Understanding the Limitations of the New Outlook App – Tech Tip For May 9, 2023

As we discussed in last week’s Tech Tip, Microsoft recently released a new version of its Outlook app. The app has several exciting new features, but it also has some limitations worth noting.

No Support for Third-Party Email Services

Currently, users can only add Microsoft and Gmail accounts to the new version of Outlook. However, Microsoft plans to add support for Yahoo, iCloud, and IMAP soon. If you cannot add your Gmail account, the capability may not have been released to you yet. The company is rolling out new features slowly, but it should be available within the next few weeks. 

You can see if your email is supported by clicking on “Add account” or Accounts -> Email accounts -> Settings, entering your Gmail address, and following the prompts.

No Offline Support (Yet)

Another limitation of the new Outlook app is that it currently does not support offline access. While this may be a deal-breaker for some users, Microsoft has assured its customers that it will add offline support soon. 

Lack of Support for Native ICS Files

ICS files allow users to send and receive meeting invitations from iCalendar, but the new Outlook app does not support them yet.

However, Microsoft has plans to release an update that will include support for ICS files. Once implemented, users will enjoy greater scheduling flexibility, making the new version of Outlook even more capable and efficient for managing their appointments and events. 

Windows 10 Version 1809 (Build 17763) Required

To access the new version of Outlook, users must have at least Windows 10 Version 1809 (Build 17763). While this might inconvenience some users, having the latest version of Windows is always a good idea as it ensures you have the latest security updates and performance enhancements.

Additional Updates are in the Works

Microsoft is periodically rolling out improvements to the new version of Outlook, so you can look forward to new features and capabilities over time.

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