Run the Full Windows Version of Microsoft Outlook on Your Mac

Yes, you can use both the Windows version of Outlook and the Mac version of Outlook with Parallels Desktop.

Yes, you can use Outlook on Mac with Windows using Parallels Desktop provided you already have or purchase a Windows 11 license.

Yes, the new version of Microsoft Outlook offers more features and customizations than the legacy version of Outlook, such as a fully customizable toolbar, swipe gestures, hover actions, theming, display density, natural language search, text prediction, advanced dictation, and much more.

You can use Parallels Desktop to get the new Outlook on your Mac (and much more).

Discover how Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Outlook for Windows differ in our blog post on Mac Outlook vs. Windows Outlook.

Yes, you can change your default email to Outlook on a Mac with Parallels Desktop. Just open the virtual machine window (do not click Start) and then open Virtual Machine configuration and switch to Options tab > Applications. Set Web Pages and Email to your desired values.

For more complex configurations use the More Applications button.

The Windows version of Outlook supports many third-party plugins, including (but not limited to) the following:

• Email Productivity plugins that provide email tracking, scheduling, snoozing, or automatic email categorization features. Some options that are available with the Windows version of Outlook are Boomerang, Yesware, and Streak.
• CRM Integration plugins integrate Outlook with customer relationship management platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho CRM for managing customer interactions, tracking leads, and synchronizing contact information.
• Task and project management plugins from providers like Todoist, Trello, and Asana to extend Outlook’s inherent project management capabilities and allow users to create tasks, set reminders, and collaborate on projects within Outlook.
• Document management plugins that integrate Outlook with document storage and sharing platforms like OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive.
• Security and compliance plugins that enhance email security, enforce compliance policies, and help protect against threats such as phishing and malware. Some options include Mimecast, Proofpoint, and Barracuda.
• Communication and collaboration plugins that integrate Outlook with messaging platforms, video conferencing tools, or team collaboration software like Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Zoom.
• Workflow automation plugins to automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows by integrating Outlook with workflow automation platforms or scripting tools like Zapier, Microsoft Power (formerly Flow), and IFTTT.

Yes. Parallels Desktop lets you install Windows 11 on your Mac and run the full Windows desktop version of Microsoft Outlook alongside macOS. You'll have access to Windows-only capabilities such as PST support, COM add-ins, Exchange via MAPI, VBA macros, message recall, and advanced Exchange management.

Outlook for Mac provides limited PST functionality compared to Outlook for Windows. Organizations that depend on PST import, export, archiving, migration, or compliance workflows often choose to run the Windows version of Outlook through Parallels Desktop.

Many COM-based Outlook integrations are designed specifically for Outlook for Windows and aren’t supported in Outlook for Mac. Running Outlook through Parallels Desktop allows you to continue using many Windows-based Outlook integrations alongside macOS.

Yes. Parallels Desktop runs Windows and macOS simultaneously, so Outlook for Windows launches just like another Mac application. There's no need to restart your computer or switch between operating systems.

Yes. In addition to Outlook, Parallels Desktop lets you run the full Windows versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher (where supported), and other Windows applications on your Mac.

Parallels Desktop supports both Apple silicon Macs (M-series chips) and Intel-based Macs. It provides an optimized Windows experience on modern Mac hardware while allowing Windows applications to run alongside macOS.