Microsoft to support classic Outlook for Windows (for some) until at least 2029

• Many features that are in the existing classic Outlook still are missing from the new Outlook for Windows. 
• Commercial customers with classic Outlook will be able to hang onto the existing version of the app until at least 2029.

Microsoft is continuing its relatively slow march toward delivering the new Outlook for Windows. Last year, officials said the rollout would be gradual, taking years to go from preview to the final phase-out of the existing Outlook for Windows client. As of last week, we now know some commercial customers with classic Outlook will be able to hang onto the existing version of the app until at least 2029.

Microsoft has been working on consolidating its Outlook mail and calendar client apps for Windows since 2021, if not longer. The planned replacement, which was formerly codenamed “Project Monarch,” looks and feels a lot like the current Outlook web client for Windows.

Many features that are in the existing classic Outlook still are missing from the new Outlook for Windows. A lot of the public feedback on social media and various web sites about the new Outlook preview has been critical and negative, which makes the final phase-out date for classic Outlook being at least five years away not too surprising.