How to Prevent Auto-Installation of New Outlook on Windows 10 by Microsoft

Microsoft’s New Outlook Auto-Installation on Windows 10

Starting January 2025, Microsoft plans to automate the installation of the new Outlook app on Windows 10 systems as part of its optional update. Following this, the update becomes mandatory on February 11, 2025, leaving users with limited options to opt-out of this change. It’s important to note that while you can uninstall the new Outlook once it’s installed, Microsoft won’t provide avenues to prevent its installation initially.

The Transition from Mail and Calendar App

The deprecation of the Mail and Calendar app signals a significant shift as users are ushered towards the new Outlook experience. Although a preview of this new application was available for several months, multiple users may feel unprepared for this mandatory transition. Microsoft’s decision signifies their belief that users require the new Outlook app by default, which will be included with the optional update slated for January 28, 2025.

What to Expect

Even if users attempt to defer the installation by skipping the optional update, it will automatically install during the following month’s security patch on February 11, 2025. According to Microsoft’s official documentation, there is no mechanism to prevent this change in your system without taking proactive measures.

Managing Installations on Windows 11

Users operating on Windows 11 will face the same scenario, unable to block the new Outlook app from being installed. However, there are steps users can take to manage or remove this unwanted app. Fortunately, through PowerShell commands and registry modifications, you can regain control over this installation process.

Removing New Outlook via PowerShell

To uninstall the app after it has been installed, you can make use of PowerShell. Here’s how:

Open an elevated PowerShell window and execute the following command to remove the app for all users:

Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -AllUsers -Online -PackageName (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.OutlookForWindows).PackageFullName

Blocking Future Installations with Registry Modification

In addition to uninstalling the application, you can edit the registry to prevent future installations. Follow these steps:

Launch the Registry Editor and navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\Orchestrator\UScheduler_Oobe\OutlookUpdate
Within the right pane, right-click and select New > String Value. Name it BlockedOobeUpdaters and set the Value Data to “MS_Outlook” .
Click OK and exit the Registry Editor.

Final Thoughts

If you are on the consumer edition, the command to remove the new Outlook app is slightly different:

Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers -Package (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.OutlookForWindows).PackageFullName

Many users are frustrated with the forced inclusion of the new Outlook app on their Windows systems. While the app may be useful, it’s disheartening that users are expected to uninstall it post-installation rather than providing a way to restrict its installation entirely. As Windows users, many may feel this is just one of the many adjustments we’ve had to accept over time. What are your thoughts? Did you find the new Outlook beneficial, or do you prefer the previous setup?

Additional Insights

1. Will I be able to use the old Mail and Calendar app after the new Outlook is installed?

No, with the deprecation of the Mail and Calendar app, users will need to transition to the new Outlook app for their email and calendar needs.

2. Can I completely avoid installing the new Outlook app?

Unfortunately, Microsoft has confirmed that the new Outlook app installation cannot be blocked. Users can uninstall it and block future installations via registry changes and PowerShell commands.

3. What features does the new Outlook app offer compared to the old Mail and Calendar app?

The new Outlook app generally includes enhanced functionality, a more modern interface, integration with Microsoft 365 services, and improved performance metrics over the legacy Mail and Calendar app.

Source & Images