The new Outlook (in preview) did seem to be enforcing a Microsoft 365 software license in a way that other Outlook software has never done before. Happily that’s been fixed. Here’s what happened, to explain and debunk stories still going around.
Outlook (new) is the preview web app that Microsoft is developing. It will eventually replace Outlook desktop for Windows/Mac and replace Windows Mail, Calendar and People in Windows 11 during 2024.
In Outlook (new) preview releases around October 2023, people were having trouble setting up some new mailboxes hosted by Microsoft 365. Specifically Microsoft 365 plans that did not include a licence for Office/Outlook desktop software.
That problem is now fixed, but the stories persist that Outlook (new) is licensed more strictly that current or classic Outlook.
Microsoft quietly (too quietly), changed how Outlook (new) behaved. We may never know if it was a bug or an attempt to more strictly enforce desktop software rules. (Our money is on a bug).
Outlook (new) will link to any compatible mailbox as long as the software is installed using a Microsoft account that’s linked to an Office desktop software license (e.g. Microsoft 365 Personal/Family, business, enterprise or education plan which includes a software licence.). In other words, the same rule that applies to Microsoft Office/Outlook software now.
What happened
Back in late 2023, attempts to link Outlook (new) to some Microsoft 365 plan or Exchange Server mailboxes were greeted with a message like this:
“This account is not supported in Outlook for Windows due to the license provided by your work or school. Try to login with another account or go to Outlook on the web.”
It’s a typically non-specific error message – what’s going on?
Microsoft 365 business/enterprise/education plans can be divided into two groups; those that include the right to use Office software (Windows/Mac) and the plans that don’t (web browser or mobile apps only). Most also come with an Exchange Server mailbox.
For example: Microsoft 365 ‘Business’ plans come with cheaper options (Basic) which don’t have Office software or the more expensive plans (Standard or Premium) which include a licence for the desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
For as long as Outlook has existed, you’ve been able to connect with any compatible mailbox. It didn’t matter what software license applied to the Microsoft mailbox compared to the license for Outlook software.
It’s quite common for people to use their personal Outlook Win/Mac software (Home, Personal or perpetual license) to link with a business/work/education mailbox hosted by Microsoft.
New Outlook preview did seem to be looking at the licensing rules for Microsoft 365 mailbox / plan. If the mailbox plan does NOT include Office desktop apps then new Outlook didn’t work (because new Outlook is a desktop app). It appeared to be a Microsoft’s trick to force people to switch to more expensive Microsoft 365 plans.
