Bing search option part of the latest Outlook update

Jul 15, 2020 16:42 GMT  ·  By

Outlook is currently one of the most popular email apps on both Android and iOS, so it makes sense for Microsoft to keep working on new functionality that improves users’ experience even further.

However, it looks like one recent update for Outlook brings a little bit more to Android users than new features.

The app is believed to be used as a sneaky way to introduce a Bing search option on devices running Google’s mobile operating system, as several users explain on Google’s forums (via AA).

More specifically, it looks like when select text across the operating system, such as in a browser, and then long-pressing the selection, there’s now a Bing search option that wasn’t there before the latest Outlook update.

Uninstalling Outlook removes the Bing search option

Users on Google’s forums explain that the option shows up without having the Bing app installed, and the only Microsoft app running on the device is Outlook.

“I only had the Microsoft Outlook app installed.  Pressing the "Bing Search" option would open result in a browser within the Outlook app. I removed the Outlook app and the Bing Search option is gone,” someone says on the forums.

So technically, one recent Outlook update introduces this unexpected option in Android, although right now, not everyone seems to be getting it. I’m running the up-to-date Outlook for Android on my device and the option isn’t there, despite actually having multiple Microsoft apps running on the phone.

However, some say that simply removing and then reinstalling Outlook removes the Bing search option from Android, so this is pretty much the easiest workaround. Of course, this isn’t the way to go for those users who must run Outlook for work or on managed devices.

Neither Microsoft nor Google commented on how the Bing search option ended up on Android.