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How to mail merge in new Outlook: what works and what does not

See what the built-in mail merge in New Outlook can do, what it cannot do yet, and two workarounds for personalized emails: classic Outlook with Word, or Power Automate.

  • By Nur Islam
  • 2:22 video
  • 5 steps
  • 2.1K views
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Who this is for

You switched to New Outlook and need to email a list of customers, each with their own name or details. The new mail merge option sends separate emails, but there is no way to insert a first name, company or custom field, so personalized sends stall.

New Outlook has a `Start mail merge` option. It sends the same message to each recipient individually, so nobody sees the other addresses. That is all it does today. There are no personalization fields and no link to Excel or Word data.

If you need personalization, you have two options: switch back to classic Outlook and use Word mail merge while the toggle still exists, or build the mail merge in Power Automate, which works with New Outlook and needs no SharePoint.

What you need

  • New Outlook with a Microsoft 365 account
  • For workaround 1: classic Outlook installed, plus Microsoft Word
  • For workaround 2: Power Automate, included with Microsoft 365 business plans

Step by step

0 of 5 done
  1. 01

    Start a mail merge in New Outlook

    Write a new email, open the Options menu and select Start mail merge. Outlook will send the message to each recipient separately, so no one sees the other addresses.

  2. 02

    Add recipients manually or from a contact list

    Type the email addresses into the recipient box, or select the recipient button to pick contacts. If you already have a contact list in Outlook, find it in the recipient picker and select Save to add it. Select the plus icon to expand the list and see every address.

    If your message does not need any personalization, this is all you need.

  3. 03

    Workaround 1: switch to classic Outlook

    Use the toggle in the top right corner of New Outlook to switch to classic Outlook, then run a Word and Outlook mail merge with personalization fields. This only works if classic Outlook is installed, and Microsoft is removing the toggle in upcoming updates, so treat this as a short-term fix.

  4. 04

    Workaround 2: use Power Automate

    Build the mail merge as a Power Automate flow. It works for everyone on New Outlook with no classic Outlook needed and no extra subscription. You get full control over first names, custom fields and attachments. The step-by-step tutorials are linked below.

  5. 05

    Watch the Microsoft 365 roadmap

    Microsoft is working on advanced mail merge for New Outlook with personalization, such as the recipient's name. At the time of the video the roadmap listed it for June 2026. Check the Microsoft 365 roadmap for its current status, and use one of the workarounds until then.

Tips and common problems

  • New Outlook's mail merge cannot insert fields like first name or company, and it has no connection to Excel or Word data. Use it only for identical messages sent individually.
  • The classic Outlook toggle is going away. Do not build a long-term process on it.
  • Power Automate is the longer-term option: it works with New Outlook, supports personalization and attachments, and needs no SharePoint.
Still stuck? Ask AI to help you fix itChatGPTClaudeGeminiCopilotPerplexityGrok

Questions

Does New Outlook have mail merge?

Yes, under Options and Start mail merge. It sends the same email to each recipient individually, but it cannot add personalization fields yet.

How do I send a personalized mail merge from New Outlook?

Either switch to classic Outlook and use Word mail merge while the toggle is still available, or use a Power Automate flow, which works with New Outlook and supports custom fields and attachments.

Do I need a premium license to mail merge with Power Automate?

No. The video notes that Power Automate comes with Microsoft 365 and the mail merge flows use no SharePoint.

When will New Outlook get personalized mail merge?

At the time of the video, Microsoft's roadmap listed advanced mail merge with personalization for June 2026. Check the Microsoft 365 roadmap for the latest status.

Video chapters
Ask a question in the comments Last checked 26 Sep 2026. Screens change: if a step looks different, tell me in the comments.