Keep Outlook 2016 and 2013 Updated

Simple steps to enable automatic updates

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by Heinz Tschabitscher
An independent writer who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated October 08, 2018

Outlook in Office 2013 and Office 2016 is configured to automatically update when Microsoft makes new updates publicly available. However, it may have been deactivated, which prevents scheduled updates from automatically downloading and being applied. Check your Account information to confirm whether the automatic updates feature is activated.

When you keep your software up to date, vulnerabilities are addressed and new features are added. When Outlook is updated, you can be sure that the newest advancements are available, any bugs are squashed, and patches are applied.

Outlook.com is Microsoft's online email client and is not updated by you. Instead, it is always live and updates automatically. The instructions here are for the Microsoft Outlook email program that's installed on a computer.

How to Enable and Check for Outlook Updates

If you check your Account settings and see that Outlook is not updating automatically, a quick fix will restore the automated update feature.

  1. Access the File menu in MS Outlook.

  2. Choose Office Account.

  3. Click or tap the Update Options button and then select Enable Updates.

  4. Reply Yes when you are asked whether you want to allow Outlook to make changes to your computer.

Note: If your Outlook is managed by a group policy at your place of work, you won't be able to permit automatic updates. The Update Options control will be disable or missing.

Lots of programs on your computer can be updated with a free software updater, but Outlook updates via Microsoft and therefore requires a different update routine.

How to View Outlook Updates

Microsoft keeps a list of Outlook updates on its website. Here's how to access them and learn what they provide to Outlook:

  1. Navigate to the File > Office Account menu in Outlook 2016 or 2013.

  2. Select the Update Options button.

  3. From the drop-down menu, choose View Updates.

  4. A "What's New in Office 365" page opens in your default web browser that details recent changes to Outlook and many other Microsoft programs. Click on the most recent month to expand it and look for Outlook updates. If there are none, try the next month. Eventually, you'll see an Outlook icon next to an update. You can read why the update has been issued and what it addresses or adds to your Outlook email program. Click Learn More for detailed information on the upgrade.