Microsoft is set to streamline its Outlook experience with an update that synchronizes folder order across all devices, enhancing the consistency of email management for its users.
Scheduled for release in December 2024, this new feature will ensure that folder arrangements on mobile devices align with those on desktop and web versions. This change, highlighted in Microsoft’s 365 Roadmap, represents part of a broader strategy to create a cohesive user experience across platforms.
Unified Folder Sync Rolls Out
Outlook users currently enjoy the flexibility of customizing folder orders independently across desktop, web, and mobile versions. However, with the forthcoming update, any unique folder sorting on mobile apps will be overridden to match the arrangement on the web or desktop applications.
The Microsoft 365 Admin Center explained that this shift is designed to promote uniformity across platforms, though it temporarily restricts customization directly within mobile apps. Users will need to manage their folder sequences from non-mobile platforms until further updates potentially restore this capability.
This synchronization feature ensures that email organization remains consistent, simplifying transitions between devices for those who work across multiple Outlook versions.
Copilot Pro Expands AI Customization Options
Adding to its personalization toolkit, Microsoft Outlook now features AI-powered themes, available to users with a Copilot Pro subscription. This service, priced at $20 per month, allows subscribers to transform their inboxes with dynamic themes influenced by global locations or local weather conditions. Users can select how frequently these themes refresh, ranging from every few hours to once a month, adding a level of personalization not previously available.
The themes are accessible across platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and web. Outlook’s Appearance Settings will provide options for these visual updates, allowing users to choose between realistic and stylized effects. Microsoft noted, “If you’ve enabled location permissions in Outlook, the My Location theme will bring you imagery uniquely inspired by your locale, dynamically updating for you as you head out the door on a trip or vacation” (source: Microsoft).
Earlier AI and Productivity Enhancements
Earlier in 2024, Microsoft incorporated Copilot into the classic Outlook for Windows, bringing a suite of AI-driven tools to the platform. These features included the “Summarize” function, which condenses lengthy email threads, and “Draft,” which assists in composing entire emails based on brief prompts. The “Coaching” tool provides real-time feedback to improve writing efficiency and tone.
Focus on Security and App Integration
Security upgrades have also been a major focus for Outlook. In September 2024, Microsoft transitioned users from Basic Authentication—an older model that transmits user credentials—to Modern Authentication, which uses token-based protocols like OAuth 2.0 and supports multi-factor authentication (MFA). This move aimed to reduce security risks associated with traditional password-based logins.
As part of its broader modernization plan, Microsoft announced earlier in March that support for standalone Mail and Calendar apps would end by December 2024. Users are advised to switch to the new unified Outlook app, referred to as “One Outlook,” which consolidates the desktop, web, and mobile versions into a shared codebase.
This approach facilitates consistent updates and ensures users benefit from the latest features, such as advanced spam filtering and integrated media options. Microsoft plans to continue supporting the classic Outlook app for perpetual license holders until at least 2029.
Embedded Media and Enhanced Communication
In May 2024, Microsoft introduced a feature that allows users to embed Microsoft Stream videos directly in emails sent from Outlook for the web and the new Windows version. This development simplifies multimedia communication by enabling recipients to view video content without leaving their inbox. Microsoft Stream, a video-sharing service in the Microsoft 365 suite, is designed for enterprise collaboration, enhancing internal messaging with rich media content.
