M365 Changelog: New options for attachments in Outlook on the web

MC249244 – Updated April 29, 2021: Microsoft has updated the rollout timeline below and updated the body to include links to additional details. Thank you for your patience.

This new Outlook on the web feature will bring users an updated experience when receiving email attachments. Microsoft is updating the look and contents of the attachments, and consolidating all options under a single menu (similar to Outlook for Mac and Outlook for Windows).

Additionally, users in tenants with OneDrive enabled will see new options in this menu and in the attachment previewer for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. This will provide the ability to directly begin editing Office attachments in the corresponding browser or desktop app.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 72212.

When this will happen

Targeted release: Microsoft will begin rolling this out in early May (previously mid-April) and expect to complete rollout mid-May (previously late April).

Standard release: Microsoft will begin rolling this out in mid-May (previously early May) and expect to complete rollout late May (previously mid-May).

Government and Germany: Microsoft will begin rolling this out in early June and expect to complete rollout mid-June.

How this will affect your organization

This release will enable your users to better collaborate by expanding how attachments look (icons have been added to menu) and what users can do with them. The hover over menu has been replaced with a single, always present click target for all actions.

Users can access Preview, Edit in Browser, Edit in Word desktop app, Save to OneDrive and Download. Clicking Edit in Browser or Edit in Word desktop app, saves a copy of the file to OneDrive and opens it in the corresponding web or desktop app. Once users make edits, they can then share back collaborative links with co-workers so others can work on the same file in real time.

New attachments with always present click target.

Edit in browser is new default option.

Edit in browser menu options.

Note: The change to replace the hover over menu with the always present click target will affect all users, not just companies with OneDrive. Non-OneDrive teams will not see the Edit in browser or Edit in Desktop app options in this menu.What you need to do to prepare

You might want to notify your users about this new capability and update your training and documentation as appropriate.

You might want to notify your users about this new capability and update your training and documentation as appropriate.

Learn More:

• Set-OwaMailboxPolicy manage with SaveAttachmentsToCloudEnabled
  • $true: Users can save regular email attachments to the cloud. This is the default value.
  • $false: Users can only save regular email attachments locally.
• Attach files in Outlook on the web
• View and edit an attachment in Outlook Web App