The new version of Outlook on Windows benefits from an important update by now supporting Gmail accounts, but also Google’s Calendar and Contacts modules. Convenient to avoid going back and forth between applications!
Microsoft relies heavily on Outlook to encourage users to set foot in its ecosystem. After making its famous email client free on macOS, the company continues to improve its new version on Windows – which is currently only available to members of Windows Insider, the special program that allows users to test new products in preview (see our article). The big news is support for third-party accounts, starting with Gmail. A considerable saving of time on a daily basis for those who use several email addresses – including one at Google and another at Microsoft, for example, since there is no longer any juggling between different applications. We can thus manage all emails in one place, in Outlook. In addition, unlike the “classic” version of Outlook, the new version also supports Google Calendar (Calendar) and Google Contacts. Enough to make the new Outlook a real central for mail, contacts and organization…
Gmail in Outlook: Support for Google Calendar and Contacts
In a blog post, Margie Clinton, product manager on the Outlook team, explains that the new version of the email client “only supported accounts from Microsoft, whether work, school or personal. But Outlook is for everyone, no matter what accounts they’re using – just like on our mobile and Mac apps. Today , we will start rolling out support for Gmail accounts for those using the preview of the new Outlook for Windows… Our intention is for everyone to be able to access all of their email – in one place – on any device Windows 10 or Windows 11”. Also, the new Outlook now supports Google Calendar and Google Contacts, which was a “popular demand”.
Only available to Windows Insider members, the new Outlook for Windows is still in beta. To take advantage of this, users must use the “Try the new Outlook” toggle in their classic Outlook for Windows or in the Mail and Calendar apps. This toggle allows you to switch between the new version and the previous one at any time, without losing your data or emails. To integrate Gmail with Outlook, one needs to enable the feature by selecting the “Add Account” option at the bottom of the folder pane or by clicking on Accounts > Email Accounts > Settings. All you have to do is follow the instructions to authenticate.
Microsoft has also added many other features to its new version of Outlook, such as the ability to add polls to emails and join a Skype or Teams call directly from the email client, support for multiple time zones schedules in the calendar, the addition of daily weather, the possibility of tracking packages or even checking in for flights directly from the inbox. Functions that were already present on the classic version of Outlook are also back. Support for Yahoo and iCloud as well as the ability to connect to a mailbox via IMAP are also expected to arrive soon.