Important update for new Outlook app for Windows 11 users
Microsoft is working on improvements for the new Outlook app in Windows 11. There is a particular focus on accessibility, with new functions for the screen reader Narrator. Users can look forward to practical changes.
Outlook app becomes more barrier-free
Microsoft is pushing forward the development of its new Outlook app for Windows 11. In a current Insider build, the software giant has implemented some improvements that, in particular, increase the accessibility of the application. The focus is on new functions for the integrated screen reader Narrator, such as Windows Central reported.
One of the most important innovations concerns the automatic reading of emails. Previously, this function was only available in the classic Outlook version. With the update, Narrator can now automatically read out the content of an opened email in the new Outlook app. This makes it much easier for visually impaired users to use the application.
Microsoft confirmed these changes in a blog post about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27749. The improvements are intended to help increase acceptance of the new Outlook app, which has so far been controversial due to its web-based approach.
System-wide improvements
In addition to the Outlook-specific adjustments, Microsoft is also working on system-wide improvements for the Narrator. A new keyboard shortcut (Narrator key + Ctrl + X) allows users to copy the last text spoken by Narrator to the clipboard.
This is particularly useful if you want to quickly copy content, descriptions or code for further use. Microsoft has also worked on Narrator’s performance. An issue that caused the screen reader to slow down after 15 minutes of continuous use with a single application has been resolved. This should contribute to a much smoother user experience for people with visual impairments.
Availability of new features
The changes will initially only start for participants in the Windows Insider program in the Canary channel. This channel receives the earliest builds and is therefore the most prone to errors, so be prepared for the odd problem to arise.
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