Microsoft has announced plans to shut down Outlook Lite for Android devices, with the discontinuation process beginning on October 6, 2025. The tech giant confirmed to Windows Latest that users will no longer be able to download the lightweight email application after this date.
Starting October 6, 2025, Outlook Lite will become unavailable for new downloads on the Google Play Store. Existing users will eventually be redirected to Microsoft’s standard Outlook application, though the company has not provided a specific timeline for when the app will completely stop functioning.
Background and Original Purpose
Outlook Lite was launched in August 2022 as a solution for users with limited internet connectivity and older Android devices. The application was designed to provide essential email functionality while using minimal system resources and data.
When first released, the app required only 5MB of storage space. However, over time, its size increased to 17MB, while the standard Outlook app currently requires 107MB for installation.
Storage Comparison and Features
According to usage data, Outlook Lite typically uses around 34MB of device storage and can expand to approximately 100MB with regular use. In contrast, the full version of Outlook often consumes between 1GB to 2GB of storage space.
Despite being a simplified version, Outlook Lite offered some unique features not found in the main application. One notable addition was SMS support, introduced in a 2024 update. This feature allowed users to manage text messages directly within the email app, effectively replacing their default messaging application.
The lite version also notably excluded Microsoft’s Copilot AI integration, which some users preferred for a cleaner, less cluttered experience.
Microsoft’s decision to end Outlook Lite stems from improvements made to the standard Outlook application. The company stated that the main Outlook app has been optimized to run more efficiently on lower-end hardware, reducing the need for a separate lightweight version.
This move aligns with Microsoft’s broader strategy to consolidate its email clients. The company appears to be working toward a unified Outlook experience across all platforms and devices.
Industry Context
This discontinuation follows Microsoft’s recent changes to its email applications across different platforms. On Windows 11, the company has already replaced the traditional Mail and Calendar apps with a web-based version of Outlook.
The trend suggests Microsoft is moving toward web-based solutions for its productivity applications. While some users have expressed concerns about web applications feeling less “native” than traditional desktop software, Microsoft continues to improve the web-based Outlook experience.
Recent updates have enhanced offline functionality, allowing users to access and preview email attachments even without an internet connection, using advanced web storage capabilities.
Current Outlook Lite users will need to transition to the standard Outlook app or consider alternative email solutions. While the main Outlook application offers more features, users with older devices or limited storage may need to evaluate whether their hardware can accommodate the larger application.
The discontinuation of Outlook Lite represents another example of Microsoft’s pattern of launching specialized versions of its products before eventually consolidating them into unified platforms.
