Windows Latest recently reported that September 2025 saw the introduction of several new features in Outlook for Windows 11. Among these enhancements are custom audio tones for emails and events, improved newsletter support, a new method for navigating mailing lists, and Quick Steps functionality now available in popped-out windows.
Custom Audio Tones in Outlook
Upon updating Outlook via the Microsoft Store, a pop-up notification alerted users to the new option for setting a custom tone for notifications.
After selecting “Try it, ” users can find the “Play sound” option within the Notify me about section of the Notifications settings, accessible under the General tab of Outlook. This option allows an expanded selection including “None, ” “Custom, ” and “Default.”
The “None”option disables sound—a handy feature for non-audio users. Alternatively, selecting “Default”plays Outlook’s standard notification sound. The new “Custom”option lets you navigate to an audio file of your choice.
Users should select short, catchy audio clips between 5 to 10 seconds, considering a maximum file size of 5 MB. Once you select your desired sound, you can utilize the Test button to ensure it meets your preference.
This feature extends to Calendar events as well, allowing users to set personalized audio alerts for reminders. Personally, I find distinct sounds for emails and events beneficial to easily discern between the two types of notifications, especially since I receive frequent emails but manage fewer events.
Effortless Email Navigation with Jump Feature
Outlook’s latest sorting tool helps users navigate through their email efficiently by employing several sorting categories. The new “Jump”feature enhances this experience by allowing a direct search for emails from specific senders or containing certain keywords.
For instance, when you select the From option under the Sort by category, activating the Jump feature will pull up all emails from that chosen sender.
This tool groups the emails by sender, and the search bar provides an easy way to find hard-to-reach messages without excessive scrolling.
Additionally, if you choose to sort by Subject, the From option presents a quick search box for any terms you wish to locate, streamlining email management even further.
The availability of various options under “From”is dependent on your sorting criteria, offering either pre-defined choices or custom text input for personalized searches.
Enhanced Quick Steps Functionality
Though Quick Steps is not a recent feature, it is now operational within popped-out windows. This functionality, which allows for the combination of several actions into one shortcut, is incredibly useful for productivity.
To use Quick Steps, simply double-click an email to open it in a smaller window, which Microsoft refers to as a “popped-out” window.
To set up your own Quick Steps, navigate to Settings > Mail > Quick Steps, name your new Quick Step, and select the actions you wish to combine.
As an example, I’ve created a Quick Step that pins an email to my inbox while simultaneously adding it to Microsoft To Do, maximizing efficiency. Previously, this function was limited to the main Outlook window, but the September 2025 update improves its usability within popped-out windows.
Now, users can access the Quick Steps option on the toolbar even in a popped-out window, enabling the ability to easily combine and execute multiple tasks efficiently.
New Newsletter Feature for Organizations
Microsoft has also introduced a Newsletter feature designed for organizations, enabling them to create, manage, and distribute internal newsletters, thus enhancing communication and collaboration within teams.
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