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Microsoft Outlook

By Alexander S. Gillis

What is Microsoft Outlook?

Microsoft Outlook is the preferred email client used to send and receive emails by accessing Microsoft Exchange Server email. Outlook also provides access contact, email calendar and task management features.

Microsoft Outlook may be used as a standalone application, but it is also part of the Microsoft Office suite and Office 365, which includes Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. Outlook can be used as a standalone personal email software, and business customers can use Outlook as multiuser software. Users can integrate it with Microsoft SharePoint to share documents and project notes, collaborate with colleagues, send reminders and more.

There is a free, browser-based version of Outlook with limited features. Users who don't need the full-fledged app can opt for that version rather than a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Microsoft Outlook features

Basic features of Outlook include the email service, email search, flagging and color coding, along with preview pane options. The calendar function enables scheduling, viewing and communicating about appointments and meetings. Outlook provides 99 gigabytes of archiving data and the ability to set automatic replies.

Additional Outlook features include the following:

Version history

Outlook was released to the public in 1997. Since then, Microsoft has updated the email client with new versions that add more features. Notable versions include the following:

Microsoft is working on replacing its Windows 10 Mail and Calendar apps, and Win 32 Outlook client with one client for Windows and Mac. Future versions of Microsoft Outlook may include Outlook and Teams integrations. Microsoft has revealed it is working on a feature that enables users to run apps that were built for Teams in Outlook.

Learn more about Outlook features, including ones that improve the mobile user experience.

11 Mar 2022

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