What and Why:
A variety of symbols can be added to an email message that you are composing. On the Insert tab, select Symbols.
Rollout Schedule:
General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out on late November 2026 and expect to complete by late December 2026.
Targeted Release (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out on mid October 2026 and expect to complete by early November 2026.
General Availability (GCC): We will begin rolling out on late November 2026 and expect to complete by late December 2026.
General Availability (GCC High): We will begin rolling out on late November 2026 and expect to complete by late December 2026.
General Availability (DoD): We will begin rolling out on late November 2026 and expect to complete by late December 2026.
Impact on Your Organization:
Who is affected:
- Users composing emails in new Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web.
- Help desk and training teams that support Outlook message composition experiences.
Platforms/Services:
- Exchange Online.
- New Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web.
What will happen:
- Users will be able to insert symbols into email messages from the Insert tab.
- This adds a built-in way to include special characters and symbols while composing messages.
- The capability will roll out automatically during the scheduled rollout window.
Action Required/Recommendations:
- No admin action is required.
- Inform users that symbols can be inserted from the Insert tab when composing email.
- Update internal Outlook training or help desk guidance if it references how users add special characters to messages.
Compliance considerations:
No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.