Microsoft’s documentation gets similarly confused. Either way, Microsoft’s paying customers waste a lot of time and money figuring out which ‘Outlook’ applies. The confusion that arises for customers and Microsoft’s own staff (especially in support) either didn’t occur to these decision makers or they just didn’t care. But often that’s not done, especially at Microsoft. That’s OK as long as the ‘Outlook’ name is followed by something specific like “Outlook desktop for Windows” or “Outlook app for iOS”. Misguided Microsoft marketing mavens, possibly over a long, liquid lunch, decided it would be a good idea to use the existing ‘Outlook’ name for all of Redmond’s consumer email services and programs.

And there’s - the former Hotmail service. We regularly get emails asking for help with ‘Outlook’ where the writer doesn’t understand the difference between the software or email service that use the same name.Īll that is before you consider the version of Outlook software (eg 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 or 365), Outlook for Windows (there’s now TWO “Outlook for Windows”!), Outlook for Mac or the Outlook mobile apps (for Apple or Android devices) or the Outlook Lite mobile app. Too often people talk of using ‘Outlook’ but that could mean Outlook the software (there are several types), the Outlook mobile apps (for Apple or Android), Outlook in a web browser, or the mail host. It’s important to know exactly which ‘Outlook’ you’re using because the support, help and tips are quite different for each.

You’re totally excused for being confused because most people are, including many that work for Microsoft! That’s before counting past versions that are still supported. Once upon a time there was just one ‘ Microsoft Outlook‘ but these days there are at least ten current programs or services under the ‘Outlook’ name * and two programs called “Outlook for Windows”.

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