TL;DR
Microsoft is releasing a new Outlook feature called Preserve Declined Meetings (PDM) to keep declined meetings in your calendar, instead of deleting them completely. Once you switch on PDM, your declined meetings will still appear in your calendar so you can easily access the information, documents and chats related to the meeting…and the time slot will still show as available. If you become free to attend the meeting you can update your previous response (RSVP) and accept the invite or forward it to someone else. Due mid to late November 2023.
Details
With this update, if you use Outlook on the web or new Outlook for Windows you can navigate to Calendar > Events and invitations > Save declined events and enable the feature by ticking the Show declined events on my calendar tick box. Once available, you may see a pop-up tip box prompting you to try this.
With PDM enabled, you can decline meetings in new Outlook for Windows, and Outlook on the web. Outlook for Mac, Outlook for Android, Outlook for iOS (but not classic Outlook for Windows) and still see them in your calendar. The PDM’s meetings will be visible everywhere you see your calendar including classic Outlook for Windows, Teams and third-party apps.
Availability
Due mid to late November 2023.
Source, related links, and references
MC684218.
Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 154056.
Images: Microsoft.
Page originally published
4th November 2023 and kept up to date.
Want to know what else is late, new, and coming soon across M365 and Teams this month? Check out the latest roundup.
