Microsoft Announces Outlook for Windows Will Take Over from Mail, Calendar, and People Inbox Apps on Windows 11

Microsoft recently announced on the Microsoft 365 Admin Center that the new Outlook for Windows will take over from the Mail, Calendar, and People inbox apps on Windows 11 starting September 2024. The details of the transition are on the official support page. It explains that existing Mail and Calendar apps will soon include a message encouraging users to try the new Outlook for Windows via a slider.
The beta version of the new Outlook for Windows has been available for some time. Microsoft has already announced that it plans to replace the Mail and Calendar apps built on the Universal Windows Platform (UWP).
Microsoft clarified in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center that users will no longer be able to access and download the Mail and Calendar apps after September 2024.

New Outlook for Windows App

Users who are already familiar with Outlook on the web or Outlook.com for consumers will find the new Outlook for Windows app seamless. While the new client supports multiple accounts, it can’t currently create merged inboxes, which was a standout feature of the Mail app.
Microsoft’s decision to offer a new version of Outlook for Windows for free on Windows 11 is an important one.

Classic Outlook is Still There

Microsoft highlighted on its support page how users can expect to “write better emails with advanced AI built into the new Outlook for Windows to help you write impactful, clearer, error-free messages.”
Microsoft will continue to support the classic Outlook for Windows desktop app, which requires a paid Office license or a Microsoft 365 subscription. The old app still retains many features that power users rely on, making its departure unlikely in the near future.