MC847884 – We’ve changed the minimum iOS system requirements for Outlook for iOS

Product:

Microsoft 365 Apps, Outlook

Platform:

iOS, World tenant

Status:

Change type:

User impact, Admin impact, Retirement

Links:

Details:

Summary:
Outlook for iOS will soon require iOS 17 as the minimum system requirement, dropping support for iOS 16 once iOS 18 is released. Users on iOS 16 will not receive updates and may eventually lose synchronization capabilities. It's recommended to update devices and inform users about these changes.

Details:
Outlook for iOS is supported on the two most recent versions of iOS. When a new version of iOS is released, Outlook's Operating System requirement becomes the two most recent versions: the current version and the previous version of iOS, iPadOS and watchOS.
With iOS 18 currently in beta, Outlook for iOS is preparing to drop support for iOS 16. In addition, once iOS 18 is released to GA, the system requirements for Outlook for iOS will be updated to reflect support for iOS 18. Microsoft will update the minimum system requirements for Outlook for iOS app from iOS 16 to iOS 17.
Microsoft will retire support for iPadOS 16 and watchOS 9. iPadOS 17 & 18, watchOS 10 & 11 will be the only supported versions for iPad and Apple Watch.

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Release Phase:

Created:
2024-08-03

updated:
2024-08-10

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Direct effects for Operations**

- Impact on IT Operations
- Increased support requests from users unable to access Outlook due to outdated iOS versions.
- Roles impacted: IT Support Team, Helpdesk Staff
- Potential for increased downtime or degraded performance as users on unsupported versions may experience synchronization issues.
- Roles impacted: IT Operations Team, System Administrators
- Need for proactive monitoring of user devices to ensure compliance with new iOS requirements.
- Roles impacted: IT Operations Team, Compliance Officers

- Impact on IT Services
- Disruption of email and calendar synchronization for users on iOS 16, leading to potential loss of productivity.
- Roles impacted: End Users, Project Managers
- Increased load on IT resources to manage the transition and assist users in upgrading their devices.
- Roles impacted: IT Support Team, IT Managers

- Impact on IT Users
- Users on iOS 16 will not receive updates, leading to security vulnerabilities and lack of new features.
- Roles impacted: All End Users, particularly those in sensitive roles (e.g., Finance, HR)
- Users may face confusion and frustration due to lack of access to critical functionalities in Outlook.
- Roles impacted: All End Users, particularly those reliant on mobile access for work

- Impact on IT Administrators
- Administrators will need to communicate the changes effectively and ensure users are informed about the need to upgrade.
- Roles impacted: IT Administrators, Communication Officers
- Increased workload for IT administrators to manage device compliance and assist users with the upgrade process.
- Roles impacted: IT Administrators, IT Managers

- Dependencies and Interdependencies
- The change may affect other integrated services relying on Outlook for iOS, such as calendar sharing and meeting scheduling.
- Roles impacted: All End Users, Project Managers
- Potential impact on third-party applications that integrate with Outlook, which may also require updates to function correctly.
- Roles impacted: IT Administrators, Application Support Teams

For further details on the minimum system requirements for Office 365, please refer to the official Microsoft documentation: [Microsoft 365 and Office Resources](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/microsoft-365-and-office-resourcescoreui-heading-3b8v07b).

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