No Choice on the New Outlook Update?

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The April 2023 updates for Outlook 2016 (C2R version) seemed to include some feature changes I was not expecting. I thought UI changes for Outlook 2016, now version 2304 (Build 16327.203214) were done. Eventually I fumbled around getting rid of one change, a redundant left vertical ribbon bar taking up valuable screen space.

But I was also left with the “Try the new Outlook” toggle. No thank you, not tried. I had to search for a registry change to get rid of that: HCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\General\HideNewOutlookToggle DWORD = 1
Source: https://www.askvg.com/tip-show-or-hide-try-new-outlook-toggle-option-in-microsoft-outlook-titlebar/

A third change is a new prompt asking if you want to restore message windows when restarting Outlook.

A fourth change noticed so far is a main ribbon change I can’t get rid of even with “Customize the Ribbon”. The change just keeps coming back after restarting Outlook.

I wish there was a way to turn off Office 2016 feature updates all together and/or revert back. I was just looking for and expecting security updates.

Note that I don’t use Microsoft Exchange, Office 365, OneDrive, or any Microsoft email accounts with Outlook. Microsoft has a way to enable/disable employee access to the new Outlook for Windows here:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/clients-and-mobile-in-exchange-online/outlook-on-the-web/enable-disable-employee-access-new-outlook

But what about my consumer case?

Windows 10 22H2 desktops & laptops on Dell, HP, ASUS; No servers, no domain.

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Cybertooth, lmacri

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Can you see if your version allows you to choose the semi annual channel?

And those commands are for the web version, not the desktop version.

 

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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windbg

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The short answer, yes.
You can switch to the Semi-Annual Channel from the Current Channel with Office 2016 (C2R).
The Semi-Annual Channel fixes the beta leak bug, for now.

Windows 10 22H2 desktops & laptops on Dell, HP, ASUS; No servers, no domain.

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Hi oldfry:

I’ve seen that same  “Try the new Outlook” switch since my MS Office Home and Business 2019 C2R was updated to Version 2304 / Build 16327.20214 on 02-May-2023.  Even worse, I later discovered a UWP app called Outlook for Windows v1.2023.425.600 (Preview) was installed at Settings | Apps | Apps and Features without my knowledge. Like you, I also noticed that unwanted changes were made to my Outlook ribbon after the Version 2304 update was installed and that any customizations I now try to make to the ribbon configuration cannot be saved. See my 07-May-2023 “New” Outlook for Windows UWP App (Preview) Installed Without Permission in the MS Answers forum (where I post as user Great White North) for further details.

I checked my registry today and can’t see that HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\General key that was mentioned in the 07-Oct-2022 AskVG article [Tip] Show or Hide “Try New Outlook” Toggle Option in Microsoft Outlook Titlebar so I don’t want to fiddle around in my registry to try and get rid of this annoying toggle switch.

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windbg

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So far this “beta mistake” affects perpetual Office 2016, 2019, & 2021. I wish there was a way to get Office security updates only.

Not clear in the Microsoft documentation for the new Outlook is complete support for third-party POP3 and IMAP accounts. This is a deal breaker for us, with 6 third-party email accounts configured with Outlook. Our security depends upon the timely receipt of emails downloaded to the desktop.

In anticipation of the Microsoft Office Outlook squeeze prior to this incident, I have migrated three additional email accounts over to Thunderbird. In addition, I plan to research eM Client.

References:
https://www.emclient.com/ (for $130 with lifetime upgrades)
https://www.thunderbird.net/ (free, donation)
https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/unexplained-aspects-of-installing-the-latest-update-of-office-2021/ (partly similar)
https://www.howto-outlook.com/ (summary of monthly Outlook changes)
https://insider.microsoft365.com/en-us/blog/the-new-outlook-for-windows-helps-you-be-more-productive-and-in-control-of-your-inbox (new Outlook beta as of May 2022)
https://insider.microsoft365.com/en-us/blog/starting-to-support-third-party-accounts-in-new-outlook-for-windows-preview (starting 3rd party support in the new Outlook as of April 2023)

Attempting to lock down Beta Updates:
* Successfully hid the “Try the new Outlook” toggle as mentioned in this topic via registry change.
* Updates from the Microsoft Store are now disabled. (The new beta Outlook App was not installed on our systems yet.)
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences\UseNewOutlook DWORD = 0
* OfficeC2RClient.exe /changesetting Channel=SemiAnnual & OfficeC2RClient.exe /update user
* Installed Office admx files via admintemplates_x86_5398-1000_en-us.exe for Office Group Policy Editor support. Then set the “Update Channel” to “Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel”. The registry now shows: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Configuration\UpdateChannel = http….microsoft.com/pr/7ffbc6bf-bc32-4f92-8982-f9dd17fd3114

Ran another Office update, and the version changed to 2208 Build 15601.20660. The beta changes seem to be gone. Would this build still include the latest security fixes?

According to Microsoft:
“Perpetual license: If you see a year, like 2019, or LTSC in your license name, it indicates a perpetual (non-subscription) version of Office. This license does not receive ongoing feature updates, so you won’t see an option to join the Microsoft 365 Insider program. … Note: Perpetual versions of Office will receive security updates.”

Nevertheless apparently, some of the beta changes are bleeding into holders of a perpetual license, introducing some irritations, so far. Let’s see what happens next with each monthly update. (Office updates are set to disabled, but then turned back on and then, typically run monthly, then turned off again.)

Windows 10 22H2 desktops & laptops on Dell, HP, ASUS; No servers, no domain.

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Lars220

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Are you folks saying that these changes are happening to the MS Office 2016 “Retail” version?

I have Microsoft Office Home and Business 2016 which I purchased at Best Buy years ago.  I keep the auto updater off, and manually turn it on  and update every now and then, then turn it off.  I haven’t updated in awhile, but when I did, I never received any product updates since I wasn’t paying for them (not a subscription).

So has that changed?  Or am I misunderstanding the issue?

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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Hi Tex265:

As far as I know this beta (preview) version of this Outlook for Windows UWP app is currently being offered to a limited number of MS Outlook 2016 Click-to-Run (C2R) “perpetual”and higher users as well as selected Microsoft Outlook 365 users. If you are randomly selected to be part of the beta test then you will see the “Try the new Outlook” switch shown in post # 2558311 in your Outlook 2016 interface. I’ve never turned this switch ON in my MS Outlook 2019 interface but from what I understand turning that switch ON is currently reversible – if you don’t like the UWP app then you can turn the switch OFF to return to your “regular” MS Outlook application.

Right now I can’t tell you if Microsoft has plans to eventually force all MS Outlook 2016 C2R (perpetual) and higher users to switch to this UWP app once beta testing is finished. There are still many planned features that haven’t been added to the preview of UWP app yet (e.g., many beta testers still can’t use this UWP app to connect to non-Microsoft email accounts like Yahoo! and GMail as noted in the MS support article Getting started with the new Outlook for Windows) so I guess we’ll just have to wait for further announcements from Microsoft. I paid a significant price premium when I purchased my retail edition of MS Office Home and Business 2019 C2R just to get MS Outlook bundled in my “perpetual” suite and won’t be happy if Microsoft permanently replaces my MS Outlook 2019 application with this UWP app.

I can’t speak to what specific plans Microsoft currently has for MS Outlook 2016 C2R since mainstream support for this product ended on 13-Oct-2020, but extended support for most editions of Office 2016 doesn’t end until 14-Oct-2025, so it might included in this push to the Outlook for Windows UWP app.
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Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.2965 * Firefox v113.0.2 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.23050.3-1.1.23050.3 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.29.268-1.0.2022 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7279 * MS Office Home and Business 2019 C2R Version 2304 / Build 16327.20248

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Lars220, Cybertooth, windbg

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We have MS Office Home and Business 2021 MSO (Version 2302 Build 16.0.16130.20186) “Retail” version and have the same question as Tex265 – will we receive product updates if and when we turn on Product Updates?

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My Outlook version is “Microsoft Office Home and Business 2016” purchased “retail” and where the changes listed above were tested.

You have several choices on how to proceed next, if you get hit by this Outlook beta leak bug. Most Outlook users will try to ignore these minor changes.

You can make the registry change to get rid of the annoying “Try the new Outlook” toggle. Or go all the way and change your update channel to the “Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel” to get rid of these annoyances, at least for now.

Switching channels works for now, after re-running the C2R Office Update. The product name “Microsoft 365” disappeared from the “File->Office Account” page.

For some reason, the account pages will not indicate which update channel is in effect. So the only way I have to verify which channel is in effect, is to look at the registry GUID listed in the above post.

Windows 10 22H2 desktops & laptops on Dell, HP, ASUS; No servers, no domain.

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windbg wrote:

A third change is a new prompt asking if you want to restore message windows when restarting Outlook.

This is a change to Outlook that’s actually helpful from the customer’s perspective. My better half tends to keep dozens of emails open at the same time, and when Outlook or Windows crashes she loses track of everything she had open. But the most recent time this happened (last week), when she relaunched Outlook all her emails came back. A very welcome improvement.

Keep Running Windows 7 Safely for Years to Come  
Make Windows 10 look and work like Windows 7

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What happens when your copy of Office 2019 does not have the “General” attribute under “Options”? All I have is Calendar, Mail, and MSHTML.

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Please see my comments/concerns above in post #2564005.

Has this/these MS Office problems regarding “Retail” versions been resolved?

I have not turned on the Update button in quite some time.

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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windbg wrote:

I wish there was a way to turn off Office 2016 feature updates all together and/or revert back. I was just looking for and expecting security updates.

You can find out what security updates are available for each update and, if it has security updates, the security updates may be available to be downloaded and installed as separate files (depending upon the Outlook version).

Open Outlook
Select File > Office Account
Click the drop-down arrow next to Update Options
Select View Updates
This will open the Release notes about updates for your version of Outlook. The dates are links to the specifics of the update release on that day. Look at the specifics for an update and look for the statement “Security updates listed here”.
Clicking the link “here” opens the Release notes for Office security updates where you find the security updates listed, each with a CVE prefix.
Click the CVE link and it opens the specifics for that security update.
Scroll down the page to find your specific version of Outlook and, if it has Security Update in the Download column as a underlined blue link, then there’s a security update available for download.
Click the link and it opens the Microsoft Download Center main page for you to select main categories. Select the Office category. The page that opens offers downloads and the second or third item will be your security download.

This may appear to be an indirect way to download a security update, but going thru those various pages makes sure you are downloading the correct security update because Microsoft is selecting the the correct updates to offer for your specific version of Outlook.

It’s a hassle, but is one way to get security updates without the feature updates.

HTH, Dana:))

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Cybertooth

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Drcard:)) wrote:

… Click the CVE link and it opens the specifics for that security update. Scroll down the page to find your specific version of Outlook and, if it has Security Update in the Download column as a underlined blue link, then there’s a security update available for download…

Hi DrCard:)):

Would your instructions work for users with Click-to-Run (C2R) editions of MS Office 2016/2019/2021 like the original poster oldfry? As far As I know the security update downloads for the Office category at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/office only apply to the Microsoft Installer (.MSI) editions of Office, and if you look in the Security Update Guide for a specific CVE (the image below is for CVE-2023-33152 patched on 11-Jul-2023) the Security Update labels in the Download column for C2R editions of MS Office never have an active link that directs you to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/office.

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Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.3208 * Firefox v116.0.1 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.23050.9-1.1.23060.1005 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.34.275-1.0.2089 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7279 * Microsoft Office 2019 Home and Business 2019 Version 2307 / Build 16626.20134 C2R

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Tex265

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lmacri wrote:

Hi DrCard:)): Would your instructions work for users with Click-to-Run (C2R) editions of MS Office 2016/2019/2021 like the original poster oldfry?

As I stated:

Drcard:)) wrote:

the security updates may be available to be downloaded and installed as separate files (depending upon the Outlook version).

and

Drcard:)) wrote:

Scroll down the page to find your specific version of Outlook and, if it has Security Update in the Download column as a underlined blue link, then there’s a security update available for download.

The C2R version updates are all-in-ones and will not have separate security update files to download.  I posted that for others that are following this thread that do have that option.

HTH, Dana:))

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Tex265

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Drcard:)) wrote:

The C2R version updates are all-in-ones and will not have separate security update files to download. I posted that for others that are following this thread that do have that option

So per my question above #2577594

Has this/these MS Office problems/beta leaks regarding “Retail” C2R versions been resolved?

Has anyone performing recent updates to MS Office C2R (particularly ver 2016) installations been receiving these changes?  Or just security updates like it is supposed to?

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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Tex265 wrote:

… Has this/these MS Office problems/beta leaks regarding “Retail” C2R versions been resolved?…

Hi Tex265:

I’m not sure if this answers your question, but my retail MS Outlook 2019 C2R is fully patched to Version 2307 / Build 16626.20134 (rel. 27-Jul-2023) and I still see that “Try the New Outlook” toggle switch appear at least once a day in the top-right corner of my interface.

The only way I know how to get rid of this toggle in the Current Release channel without switching to the Semi-Annual Release channel is to create a new DWORD at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\General named HideNewOutlookToggle and give it a value of “1” as suggested in the 07-Oct-2022 AskVG! article [Tip] Show or Hide “Try New Outlook” Toggle Option in Microsoft Outlook Titlebar.  However, I haven’t tried this registry edit and I’m not sure this workaround still works.

I have no idea how the new Outlook for Windows progressive web app (PWA) was installed on my computer (see my 07-May-2023 “New” Outlook for Windows UWP App (Preview) Installed Without Permission in the MS Answers forum where I post as user Great White North for further details) but I’m beginning to suspect that I must have accidentally scrolled over that “Try the New Outlook” toggle switch with my mouse when I was trying to resize my Outlook 2019 interface and accidentally started the download. Fortunately, I was able to revert back to my “regular” MS Outlook 2019 C2R.
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Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.3208 * Firefox v116.0.1 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.23050.9-1.1.23060.1005 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.34.275-1.0.2089 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7279 * Microsoft Office 2019 Home and Business 2019 Version 2307 / Build 16626.20134 C2R

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lmacri wrote:

The only way I know how to get rid of this toggle in the Current Release channel without switching to the Semi-Annual Release channel is to create a new DWORD at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\General named HideNewOutlookToggle and give it a value of “1” as suggested in the 07-Oct-2022 AskVG! article [Tip] Show or Hide “Try New Outlook” Toggle Option in Microsoft Outlook Titlebar.  However, I haven’t tried this registry edit and I’m not sure this workaround still works.

I have Outlook 2019 C2R version and I also had the New Outlook “Pre” file installed and I didn’t click anything. I create the registry key and it works great. I have not seen that switch since installing the registry key and that includes after 2 updates. The key works.

HTH, Dana:))

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lmacri

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@SusanBradley

Susan, you have been rather quiet on this nagging issue/topic.  Do you have any further insight to add?

I have not updated my MS Office 2016 C2R for many months over this concern as I can’t afford to have my Outlook program get screwed up.

What’s your advice?

If I get hit, does the Registry additive fix the toggle issue?  Can the New Outlook UWP App be safely uninstalled without harming the installed C2R version, or are we stuck with it?

@WCHS

In another post, you mentioned that you were current with your Office C2R.  Have you encountered the unwanted New Outlook issues?  How did you handle.

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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Susan posted three weeks ago how to shift the navigation icons back to their traditional position:

Susan Bradley wrote:

In Microsoft 365 you can open Outlook, go into file, options, advanced and uncheck the “show apps in Outlook”. The menu bar will move.

Which particular part of new Outlook are you hoping to avoid?

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Her article mainly addresses the MS 365 version that gets security & feature updates.

I/we are addressing the store purchased “Retail” C2R versions which are “suppose” to get security updates but NOT feature updates since a one time purchase.

Apparently some folks have/had been receiving some tests/offers (or whatever you call it) as they updated their C2R  Outlook program as part of the MS Office updates.

I’m trying to avoid all of that – if it is still happening when the monthly C2R updates are applied.

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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windbg

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OK, but I’m curious about which part of new Outlook you don’t like.

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Tex265 wrote:

Her article mainly addresses the MS 365 version that gets security & feature updates.

Hi Tex265:

I think people are talking about two completely different Outlook feature changes in this thread.

Susan Bradley’s 23-Jul-2023 The Dribble Impact describes a feature change being dribbled out to current MS Outlook C2R installations where the menu bar will move, and the registry change at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\ExperimentEcs\Overrides she references in that post will move Outlook’s toolbar to your desired position if disabling the Show Apps in Outlook checkbox at File | Options |Advanced |Options doesn’t work. See the HelpDeskGeek article How to Move Microsoft Outlook’s Toolbar From Side to Bottom. [Just FYI, my MS Office 2019 is fully patched and I haven’t seen the position of my  Outlook menu bar change (yet??)].

That has nothing to do with the “Try the New Outlook” toggle being discussed in this thread that oldfry described in their original post, which is a new MS Outlook for Windows PWA (progressive web app) that is still in preview (beta) and completely replaces MS Outlook C2R as your default mail client when installed. The registry key that removes this toggle from your MS Outlook C2R menu ribbon so you don’t accidentally switch to the “new” Microsoft Outlook for Windows PWA needs to be added at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\General (see AskVG!’s [Tip] Show or Hide “Try the New Outlook” Toggle Option in Microsoft Outlook Titlebar), and even if that toggle is removed from your MS Outlook C2R interface it apparently doesn’t guarantee that the preview (beta) of this new MS Outlook for Windows PWA will not be installed on your system without your permission.
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Cybertooth, PKCano, windbg

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It could have been me who confused the issue, but there are now so many Outlooks I can’t keep track any longer.

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If you have a version of click2run that respects the semi annual enterprise channel IMHO that’s the way to go.

I’m in the @b camp, there are so many dang Outlook versions, we almost need to ask for screen shots so we can all tell what version you unfortunately have.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Tex265 wrote:

… If I get hit, does the Registry additive fix the toggle issue? Can the New Outlook UWP App be safely uninstalled without harming the installed C2R version, or are we stuck with it?

Hi Tex265:

See my 07-Mar-2023 “New” Outlook for Windows UWP App (Preview) Installed Without Permission in the MS Answers (where I post as user Great White North). Adding the HideNewOutlookToggle registry key as instructed in AskVG!’s [Tip] Show or Hide “Try the New Outlook” Toggle Option in Microsoft Outlook Titlebar will remove the toggle switch so you don’t accidentally switch to the “new” Microsoft Outlook for Windows PWA (progressive web app) but there seem to be more and more reports from users who did not toggle on this switch but still had the PWA installed on their system.

If you have the misfortune of having this “new” Microsoft Outlook for Windows PWA preview (beta) installed and activated on your system then see the MS Support article Toggling Out of the New Outlook for Windows Preview which states in part:

“If you toggled into the new Outlook for Windows preview from classic Outlook for Windows, every time you try to launch classic Outlook for Windows you will be redirected to the new Outlook for Windows preview. You can go back to classic Outlook for Windows by selecting the toggle in the new Outlook for Windows preview.”

I removed the last traces of the “new” Microsoft Outlook for Windows PWA from my system with O&O App Buster on 17-May-2023 and my “classic” MS Outlook 2019 is still working correctly.
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Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.3324 * Firefox v116.0.2 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.23070.1004-1.1.23070.1005 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.34.275-1.0.2102 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7279 * Microsoft Office 2019 Home and Business 2019 Version 2307 / Build 16626.20170 Click-to-Run

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For the C2R Office 2016 July update cycle, I did not notice any UI changes. Started with Version 2208 Build 16.0.15601.20676 32-bit for Office and ended with Version 2302 Build 16.0.16130.20690.

However, my configuration has been modified with the previous changes mentioned in my posts in this topic: a successful switch to the “Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel” and two registry changes.

Let’s see what August does to us, later this month.

Windows 10 22H2 desktops & laptops on Dell, HP, ASUS; No servers, no domain.

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Hi oldfry:

Just an update on Microsoft’s plans for the “new” Outlook for Windows progressive web app (PWA):

According to the 22-Sep-2023 How-To Geek article The New Outlook for Windows Has Arrived :

“…Microsoft’s new email app is just intended to replace the Mail and Calendar apps in Windows right now. The company plans to continue adding new features until it’s also comparable to the classic Outlook for Windows (the paid app included in Microsoft 365, and Microsoft Office before that), at which point it will replace the classic Outlook as well. Microsoft said earlier this month that there’s “not a strict timeline yet” for that transition, but it might happen around 2025 or 2026….”.

Some of the information in that article comes from the 12-Sep-2023 How-To Geeks article The Classic Outlook for Windows Isn’t Going Anywhere (for Now).
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windbg

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