check before: 2026-01-12
Product:
Microsoft 365 Apps, Outlook, Windows
Platform:
Online, World tenant
Status:
Change type:
Admin impact, Retirement
Links:
Details:
Summary:
The "When Sending a Message" Group Policy in Classic Outlook for Windows will be retired by January 13, 2026. New individual policies will be introduced starting October 14, 2025, requiring admins to migrate and configure settings separately for more granular control.
Details:
[Introduction]
We're retiring the When Sending a Message Group Policy in Classic Outlook for Windows to improve administrative flexibility and respond to customer feedback. This legacy policy grouped several mail-sending behaviors under one setting. Moving forward, these behaviors will be managed through individual policies, allowing for more granular control and easier configuration.
[When this will happen:]
New individual Group Policies will be introduced starting October 14, 2025.
The legacy When Sending a Message policy will be removed on January 13, 2026.
Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
Created:
2025-10-02
updated:
2025-10-02
Task Type
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Docu to Check
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MS How does it affect me
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MS Preperations
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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 Group Policy Control
Admins will lose the ability to manage multiple mail-sending behaviors under a single policy, leading to potential misconfigurations and inconsistent user experiences if not prepared.
- roles: IT Admins, Helpdesk Staff
- references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/outlook-gpo-update-for-when-sending-a-message-policy-b5757666-2f4a-4aa3-8a88-a7bd035f89b1
Increased Configuration Time
Admins will need to spend additional time configuring new individual policies, which may lead to delays in deployment and user frustration if not planned ahead.
- roles: IT Admins, Project Managers
- references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/outlook-gpo-update-for-when-sending-a-message-policy-b5757666-2f4a-4aa3-8a88-a7bd035f89b1
User Experience Disruption
Users may experience disruptions in mail-sending behaviors if the new policies are not configured before the legacy policy is retired, leading to confusion and decreased productivity.
- roles: End Users, IT Support
- references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/outlook-gpo-update-for-when-sending-a-message-policy-b5757666-2f4a-4aa3-8a88-a7bd035f89b1
Documentation and Training Gaps
Internal documentation and helpdesk guidance may become outdated, leading to misinformation and increased support tickets if not updated in advance.
- roles: Helpdesk Staff, Training Coordinators
- references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/outlook-gpo-update-for-when-sending-a-message-policy-b5757666-2f4a-4aa3-8a88-a7bd035f89b1
Compliance Risks
While no compliance considerations are identified, failure to migrate policies could lead to unintentional non-compliance with internal standards or regulations, if not properly managed.
- roles: Compliance Officers, IT Admins
- references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/outlook-gpo-update-for-when-sending-a-message-policy-b5757666-2f4a-4aa3-8a88-a7bd035f89b1
Configutation Options**
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Potentional Risks**
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IT Security**
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explanation for non-techies**
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** AI generated content. This information must be reviewed before use.
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Last updated 2 weeks ago
