in a different color.
- Collapsible headers: You could collapse the headers of your messages to save space in the message list and then expand them to read the messages when you’re ready.
- Universal search: You could search for messages by sender, subject, recipient, or even keywords in the body of the message.
More productivity and collaboration with Copilot and Inking
Outlook for Windows is also getting new features to help you be more productive and collaborate with others. One of these features is Copilot, an AI tool that can help you write emails faster and more effectively by suggesting responses, reminders, and actions.
Another new feature is Inking, which lets you draw and write freehand in emails, taking advantage of the touch and pen capabilities of Windows.
More security and support for encryption and file formats
Outlook for Windows is also getting security and email compatibility improvements. For example, it will now support S/MIME encryption, which guarantees that messages are authentic and confidential.
Outlook will also expand its support for different file formats, such as EML, MSG, and PST, making importing and exporting data easier. Additionally, you’ll be able to save attachments to the folder of your choice and recover messages that were sent in error.
An email client for all users and devices
Starting in 2024, the new Outlook for Windows will be the default mail client for all Windows 11 users. This will replace the Mail and Calendar applications, but users can continue using them until the end of 2024 by downloading them from the Microsoft Store.
The new Outlook for Windows will also be compatible with POP3 accounts and offline mode, so you can access your email from any device, even if you don’t have an internet connection.
