Microsoft will force Windows 10 machines to switch the mail app for Outlook starting next month. This time around there will be no going back, either you like it, or you find another one.
Despite keeping the good old Windows 10 mail app updated and polished since 2015, Microsoft has decided to push users towards Outlook. It might be an attempt to reduce operating costs or simply give people one less reason to cling onto the ageing operating system, which reaches end of support come October 14, 2025. Whatever the reason is, many have categorically refused to move for multiple reasons.
There is no doubt that Outlook is much more powerful when it comes to professional tasks, but for millions of regular users, a basic app to check emails is all they need. Whether its the sluggish and bloated UI, slow startup, unreliable notifications, or in-app ads, Outlook feels like a downgrade on many levels compared to the Windows mail app. I, myself, have tried manysolutions to block Outlook’s updates to varying degrees of success.
Unfortunately, things will change on January 28, as Microsoft plans to completely replace the mail app with Outlook in an optional Windows update. While avoiding or blocking the download might seem tempting, it’s never worth the trade-off as it puts your security at risk. And eventually, Microsoft finds a way to push all its optional updates as mandatory anyway.
Microsoft hasn’t had the best run at things lately, seemingly alienating its users on every other occasion. A mandatory Copilot keyboard switch and Recall AI spring to mind, alongside in-app ads and annoying popups asking you to switch to Windows 11. Every step forward, two steps backward follow.
Knowing how important emails are, given their sensitivity in nature and role in all types of spam and fishing attempts, I can’t in good conscience recommend you skip out on this one. Since there’s no way to block it indefinitely without compromise, all I can suggest is deleting it in favour of a third-party app, but the question remains which one to go for.
Here’s hoping Microsoft acts on user feedback, but more realistically given Outlook will become the default on fresh Windows installs, you can consider this an open letter to developers as we hunt for a lightweight replacement.
