Outlook on the iPhone and iPad, Wednesday, Feb 18, 2026

Discussed topics

Outlook for iOS email functionality

Amanda demonstrated the basic features of the Outlook app on iOS, showing how to navigate through emails and use various functions.

• Details
  • Amanda: Showed how to navigate through emails, access message actions, reply to emails, and compose new messages
  • Palmer: Demonstrated a workaround for issues with the reply function, noting that using the message actions button works better than the standard reply button
  • Ali: Asked for clarification on the message actions feature
  • Liz: Requested that Amanda wait until VoiceOver stops talking before speaking to avoid confusion
• Conclusion
  • The message actions button provides access to reply, forward, delete, and other email functions
  • The Outlook app interface is generally accessible with VoiceOver but has some navigation quirks

Copilot feature in Outlook

The group attempted to test the “Draft with Copilot” AI feature in Outlook but encountered difficulties.

• Details
  • Amanda: Attempted to demonstrate the Copilot feature but couldn’t get it to work properly
  • Palmer: Tried to help troubleshoot the feature, suggesting it might be a bug
  • Jeroo: Asked what the Copilot feature was supposed to do
  • Palmer: Explained it was likely meant to help draft emails using AI
• Conclusion
  • The Copilot feature appeared to have bugs or wasn’t functioning correctly
  • The group couldn’t successfully demonstrate how it works

Outlook Calendar functionality

Palmer demonstrated how to use the calendar feature in the Outlook app.

• Details
  • Palmer: Showed how to navigate the calendar interface, create new events, add attendees, set times, and configure recurring events
  • Palmer: Demonstrated how to add Teams meeting links to calendar events
  • Palmer: Explained how to add descriptions and attachments to calendar events
• Conclusion
  • The Outlook calendar is accessible with VoiceOver and offers comprehensive event management features
  • The calendar integrates well with Teams for virtual meetings

Microsoft 365 subscription discussion

The group discussed whether a Microsoft 365 subscription is necessary for using Outlook.

• Details
  • Ali: Asked if Amanda and Palmer were subscribed to Microsoft 365
  • Amanda: Confirmed she has a subscription and uses Word on her phone for reading documents
  • Palmer: Mentioned he only uses Outlook and Teams on his phone
  • Siena: Stated she doesn’t subscribe to 365
  • Ali: Mentioned he prefers Google’s productivity suite
• Conclusion
  • Some participants use Microsoft 365 subscription services while others prefer alternatives
  • Palmer subscribed because he received an email saying he had to, though he wasn’t sure if it was actually required

Managing important emails

Liz asked about how to keep important emails easily accessible.

• Details
  • Liz: Asked how to “pin” important emails at the top of her inbox
  • Siena: Demonstrated how to flag emails, which places them in a special “flagged” folder
  • Palmer: Suggested archiving important emails as another approach
  • Siena: Showed that flagged emails remain in the inbox but also appear in the flagged folder
• Conclusion
  • Flagging emails is the best way to keep important messages easily accessible
  • The flagged folder automatically appears once you flag your first message

Managing draft emails

Liz asked about managing draft emails that were accumulating in her account.

• Details
  • Liz: Mentioned having 540 drafts that she never intentionally created
  • Siena: Suggested it might be related to dictating emails with Siri
  • Palmer: Recommended checking different email accounts for drafts
• Conclusion
  • Drafts can be automatically created when using Siri or when messages don’t send properly
  • The group couldn’t determine exactly why so many drafts were accumulating

Managing junk email

Jeroo asked about automatically deleting junk emails.

• Details
  • Jeroo: Asked how to set up automatic deletion of junk emails on a weekly basis
  • Siena: Found information suggesting iOS mail doesn’t have an automatic feature for this
  • Ali: Explained how mail apps download messages in batches, which can make it seem like deleted messages return
  • Jeroo: Mentioned she was waiting to see if messages would be automatically deleted after 30 days
• Conclusion
  • iOS mail doesn’t have a built-in feature to automatically delete junk mail on a schedule
  • Messages may be automatically deleted after 30 days
  • Manually selecting and deleting junk mail is currently the main option

Email spam and scams

The group discussed spam emails, how they work, and how to avoid them.

• Details
  • Jeroo: Mentioned receiving numerous spam emails daily despite not visiting many websites
  • Ali: Explained that spam is generated by software that randomly targets email addresses
  • Liz: Noted that companies sometimes sell customer email lists
  • Rob: Shared examples of scam emails he had received
  • Siena: Mentioned she was arranging for a police constable to speak about fraud prevention at a CCB meeting
• Conclusion
  • Clicking “unsubscribe” on spam emails often confirms your address is active and leads to more spam
  • Spam is typically generated by automated software rather than individuals
  • Several YouTube channels (Kit Boga, Jim Browning, Scammer Revolts) focus on exposing scammers

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