Microsoft is officially killing Windows Mail and Calendar by year’s end

Users of three older Microsoft apps will soon have to get ready for a changeover. As the company announced in a support document, the Windows Mail, Calendar, and People apps will no longer be supported once this year comes to a close.

The classic Outlook app is also on track to being deprecated, but on a longer timeline. In recent months, Microsoft has repeatedly issued pop-ups informing users that they should switch to the new Outlook, but it wasn’t clear how long the grace period would be for those who weren’t ready to make the switch. Now there’s finally some clarity.

What is the deadline?

The Windows Mail, Calendar, and People apps will no longer be supported come December 31, 2024. You’ll still be able to open the apps, but you won’t be able to do certain things like send and receive email or create appointments in your schedule.

The classic Outlook app is on a different, more progressive migration timeline, as explained in this support document. We’re currently in the phase where the new Outlook app is publicly available but still on an opt-in basis. We’ll soon move into the on-by-default, opt-out-basis phase. Then, in the phase after that, classic Outlook will no longer be available.

What you can do right now

If you’re still using Windows Mail, Calendar, People, or classic Outlook, you’ll start receiving new pop-ups (if you haven’t already) notifying you that end-of-support is coming up.

Your two options are to either accept and switch over to the new Outlook app, or decline and stay with your current app(s) for the time being. However, the pop-up will continue to appear if you choose the latter, and you’ll still only be able to do so until the end of the year.

Once we reach December 31, 2024, you’ll have no choice but to switch to the new Outlook app or switch to a third-party email and/or calendar app. You can find the new Outlook app in the Microsoft Store under the name Outlook for Windows.

Related: Sick of Outlook? Now’s a great time to try Thunderbird

How to transfer your data

Microsoft offers the option of exporting all your data and emails to the new Outlook app. This should happen automatically when you accept the switch, and this is the easiest path to take.

However, you can also manually export emails and contacts from Windows Mail, Calendar, and People, then manually import that data into the new Outlook app. Microsoft has outlined the step-by-step instructions on how to do that in this support document.

Microsoft emphasizes that the new Outlook app is an improved and more secure version of its previous email apps. However, it remains to be seen whether users will be satisfied with the switch.

Further reading: Key details to know about the new Outlook app