Microsoft Phasing Out Mail & Calendar Apps on Windows 11, Promotes New Outlook

Microsoft has officially begun the phased retirement of the Mail & Calendar applications on Windows 11 and Windows 10, according to reliable sources from the company reported by Windows Latest. As users transition, they might find that while the Mail and Calendar apps can still be accessed through the new Outlook or possibly with PowerShell scripts, these functionalities will soon be obsolete.

Starting January 1, 2025, many users have experienced disruptions, with the Mail and Calendar applications ceasing operations. Known as a “staged rollout,” Microsoft indicates that the deprecation is ongoing, meaning not every user will be impacted immediately.

Throughout the last six months, Microsoft has consistently reminded users of this impending change, leading to a gradual awareness across its user base.

Warning notification regarding Mail and Calendar app retirement

Users encountering the retirement notice will see a banner stating: “Windows Mail and Calendar is no longer supported.” This notification clarifies that the app cannot send emails or access calendar events and directs users to the new Outlook app, which is now preinstalled as part of the latest Windows security updates. Users are encouraged to export their data to the new Outlook by clicking the “Export Data” button offered in the warning.

As previously noted, these changes are confirmed by Microsoft. While gradual, the complete deactivation of apps may ultimately happen fully across all user accounts in due course.

Transitioning to the New Outlook

The new Outlook app, although still evolving, currently serves as the sole email and calendar management tool on Windows 11. Initially, it lacked several features of the classic Outlook app, and at its launch, it was even rudimentary compared to the Mail and Calendar apps.

Nevertheless, Microsoft has steadily enhanced the new Outlook, incorporating many of the missing functionalities while removing some lesser-used features. Notably, last year, users had the option to toggle back to the old app should they prefer, but this option has since been removed.

The current version of the new Outlook is set as the default, and with the Mail and Calendar apps on their way out, users are strongly advised against attempting to use the deprecated applications, as they are no longer receiving maintenance or updates.

It’s paramount to allow the new Outlook sufficient time for development, as it emerges as the only viable choice moving forward. Microsoft is committed to enhancing this application, having included offline support and a plethora of additional features detailed on their official roadmap page.

For more information on this transition and the features of the new Outlook, visit the source page here.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why are the Mail & Calendar apps being decommissioned?

Microsoft aims to streamline its productivity tools, and the new Outlook app will consolidate email and calendar functionalities, providing a more efficient user experience.

2. How can I transition to the new Outlook app?

You can seamlessly transition by exporting your data from the Mail and Calendar apps using the export feature presented in the deprecation notice. The new Outlook app is automatically included with the latest Windows updates.

3. Will I still have access to my previous emails and calendar events in the new Outlook?

Yes, once you export your data to the new Outlook app, all your previous emails and calendar events will be accessible, ensuring a smooth transition without data loss.