Microsoft Outlook - mail does not play nicely.

Outlook presents very differently to modern HTML mail systems (like Gmail). Noting newer versions of outlook are much better,

Below includes

• Why?

• what version impacts what

• Known quick fixes

TOP TIP : what you test/see in your e-mail tests may-not be the same version as your customers/guests. Many companies have moved to O-365 which does perform better.

We can provide developer support on Enterprise B+ plans with in one work-day. We can help on others plan in 4-5 work days.

** I asked ChatGTP please explain outlook render issues.

EDM rendering issues in Outlook occur because Outlook is not a single rendering engine. Different Outlook variants use fundamentally different HTML/CSS engines — some of which are not browser engines at all.

Below is the precise technical explanation.

Common Render Problems Across Versions

( = supported; = significant limitations reported)

Developer Notes on Fixes & Workarounds

Across versions with poor CSS support (especially Word engine), the recommended practices are:

• Use table-based layouts instead of complex <div> structures.

• Apply inline styles on <td> cells rather than margins/padding on modern tags.

• Use VML for backgrounds & complex visual structures on classic clients.

• Specify width/height attributes on images to avoid scaling issues.

The Core Problem: Multiple Rendering Engines

A. Outlook Windows (Classic 2007–365 Desktop)

Uses the Microsoft Word HTML engine — not a browser engine.

Implications:

• No modern CSS layout model (no flexbox, grid)

• Poor margin/padding support on non-table elements

• No proper background-image support (requires VML)

• Limited float positioning

• Partial media query support

• Renders using Word’s document layout model

Word was built to render print documents, not responsive HTML.
So email layouts built like websites break.

B. New Outlook for Windows (2023+)

Uses a web-based engine (Edge / Chromium-based).

This improves CSS support, but:

• It behaves closer to Outlook.com than classic

• Some desktop-specific overrides still apply

• Corporate environments may still force legacy behaviour

• Dark mode transformations are aggressive

This creates inconsistency between:

• Classic Outlook desktop

• New Outlook desktop

• Outlook Web

C. Outlook for Mac

Uses WebKit (browser-like rendering).
Much closer to Apple Mail behaviour.

But:

• Spacing calculations differ from Windows versions

• Dark mode behaviour differs

• Font fallback differs

D. Outlook.com / Web

Browser-based rendering (Chromium/Edge).

Generally standards-compliant, but:

• Sanitises some HTML

• Removes certain CSS

• Adds wrapper markup

• Applies forced dark mode rules