Microsoft won't let you use the new Outlook app for Windows unless you have installed Edge on your PC

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You might need to have Microsoft Edge installed on your Windows PC to access the new Outlook app.

Outlook Client Hero
(Image credit: Future)

What you need to know

  • Several users have posted screenshots on Reddit showcasing an error message asking them to install Microsoft Edge on their devices while trying to access the new Outlook app for Windows.
  • The main reason why this is happening is because the app leverages the Microsoft Edge Webview 2 for various web functions.
  • Mozilla recently placed Microsoft under fire for using deceitful and harmful designs to get people to use Microsoft Edge on Windows devices forcefully.

Despite Microsoft's heavy investment and a big push for AI on Microsoft Edge and Bing, Google continues to dominate the search and browser market share. But recent reports show that the tech giant isn't taking this lightly. 

Earlier this month, Mozilla placed Microsoft under fire for using harmful designs and deceptive tactics to give Edge a competitive advantage over other browsers on Windows. And now, it seems Microsoft has a new "trick" under its sleeve designed to get more people to use its Chromium browser, Microsoft Edge. 

It seems having Microsoft Edge installed is a mandatory requirement for running the new Outlook app on Windows 11 and Windows 10 (via MSPowerUser). Several users have posted screenshots on Reddit with error messages indicating they need Microsoft Edge installed on their Windows PC to access the new Outlook app.

The new Outlook requires the latest Edge version to work. from r/assholedesign

This error message pop-up is that the new Outlook app leverages the Microsoft Edge Webview 2 for various web functions. As such, users will need to have Microsoft Edge installed on their devices to access the new Outlook's web-based features.

It's Microsoft Edge versus other browsers at this point

Microsoft Edge logo

(Image credit: Windows Central)

In a report by Mozilla earlier this month, the company indicated that Microsoft doesn't allow users to use any browser as their default setup on Windows. Many users echo these sentiments while simultaneously complaining about how bloated Microsoft Edge has gotten over the past few years.

RELATED: All these features are on the way to Outlook in 2024

This isn't the first time this is happening, either. Last year, Microsoft Edge was being forced on users again through Microsoft Outlook and Teams. Users were forced to open links from Azure Active Directory accounts, and Microsoft accounts in Edge by default, regardless of their default browser settings. This might be another reason the new desktop Outlook is a bad idea. 

Outlook (Preview) | Microsoft Store

Outlook (Preview) | Microsoft Store

The new Outlook app for Windows brings a whole new redesign and is faster and lighter than the previous Mail app for Windows. Users can skip the A/B testing and download it from the Microsoft Store directly. 

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Kevin Okemwa
Kevin Okemwa
Contributor

Kevin Okemwa is a seasoned tech journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya with lots of experience covering the latest trends and developments in the industry at Windows Central. With a passion for innovation and a keen eye for detail, he has written for leading publications such as OnMSFT, MakeUseOf, and Windows Report, providing insightful analysis and breaking news on everything revolving around the Microsoft ecosystem. You'll also catch him occasionally contributing at iMore about Apple and AI. While AFK and not busy following the ever-emerging trends in tech, you can find him exploring the world or listening to music.

11 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Cosmocronos
    Not a big loss: the app is just junk. How MS would even consider it a replacement for Outlook desktop is beyond comprehension.
    Reply
  • RabidPedagog
    Considering how the new Outlook app is little more than a link to the web site, there is no reason to require Edge. Other browsers can turn pages into apps just as effectively.
    Reply
  • GraniteStateColin
    I actually don't have a problem with this -- if MS wishes to build some functionality into Edge as the browser that ships with Windows, and then ship some apps that require Edge be installed, I don't really see any downside to that. Now, if they said you had to use Edge to visit certain websites, that would be bad, but this doesn't sound like that at all.

    Having said that, I find the new Outlook to be completely unusable. It's missing many functions I need from Desktop Outlook, including Rules. But even beyond the advanced features, even the basic email editor is painful to use. In EVERY other program from MS (and most third parties too) the menu key on the keyboard and right-click on a red-underlined misspelled word brings up the menu to fix. New Outlook completely changes this. Also, in New Outlook, if you have a long list of folders, you can't drag and drop a message from the Inbox (or any other folder) to a folder that's not currently visible. You have to manually scroll the folder list first. This is also completely different and worse than how it works anywhere else where when you drag to the top of a list it scrolls down and drag to the bottom and the list scrolls up so you can drop in any folder.

    These are just basic UI features that I am baffled MS has broken in New Outlook. I feel like I'm using Mac OS -- it looks fine, but is functionally painful.
    Reply
  • RabidPedagog
    GraniteStateColin said:
    I actually don't have a problem with this -- if MS wishes to build some functionality into Edge as the browser that ships with Windows, and then ship some apps that require Edge be installed, I don't really see any downside to that. Now, if they said you had to use Edge to visit certain websites, that would be bad, but this doesn't sound like that at all.

    Having said that, I find the new Outlook to be completely unusable. It's missing many functions I need from Desktop Outlook, including Rules. But even beyond the advanced features, even the basic email editor is painful to use. In EVERY other program from MS (and most third parties too) the menu key on the keyboard and right-click on a red-underlined misspelled word brings up the menu to fix. New Outlook completely changes this. Also, in New Outlook, if you have a long list of folders, you can't drag and drop a message from the Inbox (or any other folder) to a folder that's not currently visible. You have to manually scroll the folder list first. This is also completely different and worse than how it works anywhere else where when you drag to the top of a list it scrolls down and drag to the bottom and the list scrolls up so you can drop in any folder.

    These are just basic UI features that I am baffled MS has broken in New Outlook. I feel like I'm using Mac OS -- it looks fine, but is functionally painful.
    If it were useful, it couldn't be called a Microsoft application. :)
    Reply
  • GraniteStateColin
    RabidPedagog said:
    If it were useful, it couldn't be called a Microsoft application. :)

    Well, only unuseful in contrast to the powerhouse that is Outlook. :)

    But it does have its pluses. It's lighter and faster. The UI looks more modern, where desktop Outlook looks pretty old and has some quirks of its own with menu and color. But I'll take those for the features and working UI for writing and filing email messages over the prettier and faster new Outlook any day.

    Hopefully, new Outlook will eventually gain more of these capabilities and become a worthy successor, but still far from that now.
    Reply
  • Arun Topez
    I could have sworn I read somewhere that they were separating Web View 2 from Edge that way it would be part of the OS/Store updates vs requiring Edge installed. But I can't find that article anywhere. Maybe I was just dreaming that lol.
    Reply
  • LPSGizmo
    I can confirm that Teams (new version) also requires Edge to be installed. But not a problem for me since it's the only browser I use now.
    Reply
  • Cody Patterson
    Why does it matter? It doesn’t hurt to leave Edge installed for those who don’t like it, just don’t use it. And for those of us who realize it’s the superior browser, we can use it without adding bloatware like Opera and Chrome to our computers. ;)
    Reply
  • GraniteStateColin
    Cody Patterson said:
    Why does it matter? It doesn’t hurt to leave Edge installed for those who don’t like it, just don’t use it. And for those of us who realize it’s the superior browser, we can use it without adding bloatware like Opera and Chrome to our computers. ;)
    100% agree (well, I actually like Opera, but 100% with you in principle :-) )
    Reply
  • bradavon
    Why does no one lose it when Apple and Google do this? Only Microsoft. I don't get it.

    You can't remov Safari on Apple Anytihng or Chrome on Google Anything.

    Edge is a core part of th e OS. All operating systems now have Apps you can't remove. You think Windows is bad? Jeesh try MacOS. It's chocker with bloat.
    Reply