Send Availability feature removed from Outlook for iOS?

Question

I have been making regular use of the "Send Availability" feature in the Outlook app for iOS. Recently though, I can't seem to access this. Previously, there was a 'Calendar' button above the keyboard when replying to emails, which allowed easy selection of free timeslots in my Calendar. When I tap the Calendar button now, it just tries to create an event.

Hoping that I am missing something, rather than the feature having been removed?

Answer 1

Wow. What a complete fail of a decision here. I consistently used that feature. Sharing a calendar is time consuming and doesn’t let me expose blocked time that I’d consider freeing up for a particular customer.

How do I downgrade outlook so I can get this back?

This is disappointing. I sure hope it is added back, not only to the iOS, but to the web app and desktop apps as well. In today's world, we are often providing multiple times on our calendars to others to coordinate a meeting. Without this feature, it is a more time-consuming effort.

Answer 2

I would switch from Outlook desktop to my ipad specifically for this feature. This was one of the most useful tools for outlook scheduling and it is really disappointing to see it removed.

Answer 3

This is a major degradation of the mobile Outlook functionality and is an impediment to working effectively in a collaborative environment.

Answer 4

The proposed solution does not work when collaborating with people outside of an organization. External orgs do not typically share availability that the identified solution requires.

Microsoft broke a key collaboration tool for people who work with people outside of their org, or even within in some cases.

For example

• People within my organization ask me to provide available days and times to meet with a key external customer. I used Send Availability to choose the best possible options.
• A request is received directly from an external customer, client, or sales rep that asks for available times.

The "Book time" feature is not useful under those, or many other scenarios.

The removal of "Send availability" degrades a useful collaboration tool, and there is no workaround other than returning to time-consuming and less effective means. You don't need CoPilot AI to see that one.

Answer 5

Awful news. Spent 20mins trying to figure out where this option went or whether a setting had changed. This is (WAS) one of the best features.