Microsoft kicks new Outlook opt-out deadline down the road to 2027
Admins get another year before migration pressure ramps up
Microsoft has delayed the opt-out phase for the new enterprise version of Outlook to 2027, giving administrators another 12 months to get ready for migration.
In a post filed with the Microsoft 365 Message Center at the end of last month, Microsoft said postponement was to "ensure organizations have the time they need to prepare."
"We're extending the opt-out timeline and providing 12 months of lead time as we continue delivering key features and improvements."
In other words, new Outlook still doesn't do what many enterprises need, and not enough are at a stage in their migration timelines for Microsoft to move to the opt-out phase.
As Reg readers know, opt-out is where new Outlook is on by default, but can be turned off. It will automatically bring customers into the new experience. However, users and administrators still have the ability to opt out, and policies that disable or limit access to new Outlook will still apply. The next stage, cutover, will mean users will not be able to switch back to classic Outlook.
While the postponement from next month, April 2026, to March 2027, will be welcomed by organizations that are not where Microsoft needs them to be, the company has not said anything more about the eventual end of support for classic Outlook.
A recent support document stated: "Existing installations of classic Outlook through perpetual and subscription licensing will continue to be supported until at least 2029."
Administrators will have "at least 12 months of notice" before the cutover stage is implemented, meaning there is unlikely to be much in the way of additional postponements after March 2027.
Microsoft insisted: "We're seeing strong and accelerating adoption of new Outlook," but pushing back the start of the opt-out phase from April 2026 to March 2027 tells a different story. Microsoft's comparison table for the two incarnations of Outlook shows a number of important features missing from the new version, not least the limited support for Outlook Data Files (.pst).
Since Outlook forms an important part of many organizations' workflows, a reluctance to migrate is understandable, particularly if key features are either missing or do not work in the way that users are accustomed to.
Microsoft has a long history of rolling out new versions of software that lack the features of older editions (yes, Skype, we're looking at you), but irritating customers of its cash-cow productivity suite? Better to kick the can down the road for another year. ®