check before: 2025-09-15
Product:
Copilot, Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft 365 suite, Outlook
Platform:
Online, Web, World tenant
Status:
Change type:
User impact, Retirement
Links:
Details:
Summary:
The Tonal Rewrite feature in Outlook Web Access will retire on September 15, 2025. Users will transition to using Copilot in Outlook for advanced, context-aware rewriting and tone adjustments, requiring no admin action. This change enhances writing flexibility and efficiency with AI-powered tools.
Details:
Introduction
Starting September 15, 2025, the Tonal Rewrite preview feature in Outlook Web Access (OWA) will be retired.
Why This Change?
The Tonal Rewrite experimental feature was introduced to help users improve sentences tone in emails by proactively offering AI-generated alternatives. While it has been a valuable tool for many, we are evolving our writing assistance capabilities to better align with how users write and revise content today using modern Copilot capabilities.
When this will happen
This feature will no longer be supported after September 15, 2025.
Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
Created:
2025-08-22
updated:
2025-08-22
Task Type
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Docu to Check
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MS How does it affect me
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MS Urgency
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MS workload name
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summary for non-techies**
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Direct effects for Operations**
Loss of Tonal Suggestions
Users will no longer receive AI-generated tonal suggestions in OWA, potentially leading to less effective communication in emails.
- roles: End Users, Content Creators
- references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/announcing-the-retirement-of-tonal-rewrite-in-owa/
Transition to Copilot
Users must adapt to using Copilot for rewriting, which may require a learning curve and adjustment period, impacting productivity initially.
- roles: End Users, Training Coordinators
- references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/announcing-the-retirement-of-tonal-rewrite-in-owa/
Potential User Frustration
The sudden removal of a familiar feature may lead to frustration among users who relied on Tonal Rewrite for email composition.
- roles: End Users, Customer Support
- references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/announcing-the-retirement-of-tonal-rewrite-in-owa/
Increased Support Queries
The change may lead to an increase in support queries as users seek assistance with the new Copilot features and adjustments.
- roles: IT Support, Help Desk Staff
- references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/announcing-the-retirement-of-tonal-rewrite-in-owa/
Impact on Writing Quality
Without the Tonal Rewrite feature, users may experience a decline in writing quality until they become proficient with Copilot's capabilities.
- roles: End Users, Content Creators
- references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/announcing-the-retirement-of-tonal-rewrite-in-owa/
Configutation Options**
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Potentional Risks**
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IT Security**
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explanation for non-techies**
Imagine you're used to driving a car with manual transmission, where you have to shift gears yourself. This manual process is similar to the Tonal Rewrite feature in Outlook Web Access (OWA), which provided AI-generated suggestions to improve the tone of your emails. While it was helpful, it required a bit of manual effort to use effectively.
Now, think of Copilot in Outlook as an automatic transmission. It takes care of the gear shifting for you, making the driving—or in this case, writing—experience smoother and more intuitive. With Copilot, you don't just get suggestions; you get context-aware rewriting that understands the flow of your message and can adjust the tone or summarize content based on simple prompts. This is like having a smart assistant that knows exactly what you need without you having to do much work.
As of September 15, 2025, the manual option (Tonal Rewrite) will be retired, and users will transition to this more advanced, automatic system (Copilot). This change requires no action from administrators, but it's beneficial to encourage users to explore the new features. They can highlight text, click the Copilot icon, and choose options like Auto-Rewrite or Change Tone to see suggestions and apply them as needed.
This transition aims to enhance writing flexibility and efficiency, allowing users to focus more on the content rather than the mechanics of tone adjustment. Just like how automatic cars have made driving easier for many, Copilot is designed to make writing emails a more seamless and confident experience.
** AI generated content. This information must be reviewed before use.
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Last updated 2 months ago ago
