M365 Changelog: (Updated) Updated handling of Microsoft Office documents in Microsoft Outlook for iOS and Android

MC788952 – Updated August 20, 2024: Microsoft has updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience.

With this feature update, if both the Microsoft 365 app and the standalone apps for Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, or Microsoft PowerPoint are installed on a user’s mobile device, the standalone app will be given preference for opening its respective file type over the Microsoft 365 app.

When this will happen:

General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): Microsoft will begin rolling out early September 2024 (previously early August) and expects to complete by mid-October 2024 (previously mid-September).

How this will affect your organization:

Currently in Microsoft Outlook for iOS and Android, if users have both the Microsoft 365 app and the standalone apps for Word, Excel, or PowerPoint installed on their device, users will be prompted in Outlook mobile to open the document with the Microsoft 365 app. With this change, the user will instead be prompted to use the standalone app that fits the document type. 

What you need to do to prepare:

Review the app management policies for your organization. If you currently restrict users to only the use of the Microsoft 365 app for document opening and editing, consider allowing the standalone apps for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for use as well. You also may want to notify your users about this change and update your training and documentation as appropriate.