Are you able to invoke free Outlook for Windows using a Windows Search for Mail?

[britechguy]

Microsoft is going to drive me to drink with all the *%$t they're pulling with both New Outlook (over 365) and Outlook for Windows.

For a long time, I was able to force invoke the free Outlook for Windows app on my machine, which has M365, by doing a Windows Search on Mail and invoking Mail. What would open was the free Outlook app. For several months now, that stopped being possible, but as of today, it's possible again.

When it was not possible, what would happen is when I invoked Mail the old Mail app window would appear for a split second, close, and then New Outlook over 365 was opening instead. As of today, when I tried it again, I'm getting Outlook for Windows.

The difference is obvious now because the there are only 3 ribbon options in Outlook for Windows while there are quite a few more in New Outlook.

I'm curious what's happening for others who have M365 Personal or Family on their machines.

 

[fincoder]

I use Outlook (classic) from 365 Family and it's currently running. I just tried running Mail and after the Mail splash screen it opened Outlook (new). It has 3 ribbon options, but when I go to Settings > Premium it knows I have a subscription. How to get the full version? Current version info:

Microsoft Outlook Version: 1.2025.312.200 (Production)
Client Version: 20250307002.15
WebView2 Version: 133.0.3065.92 (Stable)
Session ID: b2b9b48d-96e5-5146-ba70-0d082bab8a7a

 

[britechguy]

@fincoder,

This is what I'm finding again today (and I think I made a mistake when I thought Outlook for Windows was being invoked).

It makes it a grand PITA when you need to support residential clients who only have free Outlook for Windows that replaced Windows 10/11 Mail, People, & Calendar and there seems to be no way to force invoke that, as opposed to New Outlook.

I want to make certain I'm looking at what a given client is looking at.