Outlook for iOS and Android Will Let Users Minimize Email Drafts

Microsoft’s Outlook app for iOS and Android will soon let users minimize email drafts so they can switch between tasks more easily. The new Minimize button, which is currently available for beta testers, minimizes drafts to a new shortcut at the top of the app’s bottom navigation bar, right next to the Compose button.

As of today, Outlook users who want to check another email, a calendar event, or something else in the app need to save the draft and re-open it later from their draft folder. This new minimize button aims to change that.

“You can easily switch between composing an email and referencing other emails or calendar events without losing your progress,” explained Beth Jester, a Product Manager on the Outlook team. “You will save time and reduce mental overhead with the ability to quickly return to email drafts when needed.”

When opening a new or existing email draft in Outlook for iOS and Android, the new Minimize button will appear in the top right corner of the Compose window. Tapping it will minimize the draft to this new area near the app’s bottom navigation bar. The rounded icon for minimized drafts also indicates how many drafts have been docked.

On Android, this new Minimize button is available on the beta version 4.2447.0 of the app or newer, and iOS TestFlight users can try it from the version 4.2449.0 or later. This new button is also rolling out gradually to all users of the Outlook mobile apps.