Microsoft announced a redesigned Copilot entry point for Classic Outlook, placing a new button above the ribbon to make the experience "more visually appealing and consistent." The rollout begins in late August for users with Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses and will be "available by default." The update aligns Classic Outlook with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, where Copilot already resides above the ribbon, surfacing "AI-powered recommendations based on the task at hand," such as summarizing an email or composing a response. The existing side pane remains; the redesigned button provides a more familiar way to open it. Microsoft previously faced backlash over a floating Copilot button in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, leading to a rare climbdown that allowed users to banish the button to the ribbon. In Classic Outlook, the Copilot entry point will remain above the ribbon rather than floating over messages. Microsoft stated existing Classic Outlook installations will remain supported until at least 2029, and the opt-out phase of the migration to new Outlook has been booted to 2027.