Microsoft Outlook for iPad: Minimize email drafts and return to them later

Outlook for iPad will allow users to compose emails in a separate window and minimize drafts to return later, enhancing multitasking. This feature rolls out worldwide from mid-September to mid-October 2026, with behavior depending on iPadOS multitasking settings. No admin action is needed.

[What and why]

We're introducing a new Outlook for iPad capability that allows users to compose email in a new window and minimize an in-progress draft so they can return to it later. This improvement helps users multitask more efficiently while working in Outlook on iPad.

[Rollout schedule]

• General Availability (Worldwide): Beginning in mid-September 2026 and expected to complete by mid-October 2026

[Impact on your organization]

Who is affected

• Users of Outlook for iPad

Platforms and services

• Outlook for iOS on iPad

What will happen

The experience depends on the user's iPadOS multitasking configuration.

Users with Windowed Apps enabled (Settings > Multitasking & Gestures)

• Users can compose emails in a separate window.
• The iPadOS system-provided minimize control can be used to minimize an email draft.

Users with Full Screen Apps enabled (Settings > Multitasking & Gestures)

• Users can minimize their in-progress draft to the background.
• Users can restore the same draft through the Hidden Windows banner or Show All Windows.

Minimizing a draft does not change how drafts are saved in the Drafts folder.

[Action required and recommendations]

No administrative action is required.

We recommend informing your help desk and support teams that the experience for compose windowing and returning to in-progress drafts varies based on users' iPadOS multitasking settings.

[Compliance considerations]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.