Microsoft Announces New Outlook for Mac Redesign for October Launch

Microsoft has showcased a new Outlook app for Mac, bringing a new UI design, more features, and better performance.

Microsoft today announced a huge update for Outlook for Mac, with a raft of new features and improvements coming to the Mac email client. The update comes as part of Microsoft’s Ignite event and is calculated to arrive in mid-October, just in time for MacOS Big Sur.

“We wanted you to feel at home while using Outlook for Mac without sacrificing what makes Outlook, well, Outlook,” said Microsoft marketing program manager Jessica Wilczek in a blog post.

One of the headline new features in Outlook for Mac is its underlying Microsoft sync technology. This results in faster and more reliable performance, Microsoft says, with reduced email load times, quick account syncing, plus more relevant search results.

Searches within the new Outlook for Mac app use the cloud sync technology, and because Microsoft Search is integrated within the new email client, searches return more relevant results quicker. New advanced search filters, such as selecting specific date ranges, are another benefit.

There has also been a wide-ranging visual overhaul that takes many cues from Big Sur. This includes rounded window corners, new sidebar icons, and greater use of white space to create a lighter feel that fits in well with Apple’s latest operating system update.

My Day integration within the primary mail view ensures that users’ messages, agenda, tasks, and calendar highlights are visible with a single glance, allowing for improved productivity.

All told, there’s really just one notable absence from this Mac-focused update: While the new Outlook continues to play nice with Office 365, Outlook.com, and Google accounts, it won’t support Apple’s iCloud email accounts at launch.