Just ahead of its Ignite conference, Microsoft has announced major updates to its Outlook mobile app on Apple’s mobile devices.

“Microsoft understands that people have choices when it comes to their preferred apps as well as the devices they carry in their pocket,” Microsoft’s Eugenie Burrage writes in a new post to the firm’s TechCommunity site. “Our goal is for Outlook to be your email and calendar app of choice on your Apple mobile devices. As your trusted organizer, to help balance your time and easily stay on top of what matters, Outlook for iOS is uniquely crafted to make you feel at home on your device of choice.”

On iOS, Microsoft will soon release an update to Outlook that provides options related to the system’s Do Not Disturb feature.

“You will be able to choose to silence your email notifications when you need to, such as until tomorrow, or on a scheduled basis, such as evenings or weekends,” Burrage notes. “This way you can focus on things other than what’s arriving in your inbox.” (This functionality is already available in Outlook for Android.)

Outlook users on iOS will also soon be able to customize their work hours and work days to accommodate our shifting schedules.

On iPadOS, the version of iOS tailored to iPads, Microsoft will enhance Outlook to support Split View “in the coming weeks.” This will allow iPad-using customers to open multiple emails at the same time or see their email message list and calendar side-by-side.

Microsoft will also support new multitasking features in iPadOS, like drag and drop. “For example, with a browser open next to an email you’re composing, you will be able to copy text and links by dragging and dropping it into the message with your pen or finger,” Burrage says.

On Apple Watch, Outlook users can already add Outlook complications to their chosen watch face. Now, you can configure which Outlook-based notifications appear on Apple Watch too, plus see your latest unread emails, view your schedule, and dictate quick reminders.

Finally, Microsoft is also upping its game on Siri, as it now supports Siri Shortcuts for Outlook.

“You can record personalized shortcuts such as ‘what’s my next meeting’ or ‘I’m running late’,” Burrage explains. “Simply ask Siri and you can stay on top of what matters without opening the Outlook app.  [You can] get up to date or take action from the lock screen even if your device screen is off.”

Tagged with Outlook for iOS, Outlook for iPadOS