Outlook and the Windows 10 notification center

Status
Not open for further replies.

rseiler

Senior Member
Outlook version
Outlook 2016 32 bit
Email Account
Outlook.com (as MS Exchange)
Something has changed this year between Outlook 2016 (C2R builds only, probably) and the way notifications accrue in the notification center down on the lower-right part of the screen (not to be confused with "toast," which is working as expected).

It seems that Outlook messages stack up in notification center now until you go into the notification center to clear them. Acting upon these messages in Outlook no longer removes them from the notification center, as had always been the case before. Instead, the notification center count increments (it seems to go up to 21 and then stops, for some reason, but that's a side issue), and the latest batch of mail is always visible in notification center until cleared.

I know this happens with Win10 1709 + Monthly 1802 (Build 9029.2167), but it also happens with Insider versions of each. I believe it began even before 9029.2167.

Is it a design change or a bug? If it's a design change, what is the value in it? I've had weeks to think about this, and I still can't come up with a single reason why this would be a deliberate change. It's extremely annoying, since Outlook is essentially monopolizing the notification center--noticing worthwhile notifications is more difficult, since there's always a count down there.

Thanks
 
I believe it’s a bug. I thought mine cleared when I opened from there, but I will pay more attention to it. I don’t know which side gets the blame, but if you are an office insider, you can use the file, support link to report it to office.
 
Yes, I have to think it's a bug, too. It does continue with the latest versions of both things.

I did learn that the 21 (or thereabouts) count is actually normal and by design for the total number of notifications (of any kind) accruing, but I don't really care about that and it's really a whole different subject. However, in a way it argues more for the way Outlook uses notification center now being a bug, since for many people, the notification center will be on 21 by 10AM, which really serves to diminish its usefulness (you'll never notice real notifications that are drowned out by what Outlook's doing).
 
I never noticed it, but yeah - it looks like 21 is the max. I have 3 showing and a link for 18 more.
 
Outlook support wrote back: "We have received similar reports of this issue which is being investigated by our Windows team. To help with the investigation, please report this issue using the Windows Feedback Hub."

So...an issue that appears in 16299 as well (as opposed to just in the ever-shifting sands of Windows Insider) is not Outlook's doing?! Interesting, and certainly possible, but it seems unlikely to me that changes in both 16299 and RS4 were made a few months ago to create this situation. It's more logical that Outlook changed. What do you think?
 
So...an issue that appears in 16299 as well (as opposed to just in the ever-shifting sands of Windows Insider) is not Outlook's doing?!
An example of windows breaking (and later fixing) an outlook feature - the people pane search results. The fall update broke it, it's fixed in the upcoming spring update. the Emails are not shown in the People Pane (Fixed)
 
OK, but in this case, it broke in multiple versions of Windows at the same time (or really close): 1709 and 1803 (the latter still being in test). That's pretty weird, since they're on separate tracks. This does get weirder though.

In the Feedback Hub, I found someone reporting this about Outlook 2013 over a year ago! We know for sure that it hasn't been happening in Outlook 2016 for more than a few months. There are also at least two recent reports about it relative to Outlook 2016, so MS's request above has already been fulfilled.
 
Start menu: Settings/System/Notifications

Scroll down to Outlook, then click on that word. What's highlighted below can be toggled off to restore the old behavior.

Mystery: When this feature started acting differently several months ago, did MS simply silently change that setting to On? Or is this a way to compensate for something else they did?

fc19c1d2-f52d-442e-a498-d4655be6a67f.jpg
 
Mystery: When this feature started acting differently several months ago, did MS simply silently change that setting to On? Or is this a way to compensate for something else they did?
I'm guessing they changed it to on as a default setting... but let me check one of my vms. Hmm... the VM i use the most for testing has it on, but its possible i turned it on to test something. Second VM that is running is using the new 'Centennial' build (from the windows store) but outlook isn't listed in the notification center. Will boot some more to check...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
S Related messages show in main Outlook window vice new Advanced Find windows Using Outlook 1
G Outlook 365 My iCloud Outlook doesn’t work after reinstalling Microsoft365 on Windows 10 PC – now I get error message on contacts and calendar Using Outlook 1
J PSA: How to create custom keyboard shortcut for "Paste Unformatted Text" in Outlook on Windows Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 1
J Unable to delete folders in Outlook 2019 / Windows Using Outlook 0
Z New minimum Outlook for Windows version requirements for Microsoft 365/Exchange Online Using Outlook.com accounts in Outlook 27
T How to configure Outlook for two users on a single Windows account Using Outlook 3
R Outlook 2021 Having problem setting up outlook 2021 with windows 11. I have 3 gmail accounts and I want the 3 gmail, emails to merge into the same outlook input. Using Outlook.com accounts in Outlook 0
C Why does Outlook (desktop) 365 for Windows keep making me input my passwords? Using Outlook 12
V Outlook 2021 Outlook-2021 (64-bit) and iCloud-for-Windows v13.0 - It Works Good. Using Outlook 12
V Outlook 2003 and Windows 11 Using Outlook 4
G VBA to save selected Outlook msg with new name in selected network Windows folder Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 1
B Emails get stuck in Outbox of Gmail IMAP in Outlook for Windows Using Outlook 0
V Outlook 2016 Does Outlook-2016 (64 bit) work with iCloud for Windows ? Using Outlook 5
V Outlook 2016 Outlook-2016 and iCloud for Windows - Problems Using Outlook 11
D Outlook 2010 Outlook in Windows 10 keeps asking for user name and password repeatedly Using Outlook 14
L Unable to Sync Web/Android MS To Do with Windows Outlook Tasks Using Outlook 3
D iCloud Add-in not working in Outlook 2013 and Outlook 2016 After Windows Upgrade & iCloud Upgrade Using Outlook 2
M Outlook 2010 Problem with OutLook 2010 32 bit, after Windows Auto Update Using Outlook 3
S Outlook 2007 Calendar instant search problem. Windows 7 Using Outlook 4
S Outlook 2007 Calendar instant search problem. Windows 7 Using Outlook 0
V Outlook 2003 problem with Windows 10 Creators Update 1709 Using Outlook 0
R Sending emails via Outlook XP, from Windows 10 File Explorer Using Outlook 1
J Outlook 2300 and Windows 10 Using Outlook 2
I Outlook on Windows Phone - compressed images .emz Using Outlook 0
A open Outlook with multiple windows. Using Outlook 0
P How to make outlook display alert appear on top of other windows whenever a new email is received? Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 1
GregS No contacts sync from Outlook 2016 to Windows Phone Using Outlook 0
Diane Poremsky iCloud, Outlook 2016, and Windows 10 Using Outlook 0
O Windows 10 x64 Outlook 2013 - URL does not open (anymore) Using Outlook 3
S Outlook 2007, windows 10 Font size Using Outlook 1
Diane Poremsky Outlook Links Won't Open In Windows 10 Using Outlook 1
J Outlook 2007 connector and Windows 10 Using Outlook 3
billzant Windows 10 Outlook 16 and mail not working, encryption? Using Outlook 3
Diane Poremsky Searching for Outlook Items in Windows Using Outlook 0
D Outlook (Office) 2007 & Windows 10 Pro Using Outlook 6
I Previewers, Outlook 2013 on Windows 10 Using Outlook 2
David Langer iCloud 5.0 for Windows and Outlook 2016 Using Outlook 5
Snoopy How can I sync Windows (10) Outlook (2016) with other devices - frustrated! Using Outlook 4
Diane Poremsky Outlook Error Ox800CCC13 in Windows 10 Using Outlook 2
I Outlook Contacts and Calenders not syncing between PC, IPhone, and Windows 8.1 tablet Using Outlook 3
Commodore Syncing Outlook 2013 and Windows phone Using Outlook 8
S Outlook 2010 won't send on Windows 8 Using Outlook 2
Michael Chiasson PST file shows 300+MB in Windows Explorer, but only 250kb in Outlook 2010 Using Outlook 1
D Outlook 2013 : controlling message size in Windows 8.1 Using Outlook 3
C Outlook 2013 Windows Phone, Outlook 365/2013 POP Using Outlook.com accounts in Outlook 5
S Opening Outlook Windows Using Outlook 1
R Cannot Synchronize Outlook To Windows Live Hotmail Account Using Outlook.com accounts in Outlook 2
K Unable to activate QueryBuilder in Outlook 2010 (32bit) with Windows 7 (64bit) Using Outlook 1
L Suggested contacts are not retained after exiting Outlook 2010; Windows 8.1 Using Outlook 4
D Problem with MS mail and outlook 2007 OS Windows 8 Using Outlook 1

Similar threads

Back
Top