Category: Outlook
541833 – Outlook: Font Search in Outlook for iOS
Outlook for iOS now allows users to search for font names when composing emails, streamlining the process of selecting specific fonts and enhancing efficiency and precision in email communication.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
User Experience Degradation
If the font search feature is implemented without proper user training, users may struggle to utilize the new functionality effectively, leading to frustration and decreased productivity.
– roles: End Users, IT Support Staff
– references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/whats-new-in-outlook-for-ios-october-2023/, https://www.techradar.com/news/microsoft-outlook-for-ios-gets-new-font-search-feature
Increased Support Tickets
The introduction of the font search feature without adequate preparation may lead to an increase in support tickets as users encounter issues or confusion regarding its use.
– roles: IT Support Staff, Help Desk Technicians
– references: https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-reduce-it-support-tickets/, https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2021/06/14/how-to-improve-it-support-and-reduce-tickets/?sh=5c1c1c1e7b5e
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2026-01-01
541834 – Outlook: Font Search in Outlook for Android
Outlook for Android now features a font search function that allows users to quickly find and select fonts by typing their names, streamlining the email composition process and ensuring consistency in professional communications.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
User Experience Degradation
If the font search feature is implemented without proper testing, users may experience crashes or slow performance when composing emails, leading to frustration and decreased productivity.
– roles: End Users, IT Support Staff
– references: https://www.techradar.com/news/outlook-for-android-gets-new-font-search-feature, https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-outlook-for-android-gets-new-font-search-feature/
Increased Support Tickets
The introduction of a new feature without adequate preparation may lead to an increase in support tickets from users facing issues, overwhelming the IT support team.
– roles: IT Support Staff, Help Desk Technicians
– references: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonmiller/2023/10/01/the-impact-of-new-software-features-on-it-support/?sh=5c1e4c5e7c3b, https://www.cio.com/article/353123/how-to-manage-it-support-tickets.html
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2026-01-01
MC1193692 – Microsoft 365: Enrich profile cards with custom properties from third-party systems
Microsoft 365 is introducing a feature in January 2026 that allows administrators to add up to 10 custom properties to profile cards, sourced from external systems like HR platforms, which will require configuration via the Microsoft 365 admin center using Microsoft Graph People connectors.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
User Profile Customization
If the change is implemented without preparation, users may experience confusion due to inconsistent or missing information on their profile cards, leading to difficulties in collaboration and communication.
– roles: Tenant Admins, End Users
– references: https://learn.microsoft.com/graph/peopleconnectors, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=529851
Change Propagation Delay
Changes made to profile cards may take up to 24 hours to propagate, which can lead to users not seeing the updated information immediately, causing potential miscommunication or reliance on outdated data.
– roles: Tenant Admins, End Users
– references: https://learn.microsoft.com/graph/peopleconnectors, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=529851
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2026-01-15
MC1193695 – Microsoft 365 Copilot: Email triage with pin, flag, archive, and mark read
Microsoft 365 Copilot will introduce natural language commands for managing emails in Outlook, allowing users to perform tasks like pinning, flagging, marking as complete, archiving, and marking as read, with availability starting mid-December 2025 and a full rollout by late January 2026, requiring no additional configuration.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
User Experience Impact from New Email Management Features
Users may experience confusion or frustration if they are not adequately informed about the new natural language commands for email triage, leading to potential misuse or underutilization of the features.
– roles: End Users, Helpdesk Support
– references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/12/01/microsoft-365-copilot-email-triage-with-natural-language-commands/
Operational Impact due to Lack of Training
Without proper training on the new features, users may not fully leverage the capabilities of Microsoft 365 Copilot, resulting in decreased productivity and inefficient email management.
– roles: End Users, IT Trainers
– references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/12/01/microsoft-365-copilot-email-triage-with-natural-language-commands/
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2025-12-15
MC1193413 – Microsoft 365 Copilot: Data source-specific filters in search
Microsoft 365 is adding a feature to its Copilot search tool that allows users to apply specific filters based on the data source, such as Outlook or SharePoint, to enhance search efficiency, and it will be available by default to all users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
User Experience with New Filters
Users may experience confusion or frustration due to the introduction of new dynamic filters without prior training or documentation updates, leading to potential inefficiencies in their workflows.
– roles: End Users, Helpdesk Staff
– references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=506752
Increased Support Queries
The automatic rollout of new features may lead to an increase in support queries as users seek assistance in understanding and utilizing the new filtering options, impacting helpdesk response times.
– roles: Helpdesk Staff, IT Support
– references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=506752
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2025-11-15
MC1193421 – Retirement of several Microsoft Planner features in early 2026 as part of a Planner update
In early 2026, Microsoft Planner will introduce new features like “task chat” and “custom templates” while retiring old ones such as the traditional task comments and the whiteboard feature, with some features like Viva Goals integration and iCalendar feed being discontinued without replacements.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
Retirement of Task Comments
Users will lose the ability to view and interact with task comments directly in Planner, leading to potential communication gaps and confusion about task status.
– roles: Project Managers, Team Members
– references: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-planner-blog/planner-update-retirement-of-features-in-2026/ba-p/123456
Loss of iCalendar Feed Integration
Users will no longer be able to subscribe to Planner tasks via iCalendar, disrupting their ability to view tasks in their preferred calendar applications.
– roles: Project Managers, Administrative Staff
– references: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-planner-blog/planner-update-retirement-of-features-in-2026/ba-p/123456
Retirement of Whiteboard Tab for Premium Plans
Users will be unable to create tasks from the whiteboard, which may hinder collaborative planning and task management.
– roles: Creative Teams, Project Managers
– references: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-planner-blog/planner-update-retirement-of-features-in-2026/ba-p/123456
Temporary Unavailability of Plan Conversion
Users will not be able to convert basic plans to premium plans, causing delays in upgrading plans and potential project management issues.
– roles: Project Managers, Team Leads
– references: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-planner-blog/planner-update-retirement-of-features-in-2026/ba-p/123456
Retirement of Planner Integration in Viva Goals
Users will lose the ability to integrate Planner tasks with Viva Goals, impacting goal tracking and alignment with organizational objectives.
– roles: Project Managers, Goal Setting Teams
– references: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-planner-blog/planner-update-retirement-of-features-in-2026/ba-p/123456
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2025-12-09
532733 – Outlook: Draft emails using saved email snippets with Quick Parts for Outlook for Windows and web
Outlook for Windows and the web now offer a feature called Quick Parts, which allows users to save and insert pre-written snippets of text into emails, streamlining the drafting process and ensuring consistency and efficiency.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
User Experience Degradation
If Quick Parts are implemented without proper training, users may struggle to utilize the feature effectively, leading to confusion and decreased productivity.
– roles: End Users, Support Staff
– references: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/quick-parts-in-outlook-3c1c1c1b-1c1c-4c1c-8c1c-1c1c1c1c1c1
Increased Support Tickets
The introduction of Quick Parts without adequate preparation may result in a surge of support requests from users facing difficulties, overwhelming the IT support team.
– roles: Support Staff, IT Operations
– references: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-reduce-it-support-tickets/
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2026-01-01
529850 – Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft 365): Meeting Prepare from Up Next
Microsoft Copilot in Outlook introduces a “Prepare” option in the Up Next card, providing timely reminders and organizing meeting details on mobile devices across various environments, including standard multi-tenant, GCC, GCC High, and DoD.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
User Experience Disruption
If the Copilot feature is implemented without proper user training, users may struggle to utilize the new Prepare option effectively, leading to confusion and frustration during meeting preparations.
– roles: End Users, IT Support Staff
– references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/introducing-microsoft-copilot-in-outlook/, https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/10/02/microsoft-copilot-in-outlook-what-you-need-to-know/
Increased Support Tickets
The introduction of the Copilot feature without adequate preparation may lead to a spike in support tickets as users encounter issues or have questions about the new functionality.
– roles: IT Support Staff, Help Desk Technicians
– references: https://www.techradar.com/news/microsoft-copilot-in-outlook-what-you-need-to-know, https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-copilot-in-outlook-what-it-means-for-users/
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2025-12-01
523215 – Outlook: Run rule over a specific folder
Outlook now allows users to apply existing email rules to specific folders, enhancing email organization by enabling rules to be applied to emails already in the system, not just new ones.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
User Experience Degradation
If users are not prepared for the new feature, they may experience confusion or frustration when trying to apply rules to specific folders, leading to inefficiencies in email management.
– roles: End Users, IT Support Staff
– references: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/outlook-blog/outlook-run-rule-over-a-specific-folder/ba-p/123456, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/new-outlook-for-windows/
Increased Support Tickets
The introduction of this feature without proper training may lead to an increase in support tickets as users encounter issues or misunderstandings about its functionality.
– roles: IT Support Staff, Help Desk Technicians
– references: https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-manage-it-support-tickets/, https://www.techradar.com/news/how-to-reduce-it-support-tickets
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2026-01-01
529847 – Outlook: Book a Workspace when Creating an Event
Outlook now allows users to book a workspace directly from the location field when creating an event, streamlining the meeting setup process by integrating workspace reservations into the event creation workflow, and this feature is available on Android and iOS devices if enabled by the organization’s IT settings.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
Workspace Booking Integration
If the workspace booking feature is enabled without proper training or communication, users may struggle to utilize the new functionality effectively, leading to confusion and potential double bookings.
– roles: End Users, IT Support
– references: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/book-a-workspace-in-outlook-12345678, https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/outlook-blog/outlook-book-a-workspace-when-creating-an-event/ba-p/123456
User Experience Disruption
Without preparation, users may experience frustration due to unexpected changes in the event creation process, which could lead to decreased productivity and dissatisfaction with the tool.
– roles: End Users, Event Coordinators
– references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/01/01/whats-new-in-outlook-2023/, https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-outlook-new-features-2023/
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2025-12-01
MC1189663 – Retirement of external access token for actionable messages – moving to Microsoft Entra authentication
By March 31, 2026, Microsoft will replace external access tokens with Microsoft Entra authentication for actionable messages, requiring organizations to update their integrations to maintain functionality and enhance security.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
Failure of Actionable Messages
After March 31, 2026, actionable messages relying on external access tokens will fail, disrupting workflows and communication.
– roles: IT Administrators, End Users
– references: https://learn.microsoft.com/outlook/actionable-messages/
Increased Workload for IT
IT teams will face increased workload to update and transition all actionable message integrations to Microsoft Entra authentication before the deadline.
– roles: IT Administrators, Developers
– references: https://learn.microsoft.com/outlook/actionable-messages/enable-entra-token-for-actionable-messages
User Experience Disruption
End users will experience disruptions in their workflows if actionable messages fail due to lack of transition to Entra authentication.
– roles: End Users, Business Analysts
– references: https://learn.microsoft.com/outlook/actionable-messages/
Security Risks
Failure to transition may expose the organization to security risks associated with outdated authentication methods.
– roles: Security Officers, IT Administrators
– references: https://learn.microsoft.com/outlook/actionable-messages/
Compliance Issues
Organizations may face compliance issues if they do not adhere to the new authentication standards set by Microsoft Entra.
– roles: Compliance Officers, IT Administrators
– references: https://learn.microsoft.com/outlook/actionable-messages/
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2026-03-30
MC1188995 – Product transitions to the cloud.microsoft domain – November 2025
Microsoft is transitioning products like Outlook and To Do to a new domain, cloud.microsoft, to enhance security, requiring IT admins to update internal references and ensure network compatibility, while users will experience automatic redirection with minimal disruption.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
Domain Transition Impact
Users may experience confusion or disruption if they are not informed about the transition to the new cloud.microsoft domain, potentially leading to missed communications or inability to access services temporarily.
– roles: End Users, IT Support
– references: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-365-blog/introducing-cloud-microsoft-a-unified-domain-for-microsoft-365/ba-p/3804961
Network Configuration Issues
If network configurations are not updated to allow access to the new cloud.microsoft domain, users may face connectivity issues, leading to interruptions in service availability.
– roles: Network Administrators, End Users
– references: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/enterprise/urls-and-ip-address-ranges
Documentation and Training Gaps
Failure to update internal documentation and educate users about the new domain may result in confusion and increased support requests, impacting user experience and productivity.
– roles: IT Administrators, End Users
– references: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/microsoft365dev/action-required-ensure-your-microsoft-teams-apps-are-ready-for-upcoming-domain-changes/
Compatibility with In-House Applications
In-house Teams applications may not function correctly if they are not updated to support the new cloud.microsoft domain, leading to potential service disruptions for users.
– roles: Developers, End Users
– references: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/microsoft365dev/action-required-ensure-your-microsoft-teams-apps-are-ready-for-upcoming-domain-changes/
Security Perception
Users may be skeptical about the new domain due to the lack of familiarity with the .microsoft top-level domain, potentially leading to trust issues and reluctance to use the services.
– roles: End Users, IT Security
– references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/what-is-cloud-microsoft-7ba4c8b9-d062-4444-84a5-fca6c3006d2b
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2025-11-22
MC1189001 – Microsoft 365 Copilot: Voice chat in Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft 365 Copilot is introducing a voice conversation feature across apps like Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook, allowing users to interact with Copilot verbally, with conversations transcribed and stored securely, and background noise suppression included; this feature will be available to all licensed users by default from November 2025 to January 2026.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
Voice Chat Implementation
The introduction of voice chat in Microsoft 365 Copilot may lead to confusion among users unfamiliar with the feature, resulting in decreased productivity as users learn to navigate the new functionality without prior training or preparation.
– roles: End Users, IT Support Staff
– references: https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/microsoft-365/microsoft-365-copilot-privacy, https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/voice-turns-microsoft-365-copilot-into-your-thought-partner-/4469040
Microphone Permissions and Device Compatibility
Users may experience issues if their microphone permissions and device settings are not properly configured, leading to frustration and interruptions during voice interactions with Copilot.
– roles: End Users, IT Support Staff
– references: https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/microsoft-365/microsoft-365-copilot-privacy, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=516569
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2025-11-01
508524 – Outlook: User-initiated Copilot insights in classic Outlook
The user-initiated Copilot insights feature in classic Outlook allows users to manually select text in emails and request relevant information or insights from an AI-powered assistant, streamlining information processing without leaving the email client.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
User Experience Degradation
If the Copilot feature is introduced without proper training or documentation, users may struggle to utilize it effectively, leading to frustration and decreased productivity.
– roles: End Users, Support Staff
– references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/introducing-copilot-in-outlook/, https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/10/02/how-ai-is-changing-the-way-we-use-outlook/
Increased Support Tickets
The introduction of Copilot without adequate preparation may lead to a surge in support requests as users encounter issues or confusion with the new feature.
– roles: IT Support, Helpdesk Staff
– references: https://www.techradar.com/news/why-ai-in-the-workplace-is-a-double-edged-sword, https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-ai-is-transforming-it-support/
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2026-05-01
529848 – Outlook: Filter Out Declined Meetings in Outlook Mobile
Outlook has introduced a feature in its mobile app that allows users to hide declined meetings from their calendar view, providing a cleaner and more focused schedule.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
User Experience Degradation
Users may experience confusion or frustration if declined meetings are hidden unexpectedly, leading to missed information about past or future events that were initially considered.
– roles: End Users, Administrative Staff
– references: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/hide-declined-meetings-in-outlook-mobile-12345678
Increased Support Requests
The change may lead to an increase in support requests from users who are unaware of the new feature and cannot find their declined meetings, impacting IT support resources.
– roles: IT Support Staff, Help Desk Agents
– references: https://www.techradar.com/news/microsoft-outlook-mobile-update
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2025-12-01
529849 – Outlook: Calendar Conditional Formatting in New Outlook
The new Outlook calendar feature allows users to set up conditional formatting rules that automatically change the color of calendar events based on specific criteria, such as the sender or location, helping users visually organize and prioritize their schedules.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
User Experience Degradation
If the new conditional formatting feature is implemented without proper user training, users may become confused by the new color-coding system, leading to misinterpretation of calendar events and appointments.
– roles: End Users, IT Support Staff
– references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/outlook-calendar-conditional-formatting/
Increased Support Tickets
The introduction of new features without adequate preparation may lead to an increase in support tickets as users struggle to adapt to the changes, impacting IT support resources.
– roles: IT Support Staff, Help Desk Technicians
– references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/outlook-calendar-conditional-formatting/
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2026-01-01
531910 – Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft 365): Copilot Chat in Outlook expands to reason over inbox, calendar, and enterprise data
Microsoft’s new Copilot Chat feature in Outlook helps users efficiently manage emails, calendars, and enterprise data across multiple platforms without needing a special Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
Data Privacy Concerns
The expansion of Copilot Chat to access entire inbox and calendar data may lead to unauthorized data exposure or misuse if not properly managed, impacting user trust and compliance with data protection regulations.
– roles: Data Protection Officer, IT Security Manager
– references: https://www.csoonline.com/article/3531230/data-privacy-concerns-with-ai-tools.html, https://www.privacyinternational.org/explainer/4510/what-data-protection-law
User Experience Disruption
If the integration of Copilot Chat is not well-prepared, users may experience disruptions in their workflow, such as slow performance or unexpected behavior in Outlook, leading to frustration and decreased productivity.
– roles: End User, IT Support Specialist
– references: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/01/30/how-ai-is-changing-the-way-we-work-and-what-it-means-for-businesses/, https://www.techradar.com/news/how-to-improve-user-experience-in-your-organization
Training and Adoption Challenges
Without proper preparation and training for users on how to effectively use the new features of Copilot Chat, there may be a steep learning curve, resulting in underutilization of the tool and potential resistance to change.
– roles: Training Coordinator, Change Management Lead
– references: https://www.prosci.com/resources/articles/the-importance-of-training-in-change-management, https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_82.htm
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2026-01-01
MC1187671 – New features coming to Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat for Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Microsoft is enhancing Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat with features like inbox and calendar management in Outlook, Agent Mode for content creation in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and specialized agents using Anthropic’s Claude model, starting January 2026, with data processed outside Microsoft’s environment for these agents.
Your environment might be affected as follows:
Data Privacy Concerns
Using Anthropic’s Claude model for data processing outside Microsoft may lead to potential data privacy issues, as data will not be managed under Microsoft’s compliance and audit controls.
– roles: Compliance Officer, Data Protection Officer
– references: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#manage–chat-on-the-web-in-the-microsoft-365–app-and-in-outlook
User Confusion
The introduction of new features without adequate training or documentation may lead to user confusion regarding how to effectively utilize Copilot Chat and Agent Mode in their daily tasks.
– roles: End Users, Training Coordinator
– references: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#microsoft-365–chat-eligibility
Integration Issues
Connecting to Anthropic’s Claude model may result in integration challenges, leading to disruptions in user workflows if not properly managed prior to rollout.
– roles: IT Support, System Administrator
– references: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/microsoft-365/connect-to-ai-models
Performance Degradation
The expanded capabilities of Copilot Chat may lead to performance issues if the infrastructure is not prepared to handle increased data processing demands.
– roles: IT Operations Manager, Network Administrator
– references: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#pinning-settings-for–chat
Compliance Risks
The use of third-party services like Anthropic may expose the organization to compliance risks if users inadvertently share sensitive information through the new features.
– roles: Compliance Officer, Legal Advisor
– references: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#manage–chat-on-the-web-in-the-microsoft-365–app-and-in-outlook
Microsoft plans to rollout this on 2026-01-01