Forced update for Windows 10: Controversial software lands on millions of German PCs
The new Outlook
From February 11, 2025, Microsoft also wants to distribute the new Outlook together with security updates for Windows 10 - there is no way to prevent this. However, you can remove the mail program at a later date.
Microsoft is migrating millions of systems to the new Outlook. Windows 11 users have already been equipped with the new mailer and this has not exactly caused great enthusiasm among users.
The main criticism: the new mailer can't do very much and is rather keen on user data. Microsoft has now announced that the new Outlook will soon be distributed on Windows 10. The effective date is February 11, 2025, and millions of PCs worldwide will be affected.
In the course of the upcoming end of support in the fall, there are fresh figures on the distribution of Windows 10 in Germany. Around 32 million PCs in this country are still said to be running the operating system.
The new Outlook cannot be blocked, as Microsoft delivers it with the monthly security updates. It is not advisable to ignore these updates and it would not help at all. This is because the new Outlook will arrive at the latest when you install security updates.
You have to proceed differently if you don't want the new Outlook.
Install the security updates offered for Windows 10 in February. This will also install the new Outlook, which you simply have to let happen. Two steps are now required to get rid of the mailer and block a future installation:
In PowerShell, type the command Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -AllUsers -Online -PackageName (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.OutlookForWindows).PackageFullName. This will remove the new Outlook.
Windows 10 users must now go to the registry branch HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\ and then Orchestrator\UScheduler_Oobe\OutlookUpdate. Create a new string there called BlockedOobeUpdaters. Double-click to set the value to MS_Outlook. Complete the action with a Windows restart.