To stop Windows 11 from automatically installing New Outlook through Windows Update, open Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\Orchestrator\UScheduler_Oobe, right-click the OutlookUpdate key, and delete it. That’s it — once that key is removed, Windows Update no longer has the instruction to push New Outlook onto your PC.
Quick Steps:
- Press Windows key + R, type
regedit, and press Enter - Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\Orchestrator\UScheduler_Oobe - Right-click the
OutlookUpdatekey in the left panel and click Delete - Click Yes to confirm the deletion
- Close Registry Editor and restart your PC
Why Does Windows 11 Keep Installing New Outlook?
Microsoft uses Windows Update to silently push certain apps onto your PC, and New Outlook is one of the most aggressive examples of this. It gets bundled into regular update packages and installs itself in the background — you don’t get a prompt, you don’t get a choice, it just shows up. I’ve seen this happen on countless machines, and it’s frustrating every time.
The OutlookUpdate key inside the Windows Update Orchestrator folder is the instruction that tells Windows to install New Outlook the next time updates run. Deleting that key removes the instruction entirely. Microsoft uses this exact same tactic with other built-in apps too — if you’ve also been dealing with Edge getting pushed onto your PC, I covered how to uninstall Microsoft Edge from Windows 11 in a separate guide.
If you want a more automated way to manage all of this — blocking unwanted apps, tweaking Windows settings, and keeping your system clean after updates — Winhance is a free tool I built that handles a lot of it in one place. But for just stopping New Outlook, the registry fix below gets the job done quickly.
How to Delete the OutlookUpdate Registry Key
Step 1: Open Registry Editor
Press Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Type regedit and press Enter. If a User Account Control prompt appears, click Yes to allow Registry Editor to open.
Step 2: Navigate to the Registry Path
Click in the address bar at the top of Registry Editor and paste the following path, then press Enter:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\Orchestrator\UScheduler_Oobe
This takes you directly to the folder that contains the key we need to remove. I always recommend copying the path rather than navigating manually — it’s faster and avoids typos.
Step 3: Delete the OutlookUpdate Key
Once you’re at the UScheduler_Oobe location, look for the OutlookUpdate subkey in the left panel. Right-click on it and click Delete. A confirmation dialog will appear — click Yes to confirm the deletion.
Step 4: Close Registry Editor and Restart
Close Registry Editor and restart your PC. After the restart, Windows Update will no longer have the instruction to install New Outlook, so it won’t quietly appear on your system through future updates.
Common Issues & Solutions
Problem: The OutlookUpdate key doesn’t exist
Solution: This key is only present if Windows has queued New Outlook for installation but hasn’t installed it yet. If the key isn’t there, New Outlook may already be installed on your PC. In that case, go to Settings > Apps, find “Outlook (new),” uninstall it manually, and then check back after the next Windows update to see if the key reappears.
Problem: New Outlook came back after a Windows update
Solution: Microsoft can recreate this registry key through update packages. If the key returns and New Outlook gets installed again, just repeat the steps above. It’s an ongoing issue with the way Microsoft pushes these apps, but the fix itself is quick each time.
Problem: Registry Editor won’t open or shows an Access Denied error
Solution: You need administrator rights to make this change. Right-click the Start button, open Terminal (Admin), type regedit, and press Enter to launch Registry Editor with the right permissions.
FAQ
Does this method work on Windows 10?
The process is slightly different on Windows 10. Instead of deleting the OutlookUpdate key, you select it and create a new String value inside it called BlockedOobeUpdaters, then set its value to ["MS_Outlook"]. The registry path is the same: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\Orchestrator\UScheduler_Oobe.
What if New Outlook is already installed on my PC?
This registry fix only blocks future installations — it won’t remove New Outlook if it’s already there. Go to Settings > Apps, search for “Outlook (new),” and uninstall it first. Then apply the registry fix to stop it from reinstalling through future updates.
Is it safe to edit the registry?
Yes, as long as you only change exactly what’s described here. Before making any registry changes, it’s a good habit to create a backup first — in Registry Editor, go to File > Export to save a copy. That way you can restore it if something goes wrong.
Will this affect classic Outlook or Microsoft 365?
No. This only blocks the new standalone Outlook app that Microsoft pushes through Windows Update. If you have the classic Outlook installed as part of a Microsoft 365 subscription, it won’t be affected at all.
Can I stop other unwanted apps from being pushed by Windows Update?
Yes — the Windows Update Orchestrator uses similar keys for other apps too. If you want a broader solution that handles multiple unwanted apps and Windows settings in one place, check out Winhance, the free Windows enhancement utility I created. It gives you much more control over what stays on your system without having to dig through the registry each time.
