Microsoft insists the new Outlook delivers a “native” experience — but I’m not convinced

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Microsoft is eager for users to adopt the new Outlook. It seems even a recent update that disrupted the Mail & Calendar app hasn’t convinced everyone to make the switch.

As an analyst, I’ve been reviewing the company’s latest blog post, and it highlights the advantages of the new Outlook app. It’s been the standard email and calendar application for Windows 11 users since late last year, and the post details why that transition has been beneficial.

The redesigned Outlook is built using web technology, meaning it will feel similar to the existing Outlook web version. Most of the new features Microsoft is promoting actually work in both the new app and the online version.

  • Pin important emails
  • Sort and search for attendees
  • Apply new themes and colored mailbox folders
  • Add shared mailboxes as accounts
  • Use Copilot-powered inbox prioritization and email drafting
  • Create structured, professional, and richly formatted newsletters
  • and so much more!

The updated Outlook offers features that weren’t available in the Mail & Calendar app, like the ability to quickly remove multiple emails at once. Plus, it works seamlessly with other Microsoft 365 applications and services.

The new Outlook displays advertisements if you don’t have a subscription, and it was initially missing some features found in the Mail & Calendar apps. For example, users couldn’t even open attachments without an internet connection until recently.

Many users miss Mail & Calendar and would like to see it return. Wino Mail tries to recreate that experience and does a good job, although it doesn’t quite match up to the original Microsoft application.

What is a native Windows app?

The term “native” when describing Windows 11 apps isn’t as clear-cut as it once was. Previously, “native” usually meant an app built specifically for Windows using the Universal Windows Platform. Now, it can apply to several different kinds of applications.

Microsoft recommends WinUI and the Windows SDK for creating apps, but there are other options.

You can build genuine Windows apps using React Native for Desktop, creating applications with the UWP XAML framework. Alternatively, developers can also choose Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF).

Microsoft’s documentation mentions Win32, Windows Forms, and UWP as alternative native platforms, but notably doesn’t include Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) in that list.

The latest version of Outlook is a PWA, and I see that as meaning it’s not a traditional, natively installed app. However, Microsoft might define it differently.

The built-in email app feels outdated and poorly designed. Compared to other standard Windows 11 apps like Paint, Notepad, the Microsoft Store, and Settings, it looks noticeably worse and doesn’t fit in with the overall Windows aesthetic. It really stands out in a negative way.

Zac Bowden

According to Microsoft’s blog, the new Outlook is designed to feel like a fully integrated part of Windows, offering the features and performance you’d expect from a traditional desktop application. While not strictly a native app, it aims to provide a similar user experience.

The latest version of Outlook is essentially a website designed to work within Microsoft’s Edge browser, though it does include some extra features. Microsoft is right to suggest it offers the features you’d expect from a fully-installed application. However, it’s important to note that it isn’t a traditional, fully-installed application itself.

If the new Outlook actually worked well, most of these issues wouldn’t be a problem. Unfortunately, people have been criticizing it because it’s slow, poorly designed, and missing important features.

As you may know from our previous articles, our Senior Editor Zac Bowden and I haven’t been fans of the new Outlook. Last summer, Zac stated it wasn’t polished enough for a full release. While the app has gotten better, I still don’t think it’s quite ready for everyday use.

It’s worrying that Microsoft is so aggressively pushing people to adopt the new Outlook. They’ve essentially required Windows 10 users to switch, disabled the older Mail & Calendar app, and are now actively trying to persuade people to embrace the change through blog posts.

It’s okay to promote products, but a truly better app should gain users naturally – people shouldn’t need to be constantly pushed to switch.

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2025-09-18 00:41