Using Outlook for emails may finally get less annoying

Chrome and Edge set to get an Outlook extension at last

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Microsoftis set to make a major upgrade to its Outlookemailservice that should make it much easier to use on some of the most popular browsers around.

The company has revealed it is at work on abrowserextension forOutlookonMicrosoft Edge, as well as a version forGoogle Chrome.

Microsoft says that the new release, which will also cover Exchange for Business, is still in development at the moment, but should roll out before the end of July 2021.

Outlook extension

In a posting on theMicrosoft 365 roadmap, the company stated that the update would “brings you the power of mail, calendar, contacts, and tasks using an icon in Microsoft Edge”.

The extension will allow users to quickly access their Outlook work account or Outlook.com or Hotmail account without needing to switch to another tab or app.

Microsoft 365 already has a similar extension within Edge, where users can click on the platform’s icon to get a quick-access dropdown menu of all the top tools they need.

Googlealso has something similar for its Workspace suite of tools, with users able to access the likes of Docs, Sheets, Meet and more by clicking on an icon in any new tab.

Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!

The update is the latest release from Microsoft as it looks to ensure Outlook is part of the newhybrid workingworld of work as employees return to offices around the globe.

To support this change, the company recently revealed that Outlook calendar markers will soonautomatically contain links to join meetings via the web. The feature will support Teams and Skype sessions only, although Microsoft has suggested third-party video meetings may become compatible later down the line.

Outlook itself may begetting a whole new lookfor this new world of work, with a recent post from Microsoft apparently showing a unified email client forWindows 10that will replace the current Mail and Calendar apps shipping with itsoperating system.

When released, the new client, dubbed Project Monarch, will reportedly work across Windows 10, macOS and the web, allowing Microsoft to replace the existing Outlook Win32, UWP and Outlook for Mac clients with a single unit offering a unified experience across platforms in a similar way to how Outlook for the web works.

ViaMSPowerUser

Mike Moore is Deputy Editor at TechRadar Pro. He has worked as a B2B and B2C tech journalist for nearly a decade, including at one of the UK’s leading national newspapers and fellow Future title ITProPortal, and when he’s not keeping track of all the latest enterprise and workplace trends, can most likely be found watching, following or taking part in some kind of sport.

7 myths about email security everyone should stop believing

Best Usenet client of 2024

Arcane season 2 finally gave us the huge Caitlyn and Vi moment we’ve been waiting for – and its creators say ‘we couldn’t have done it in season one’