Tip 543: Save meetings, don’t send updates

Note: This tip was originally written for Outlook 2007 when an add-in blocked the ability to Save and not send updates. The same basic solution will work in newer versions too: use the Save button or Ctrl+S when the 'Save but don't send updates' option is missing after editing the message body. If you edit the date & time or location you will need to send updates. Microsoft no longer allows you to change the time or location without sending an update.

Update: This bug was related to an add-in and Outlook 2007 SP2 included the update for this problem. Verify you have the latest updates installed then try Safe mode. If it works as expected in Safe mode, it's an add-in causing problems. You can either identify the add-in and disable it or set Outlook offline, choose Save and Send updates, then delete the update from the Outbox before going back online. (Hold Ctrl as you click on the Outlook icon to start in Safe mode.)

I’m seeing a lot of questions that go like this:

After a meeting request was created and sent to all our attendees, I want to add note to that meeting on my calendar but I don't want other attendees to get the note I am saving. In Outlook 2003, it was a breeze. It lets me save the note without forcing me to send update. How do I do it in Outlook 2007?

If clicking the X to close the form doesn't offer the Save, no updates option, use the following method:

Use the following steps to close and save an updated meeting request without sending the update:

Hit Save.
Choose the ‘Don't save but keep open’ option.
Click X to close.
Choose the Don't Save option.

Open the meeting – it should have your notes saved but no update gets sent. Yes, it is a roundabout way to do what should be a simple task, but it works. And yes, there is clearly a bug in the process since it saves the changes anyway.

Published August 27, 2008. Last updated on April 9, 2013.