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Microsoft will stop supporting Windows Mail/Calendar on Dec 31, rolls out Copilot integration for Outlook and Gmail, and retires Outlook Lite on Android by May
Microsoft announced that the built‑in Windows Mail, Calendar and People apps will cease receiving updates after Dec 31, forcing users to migrate to the newer Outlook for Windows app; the same week the company began rolling out Copilot integration that lets the AI access personal Outlook and Gmail data, while Outlook Lite for Android will lose mailbox access on May 25 2026 [1][3][2].
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| End‑of‑support date | Dec 31 2024 for Windows Mail, Calendar, People apps |
| Outlook for Windows GA | Aug 2024 (general availability) |
| Outlook Lite shutdown | May 25 2026 (mailbox access disabled) |
| Copilot personal integration | Rolling out to Windows 11 Insiders (2024) |
Microsoft set Dec 31 2024 as the final day for the legacy Mail, Calendar and People apps that ship with Windows 11. After that date, the apps will no longer send or receive email, effectively forcing users onto the newer Outlook for Windows client, which reached general availability in August 2024 [1]. The move is part of a broader strategy to consolidate Outlook experiences across desktop, web and mobile, with enterprise customers receiving a 12‑month notice before the classic Outlook desktop app is phased out. Existing perpetual‑license versions of Outlook will remain supported until at least 2029, indicating a gradual migration rather than an abrupt cut‑over.
In a parallel development, Microsoft’s Copilot Windows app now lets users link their Microsoft and Google accounts, granting the AI access to Outlook email, contacts and calendar as well as Gmail and Google Calendar [2]. The feature, currently limited to Windows 11 Insider builds, requires users to enable connectors for OneDrive, Outlook, Google Drive, Gmail and Google Calendar. Once enabled, Copilot can retrieve specific emails, locate files, and surface calendar events on command. This mirrors capabilities already available in Copilot’s web and mobile versions, but extending it to the Windows desktop environment deepens the AI’s role in everyday productivity.
Microsoft confirmed that Outlook Lite, the lightweight Android‑only email client, will lose mailbox access on May 25 2026, after which the app will still open but be unable to fetch or send messages [3]. The shutdown follows a six‑month block on new installs and reflects a shift toward the feature‑rich Outlook Mobile app as the sole offering for Android and iOS. Users are encouraged to upgrade via an in‑app prompt or by downloading Outlook Mobile from the Play Store; all existing email, calendar items and attachments will remain accessible after sign‑in.
These coordinated moves signal Microsoft’s push to unify its email and calendar experience under a single, AI‑enhanced Outlook brand, while retiring legacy apps that no longer fit its security and feature roadmap. The success of the migration will hinge on how smoothly users transition to the newer clients and whether Copilot’s personal‑service integration delivers measurable productivity gains.
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Microsoft was founded on April 4, 1975, by Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
Microsoft's IPO occurred on March 13, 1986, valuing the company at about $520 million.
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