Microsoft is overhauling its Outlook app for macOS. It will borrow from its mobile user interface to simplify the user experience and reduce complexity. The redesign is already being tested internally by Microsoft employees ahead of its public debut.
Outlook for Mac looks pretty long in the tooth right now. It still sports almost exactly the same design Microsoft introduced in 2015, and it’s in dire need of an overhaul. Outlook for mobile, on the other hand, is quite the opposite. It’s clean and modern and easy to use.
The Verge reports that Microsoft is now taking the same approach to its desktop apps. A redesign will bring a single-line ribbon with controls, and a smaller set of default commands. The ribbon will remain customizable, so you can tailor the controls to suit you, but it will be much simpler.
A navigation pane on the left side will provide easy access to folders across all your email accounts, just like the switcher in Outlook for iOS. Microsoft will also make big improvements to search to make it faster and more reliable, and the built-in calendar.
Microsoft must win MacBook users
“MacBooks are popular amongst key influencers and decision makers,” Microsoft admits. The company needs to “win these users by delivering the best Outlook has to offer.”
It’s not yet clear when the redesign will be rolling out to Outlook users on macOS, but it is said to be in testing among Microsoft employees. Office 365 subscribers are likely to receive the update first, then it will come with Office 2019 updates.
In the meantime, Microsoft will be adding new features to its existing Outlook app. You can look forward to a new trackpad gesture that lets you delete email by swiping, and the ability to insert tables into emails.
