(Updated) Outlook for Mac: Sensitivity label recommendations and auto-labeling from attachments
Versions captured by this deployment. Earlier versions and notices may be missing; first observed is not first published.
Rollout
- Ends
- 28 Dec 2026
Rollout dates are often only in the text. When Microsoft moves them, the change shows under "What changed".
- Microsoft's start date
- 1 Sep 2026
- Last changed by Microsoft
- 6 Oct 2026
- First seen here
- 19 Oct 2026
- Versions seen
- 1
What the notice says
Microsoft's text, with its sections, lists and tables; source markup removedUpdated October 6, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
What and Why
We're introducing support in Outlook for Mac that can automatically apply or recommend Microsoft Purview sensitivity labels based on the sensitivity labels assigned to attached files.
This enhancement helps organizations apply more consistent information protection by aligning email sensitivity labels with the classification of attached content. By reducing the need for manual labeling, organizations can help lower the risk of misclassified communications and support compliance and data protection objectives.
Rollout Schedule
- General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): Rollout will begin in mid-November 2026 (previously late September) and is expected to complete in mid-November 2026 (previously late September).
Impact on Your Organization
Who is affected
- Users who compose email messages in Outlook for Mac.
- Organizations that use Microsoft Purview sensitivity labels.
Platforms and Services
- Outlook for Mac
- Microsoft Purview Information Protection
What will happen
- When users attach files that already have Microsoft Purview sensitivity labels, Outlook for Mac can automatically apply or recommend an appropriate sensitivity label for the email message.
- Email classification can better align with the sensitivity of attached content.
- Depending on your organization's label policies, users may see sensitivity label recommendations or automatic label application while composing messages.
- This capability helps reduce manual labeling effort and promotes a more consistent information protection experience across Outlook clients.
Action Required / Recommendations
No admin action is required.
We recommend that organizations using Microsoft Purview sensitivity labels:
- Review existing sensitivity label publishing and protection policies.
- Validate that attachment-based label inheritance behavior aligns with organizational compliance and information protection requirements.
- Inform compliance, security, and support teams of the upcoming change so they can address user questions.
Compliance Considerations
| Issue | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Purview labeling behavior | This change affects how Microsoft Purview sensitivity labels may be applied or recommended for email messages based on the sensitivity labels of attached files. |
| Information protection and compliance workflows | Organizations should verify that automatic or recommended label inheritance aligns with their existing classification and protection requirements. |
What changed
Between the versions this installation saw, newest firstThis installation has seen one version of this notice, first on 19 Oct 2026. Later changes will show here.
Linked documentation
Microsoft pages the notice links toThe notice links to no Microsoft Learn or Support page that this installation reads.
Not confirmed here
What this page cannot tell you- Whether your tenant is affected: this is Microsoft's notice, not a check of your settings.
- Versions before 19 Oct 2026: this installation first saw the notice after Microsoft posted it.