In November 2025, Microsoft announced a domain transition for two of its popular services: Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft To Do. Both applications are now accessible via new web addresses on the dedicated cloud.microsoft domain. This shift is part of Microsoft’s plan to provide a more unified and secure online experience for its cloud services. Below is a breakdown of who is affected, what changes are being made, when and where these changes will occur, why this change is being implemented, and how it will impact users and organizations.
The Old Outlook URLs were https://outlook.com for personal use and https://outlook.office.com (or https://outlook.office365.com) for Microsoft 365 work/school accounts.
FAQs: Microsoft’s Transition to the cloud.microsoft Domain
Q. What is changing with Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft To Do?
A. Microsoft is updating the web addresses for Outlook and To Do, moving them to new URLs under the cloud.microsoft domain. Outlook will now be accessible at outlook.cloud.microsoft, and To Do at todo.cloud.microsoft, running in parallel with their previous domains during the transition.
Q. Why is Microsoft moving these services to the cloud.microsoft domain?
A. The move enhances security, trust, and domain consistency. Since “.microsoft” is an exclusive top-level domain owned by Microsoft, it helps reduce phishing risks, ensures users are on legitimate sites, and unifies Microsoft cloud services under a secure, company-controlled domain.
Q. Do users need to take any action during this transition?
A. No action is required from end users. All old URLs will automatically redirect to the new cloud.microsoft addresses. Users may simply notice the new “.microsoft” domain in their browser, which is expected and legitimate.
Q. When will the transition be fully rolled out?
A. The new domains are already active. Outlook has begun rolling out via Targeted Release and will expand to Standard Release in the coming months. To Do is also fully available under the new domain.
Q. Will the old Outlook and To Do URLs still work?
A. Yes. The previous URLs remain fully functional and will redirect automatically to the new cloud.microsoft locations. Bookmarks and saved links do not need to be updated immediately.
Q. How does this change impact IT administrators?
A. Admins may want to:
- Update internal documentation referencing old URLs
- Ensure customization or integrations using Outlook/To Do URLs can handle the new domain
- Verify that *.cloud.microsoft is allowed on their network Most organizations already following Microsoft’s recommended network guidance should experience no disruptions.
Q. Is this transition compliant with Microsoft’s security and data standards?
A. Yes. Microsoft has stated that there are no new compliance considerations. This is strictly a domain change and does not affect data handling, storage, or privacy policies.
Q. Why don’t the new URLs have “.com” at the end?
A. The “.microsoft” domain is a custom, secure top-level domain owned by Microsoft. Removing “.com” helps distinguish official Microsoft services and offers stronger protection against spoofing and malicious lookalike sites.
Q. Will custom-built Teams apps or integrations be affected?
A. Most existing integrations will continue working because of automatic redirects. However, Microsoft recommends verifying app compatibility and following updated developer guidance for Teams and custom applications.
Q. What can organizations do to prepare for this change?
A. Organizations should:
- Inform users about the legitimacy of the new domain
- Update internal assets referencing the old Outlook/To Do URLs
- Ensure no network restrictions block cloud.microsoft
- Check custom apps for compatibility By following Microsoft’s guidance, the transition should be smooth and disruption-free.
Who is affected?
The change impacts all users of Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft To Do, as they will eventually start seeing the services under new URLs. In practice, anyone who uses Outlook (for email, calendar, etc.) or To Do (for task management) will notice the web address change once it rolls out. Additionally, IT administrators and organizational stakeholders may need to update internal documentation or network settings, which affects them. Admins managing company networks, custom Teams applications, or URL allowlists should be aware of the new domain to ensure continued, smooth access for their users.
What is Changing?
Microsoft is changing the primary web URLs for Outlook and To Do to addresses under the cloud.microsoft domain. Specifically:
- Outlook’s web interface can now be reached at outlook.cloud.microsoft (instead of its former *.com or Office.com-based address).
- Microsoft To Do is now available at todo.cloud.microsoft.
These new cloud.microsoft addresses are already live and running in parallel with the previous URLs. This means the traditional URLs for Outlook and To Do will continue to function for now, but they will automatically redirect you to the new addresses. The user experience and the applications themselves are unchanged – only the web domain hosting them is different.
When is this Happening?
The transition to the cloud.microsoft domain is already underway as of November 2025. In fact, the new Outlook and To Do URLs are already available for use. Microsoft Outlook’s new domain was initially released to customers in the Targeted Release channel (a preview rollout for early adopters and testers), and it will expand to all users (Standard Release) over the coming months.
During this rollout period, you may gradually begin to see Outlook web traffic redirect from the old Outlook domains to the new outlook.cloud.microsoft address. Microsoft To Do’s new domain is now available. Essentially, the timeline has begun, the change is active now, and full adoption is expected to continue ramping up in the near future.
Where are the New URLs?
The new URLs are located on Microsoft’s exclusive cloud-based domain: cloud.microsoft.
For Outlook, the address is https://outlook.cloud.microsoft/
For To Do the address is https://todo.cloud.microsoft/
One noticeable difference is that these addresses end in “.microsoft” (without “.com”). That’s by design – “.microsoft” is a top-level domain owned exclusively by Microsoft.
By moving Outlook and To Do to cloud.microsoft, Microsoft is placing these services in a dedicated, company-controlled domain space. The previous web addresses (such as Outlook’s older URLs) will still work for now by redirecting you to the new locations. If you navigate to the old Outlook or To Do sites, you will be automatically redirected to the cloud.microsoft site.
The Old Outlook URLs were https://outlook.com for personal use and https://outlook.office.com (or https://outlook.office365.com) for Microsoft 365 work/school accounts.
Why is Microsoft Making this Change?
The primary reasons are security, trust, and domain unity. The cloud.microsoft domain (first introduced in early 2023) was created to give Microsoft’s software-as-a-service products a unified and trusted domain to live under. Because “.microsoft” is an exclusive top-level domain owned by Microsoft, any site on this domain is instantly recognizable as an official Microsoft property. This exclusivity provides additional security benefits – it helps protect against phishing and spoofing because malicious actors can’t simply create lookalike “.microsoft” domains. In short, by moving Outlook and To Do to cloud.microsoft, Microsoft is aiming to strengthen security and user confidence (you know you’re on a genuine Microsoft site) while also streamlining its services under one common domain umbrella.
Another benefit is administrative consistency. Having first-party apps all on the cloud.microsoft domain simplifies IT management of trusted URLs. It’s part of a larger modernization move, but in this announcement, the focus is specifically on Outlook and To Do joining that domain.
How does it Impact Users and Organizations?
For everyday users, the impact should be minimal and mostly positive. No action is required from users, as all changes are being handled on Microsoft’s side. Users will be automatically redirected to the new domain when using Outlook or To Do on the web. The services themselves work the same as before. The only visible difference might be the web address showing “cloud.microsoft” instead of the familiar “.com” address. Microsoft has ensured that links and bookmarks using the old URLs will continue to work (they’ll just forward you to the new addresses). So you won’t need to change any saved favorites or habits immediately. In essence, users might only need to be aware that seeing “outlook.cloud.microsoft” or “todo.cloud.microsoft” in their browser is expected and legitimate.
For organizations and IT admins, the change is straightforward as well. Microsoft noted that the cloud.microsoft domain has been included in the standard Microsoft 365 network endpoints guidance since April 2023. This means if an organization has been following Microsoft’s recommended network configurations, their firewalls and proxies should already trust the *.cloud.microsoft domain. In that case, users in that organization will be able to access Outlook and To Do on the new domain without any issues. No major configuration changes are needed if standard guidance was adhered to.
However, there are a few proactive steps organizations can consider to smooth the transition:
- Inform and educate users about the new domain. Let employees or team members know that going forward they might see Outlook or To Do opening on a cloud.microsoft address. Explaining that “.microsoft” is Microsoft’s secure domain can help prevent confusion (“Is this a legit site?”) when the URL changes.
- Update internal documentation and links that reference the old Outlook or To Do URLs. For example, if an intranet site or a training document points to outlook.office.com or another old link, update those to the new outlook.cloud.microsoft and todo.cloud.microsoft addresses. This ensures accurate documentation and prevents any potential confusion.
- Check custom integrations or apps for compatibility. If your organization has any custom-built applications or Teams add-ins that interact with Outlook or To Do via URL, ensure those are prepared to handle the new domain. Most should continue working due to the redirects, but it’s wise to verify. Microsoft has provided developer guidance (such as instructions for Teams app developers) to accommodate these new domains.
- Verify network allowances for the new domain. Double-check that your company’s network or security filters are not blocking the cloud.microsoft domain. Since this domain was already part of official guidance, many will find they’re all set. But it’s good to confirm that *.cloud.microsoft is on the allowed list so that no one encounters access issues. Generally, if your network was configured according to Microsoft’s standard recommendations, you shouldn’t need to make any changes now.
It’s worth noting that Microsoft identified no compliance issues with this domain change. The move doesn’t introduce new data handling procedures or policy changes; it is simply a change of address for the services.
Conclusion:
Microsoft’s transition of Outlook and To Do to the cloud.microsoft domain is a behind-the-scenes change intended to enhance security and unify its services under a single trusted roof. Who is affected? Virtually all users of these products (and the admins who support them). What is changing? The web URLs for Outlook and To Do are being updated to outlook.cloud.microsoft and todo.cloud.microsoft.
When? The change is currently in progress (as of November 2025), with Outlook’s new domain gradually rolling out and becoming more widely available soon. Where are these new addresses? On the exclusive cloud.microsoft domain, meaning the URLs drop the “.com” in favor of Microsoft’s own top-level domain.
Why the change? To improve security and consistency by using a Microsoft-controlled domain space.
How does it impact everyone? Luckily, with automatic redirects and planning, the impact is minimal; users shouldn’t have to do anything but be aware, and organizations just need to double-check that everything is pointing to and allowing the new domain. In summary, this domain update is a positive step toward safer and more unified Microsoft cloud services, and it’s being handled in a manner that keeps things easy for both users and administrators.
