Microsoft had some news for Classic Outlook users this week, though it wasn't an extension of support or an admission that new Outlook has failed to win over the holdouts. Instead, Copilot is getting a redesigned entry point above the ribbon.

The rest of the Microsoft 365 has been has liberally daubed with Copilot, and venerable Classic Outlook is no exception.

In a message posted to its administration portal, Microsoft says the redesigned entry point will make the experience "more visually appealing and consistent".

The rollout begins in late August for users with Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses and will be "available by default." Administrators may want to get ahead of the inevitable "why is this thing above my ribbon?" support tickets.

The update is also listed on the Microsoft 365 roadmap, where Microsoft says the redesign "anchors Copilot as one connected system across Microsoft 365, surfacing relevant actions that help you stay in flow."

The move brings Classic Outlook into line with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint where Copilot already lives above the ribbon. It can surface "AI-powered recommendations based on the task at hand," including summarizing an email or composing a response. The existing side pane remains; the redesigned button just provides a more familiar way to open it.

Microsoft has come unstuck in recent months over design decisions regarding Copilot and its productivity applications. A floating Copilot button in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint did not meet with universal approval. It led to a rare climbdown by the Windows giant as it allowed users to banish the button to the ribbon area.

In Classic Outlook, the Copilot entry point will remain above the ribbon rather than floating over messages, so users who objected to the assistant obscuring their work elsewhere in Office can take some comfort: Copilot will be easier to find, but it will not yet be hovering over the inbox.

As for the future changes to Classic Outlook? Microsoft says existing installations will remain supported until at least 2029, while the opt-out phase of the migration to new Outlook has been booted to 2027.  ®