Microsoft Todo "Open in Outlook" Link Inactive/Broken Across Different Platforms

Question

Microsoft Todo "Open in Outlook" Link Inactive/Broken Across Different Platforms

King Lau 65

When adding an email task to Todo from Outlook via copy or Flagged Email, that task has a link to open the original email in Outlook. The link functions different depending on where you click it.

User's image

Expected Behavior (has been working the last year):

Clicking the link from Todo embedded within Desktop Outlook, opens the corresponding email in windows desktop outlook. Link is called Open
Clicking the link from Windows Todo App, opens the corresponding email in Outlook on the web, link is called Open in Outlook
Clicking the link from Web Todo App, opens the corresponding email in Outlook on the web, link is called Open in Outlook
Clicking the link from IOS Todo App, opens the corresponding email in Outlook IOS, link is called Open in Outlook

Current Behavior (as of 8/26 or so based on task created date):

Clicking the link from Todo embedded within Desktop Outlook, opens the corresponding email in desktop outlook only for links created before 8/26. Link is called Open. Net new tasks added after 8/26 are now called Open in Outlook and is inactive. Clicking it does nothing
Clicking the link from Windows Todo App, crashes windows todo app
Clicking the link from Web Todo App, does nothing. Link is inactive and can't be clicked
Clicking the link from IOS Todo App, opens the corresponding email in Outlook IOS, link is called Open in Outlook (this is the only function working).

Other notes:

Clearing Outlook cache by deleted files from C:\Users\kinglau\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Wef results in all currently working links created prior to 8/26 to stop working. Link text changed from Open to Open in Outlook and is inactive.

This is a major issue as it completely breaks the workflow of tasks created via email from Outlook to Todo.

Zhu, Julia 0 Reputation points

2024-09-11T01:09:10.24+00:00

Let me add something. In the Todo embedded within Desktop Outlook, the emails I flagged before this issue still has the Open, while my new ones are having Open in Outlook.
Kacper Antczak 0 Reputation points

2024-09-11T08:00:11.9533333+00:00

From me one more thing. In the MS Teams app -> Planner App. When i try to open the attachment (mail) it says that the link is invalid.

From the Planner App actually there is no way to open the email. There was a To Do App Before which was working almost ok. Now 90% of the functionalities are gone.

4 answers

Your answer

Zhu, Julia 0 Reputation points

2024-09-11T01:09:10.24+00:00

Let me add something. In the Todo embedded within Desktop Outlook, the emails I flagged before this issue still has the Open, while my new ones are having Open in Outlook.
Kacper Antczak 0 Reputation points

2024-09-11T08:00:11.9533333+00:00

From me one more thing. In the MS Teams app -> Planner App. When i try to open the attachment (mail) it says that the link is invalid.

From the Planner App actually there is no way to open the email. There was a To Do App Before which was working almost ok. Now 90% of the functionalities are gone.

Answer 1

Jerker Davidsson 0

When the email is moved from the inbox, the link doesn't work. Will this be fixed?

Sarah P 0 Reputation points

2025-05-15T13:17:01.8466667+00:00

This is a real issue for me as i keep my inbox clear and set up tasks then file the email. it will no longer find them, im sure it didn't loose them in old outlook??

Answer 2

Lau, King H 0

can confirm this is now fixed as of 9/12 AM. If existing links do not work for desktop outlook, delete cache, delete all files from this folder.

C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Wef

0 comments

Answer 3

Zhu, Julia 0

It's fixed!

0 comments

Answer 4

Anonymous

Hi @King Lau

Welcome to our forum!

Please kindly understand that the Outlook tag here we mainly focus on general issues about Outlook desktop client.

As i know: Microsoft To Do doesn’t yet support all the varied features of Outlook Tasks. While data you enter in additional details in Outlook Tasks will be stored safely on the servers, it won't be displayed in To Do.

Based on my research, by marking the email, i really cannot open the email in the Todo task, my understanding is that Open in Outlook is an icon, which is displayed the same as the web version on the desktop client, but it does not support jumping, and the text content of the email will be displayed in a green box. User's image

In addition, i found a similar thread that many people find it useful, please feel free to refer to.

Hope it helps!

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our [documentation] to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Tony Monfreda 5 Reputation points

2024-09-11T11:42:40.7966667+00:00

Joan - This is incorrect. I have a screenshot of a task created prior to this issue occurring. As you can see, this is an active link from the todo app to the email in outlook.

This link used to be available when I created a task from an email in the Outlook web app.
Lau, King H 0 Reputation points

2024-09-11T11:51:01.86+00:00
Hi Joan,

Thank you for taking the time to reply. As indicated, your answer is incorrect. The link use to be an active link. However, something changed recently and the link is no longer active.

You can test this yourself in two way currently:

If you use the IOS App for Todo and Outlook, you will see that the link is active and working correctly. Clicking the link in the IOS app in todo will open the Outlook app and display the email

If you use the windows desktop Todo APP, you will see the link is active. But clicking on it will cause desktop ToDo to crash.

As you indicated, the Outlook tag is for Outlook issues. However, there is no Todo tag. Please advise on what tag to use to gain the correct visibility. Also, it doesn't appear you work for MS directly. However, if you are able to get MS development's attention on this question, it would be greatly appreciated.
Lau, King H 0 Reputation points

2024-09-11T11:53:54.17+00:00
Hi @Anonymous ,

Thanks for taking the time to respond. However, as indicated, your answer is incorrect.

You can test this further in two ways:

You can open the link in the IOS App for todo. This will open the outlook app in IOS and open the email

You can open the link in desktop todo, and the the app will crash. But the link is active and clickable.

I would appreciate any assistance you can provide to flag this question for MS tech to review.

Thanks,

King
Lau, King H 0 Reputation points

2024-09-11T11:54:42.2666667+00:00

delete
Anonymous

2024-09-12T02:02:08.06+00:00

Hi @Lau, King H

Thanks for your response.

Agree with Zhu, Julia, it seems to be done with the button fix.
Tony Monfreda 5 Reputation points

2024-09-12T02:35:14.6733333+00:00

Working for me as well. Thank you!

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Microsoft Todo "Open in Outlook" Link Inactive/Broken Across Different Platforms

4 answers

Your answer