Windows 10: New Outlook will be installed automatically, but there is a solution
Microsoft announced this week that it is going to install the new Outlook application on Windows 10 systems automatically. Windows users and administrators who do not want the app need to make changes to their systems using the Registry and PowerShell to block the new Outlook client; this can only be done after it has been installed.
Microsoft plans to retire the classic Outlook application for Windows and already retired the Mail and Calendar applications on Windows in favor of the new Outlook client. Not all users and organizations are happy with the change. Proton, known for its mail service and other products, stated last year that the new Outlook was Microsoft's newest data collection service. Some users dislike the new Outlook for its lack of features and also because it contains ads.
The details:
- The new Outlook will be installed alongside the February 2025 security updates.
- The update is released on February 11, 2025.
- The new client is also included in the preview update, which will be released on January 28, 2025.
No way to prevent installation of new Outlook on Windows 10
Microsoft says that there is no way to prevent the new Outlook from being installed. In other words, if the February 2025 security updates are installed on a Windows 10 PC, the new Outlook is installed on the system as well. Since Windows updates are cumulative, future updates will also include the new app.
Administrators may remove and then block the new Outlook application, but only after its initial installation according to Microsoft.
Here is how this is done.
- Open the Start menu.
- Type PowerShell.
- Right-click on PowerShell and select "run as administrator" to launch PowerShell with elevated rights.
- Select Yes when the security prompt appears.
- Paste the command
Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -AllUsers -Online -PackageName (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.OutlookForWindows).PackageFullNameand press the Enter-key.
This removes the new Outlook package from the system. This is not sufficient, however. Microsoft notes that you need to set a key in the Registry as well to prevent future installs.
- Open the Start menu again.
- Type regedit.exe and press the Enter-key.
- Confirm the security prompt with a click on yes.
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\Orchestrator\UScheduler_Oobe\OutlookUpdate
- Right-click on OutlookUpdate and select New > String Value.
- Name it BlockedOobeUpdaters.
- Double-click on BlockedOobeUpdaters and set the value to ["MS_Outlook"].
- Restart the PC.
The new Outlook will not be installed again as part of Windows updates according to Microsoft after the changes have been made.
Closing Words
The automatic installation of the new Outlook app on Windows 10 will likely annoy some users of the operating system. Microsoft could have picked a different distribution method, one that allows administrators and users to block the installation in first place. This would have led to fewer installs though, which is likely the reason for the application's inclusion in the February security updates for Windows 10.
Have you tried the new Outlook? What is your take on all of this? Feel free to leave a comment down below. (via Neowin)
Increased malicious software from Microsoft and fewer reasons to stick with Windows. You are killing your only remaining usable software. There is no point in using Windows when everything is just some lazy web application.
Loks like MS is making a last effort to hover-up all your personmal information before destroying Win 10.
No going back folks. MS will own you.
Unless M$ keeps “accidentally” setting this new version of Outlook as the default email program, I will either ignore it or follow the instructions in this article to both uninstall it and block it from being reinstalled. I remember that Outlook Express was included in Windows for years, and I just simply ignored it.
@Martin,
Maybe I am missing something.
Would it not make sense to make the registry change before the first update to prevent it from happening?
Yes. But Microsoft said that you cannot prevent the installation. I assume, that the Registry key does not prevent the initial installation. You could give it a try though and let everyone know how it goes.
Perhaps Microsoft know this and doesn’t want people to try to stop it.
Anyway, it won’t affect Linux.
Perhaps some others can give it a try.
Just install Portmaster and set the Default Network Action to Block and Microsoft wont be able to backdoor into your Windows 10/11 and install anything. Since only the apps you allow can access internet.
https://github.com/safing/portmaster
Should have been clear I do run Win 10 and Win 11 machines.
I’m just a simple home user with no knowledge of or experience with this product. I have no use for this product, and of course it’s never been on my machine. Are you saying it’s going to be installed on my and EVERY W10 machine on planet Earth just because M$ wants to and can? Who the hell do I sue?
Ok, I am no lawyer, but I know a little bit on internet lawsuits. You have to show some potential financial losses or bridge of contract/TOS to sew. And since I am assuming you are not made of money, it has to be a class action lawsuit that can languish in courts for a decade. If you are successful, your lawyer will make $10M eventually. You will be paid $10. That’s why these predatory practices are often go unabated.
What you can do is to vote with your wallet and with your mouse. Do not buy Microsoft branded products. Do not visit Microsoft app store. Do not use Bing as your default search engine. Do not use Skype/Teams if you have a choice. If you do not need advanced Microsoft Office functions (just basic Word/Excel), there are plenty of easy to use alternatives that are free or almost free and can do that job better than Microsoft. Hit Microsoft in their wallet if you feel mistreated.
Its time to move on from anything Microsoft develops. Constantly ruining their products with crappy web-based bloat. They got no skilled programmers anymore.
Longtime home Thunderbird user and Eudora before that. I don’t want Outlook, but I wonder if MS will be so bold as to force import my TB profile to Outlook. The unethical sneakiness I’ve experienced with Win 11, I wouldn’t be surprised. The various terrible Windows email app versions over the years were a pain to deal with when I did home tech support for folks. Desktop Outlook was a lot ‘better’ but most didn’t want to buy it or need Exchange. No experience of latest versions or 365.
In what way(s) will this affect Microsoft Outlook when installed as a component of Microsoft Office? In my case, that would be Microsoft Office 2019.
It won’t right now.
Installation of a piece of non-operating system, propitiatory software, on a operating system that they are going to stop supporting in eight months? This is just big 6th and 21st letters of the alphabet to those that have Windows 10.
If new Outlook will automatically install, I assume old Outlook will be deleted ?
Will it be possible to reinstall the old Outlook? With current Address book ?
Is there a backup of current Address book, somewhere on comp? Thanks.
No, Outlook classic (old Outlook) will not be replaced or deleted, as it is part of the Microsoft Office suite, or Microsoft 365 for abo users.
The new Outlook is the replacement for the Mail and Calendar app.
There is another solution, a neat little permanent removal script. Check it out.
https://github.com/matej137/OutlookRemover
I tried the new Outlook after I upgraded to Windows 11, but I had to switch back once I realized that I couldn’t download messages. That’s a pretty basic feature to be missing.
If they force me to switch to it again, I’ll give it another try, but if this feature is still missing, you can bet I’m not going to take it laying down.
One has to wonder if it is only spyware since it’s being installed onto a soon to be unsupported OS.
M$ has a long history of ‘accidentaly’ breaking things they don’t want you using.
We do have one old, network connected, laptop that is still running 10.
Thanks for posting the removal procedure.
Nadella is the worst thing that has happened to computers since Windows Me.
Nadella isn’t personally in charge of every single MS products you know?
They have teams. And those teams have teams.
So only time the CEO would be concerned is if the product was losing money.
As a CEO, Nadella is far better than Ballmer who bureaucratic regime made Microsoft ecosystem slow and stagnated.
Welcome back Martin, some of us where worried.
Hoffentlich ist alles ok
Thanks, everything is fine, no need to worry ;)
It’s not up to you to decide when we should worry about you :P
Freut mich auch dass ihr uns hier wieder mit tollen News usw. versorgt. Habe schon schlimmes befürchet, aber dann merkte ich dass du ja auch auf Chipp,in postest.
Tolle Arbeit auf beiden Websites, besuche ich täglich
Danke für das Lob. Ich poste regelmäßig auf beiden Seiten :)