M365 Changelog: Open Word, Excel, and PowerPoint attachments directly in desktop apps in the new Microsoft Outlook for Windows

MC710412 – In the new Microsoft Outlook for Windows, when users double-click Word, Excel, and PowerPoint attachments, they will open directly in their respective desktop apps instead of opening in in-app previews.

This message is associated with Roadmap ID: 167891

When this will happen: 

Standard release: Microsoft will begin rolling out in late January 2024 and expect to complete by mid-March 2024.

How this will affect your organization:

This feature is designed to streamline the process of opening attachments in desktop apps by reducing the number of steps needed. 

What you need to do to prepare:

There is no action needed to prepare for this change. You may want to notify your users about this change and update any relevant documentation as appropriate.