If you're just getting started with Microsoft Outlook, this page is for you. We've gathered tips and links to some of the questions that newcomers ask most often. If you don't find your question here, try using the Search box to the left or visit one of the great discussion forums for Outlook.
Other resources for newcomers:
- Video Tutorials
- How to... use Outlook -- Beginners guides from Outlook Tips
Managing Data | Mail | Collaboration | Other | More Information
Managing Data
How do I ...
... synchronize Outlook data between my desktop and laptop?
There's nothing built into Outlook to handle this (other than copying .pst files back and forth), but there are web-based sync tools and other utilities that might help. One advantage of a web-based tool is that you also get your Outlook data available in any browser. See Synchronizing Microsoft Outlook on two machines.
... back up my contacts and other data?
Outlook data is either in a Personal Folder .pst file or an Exchange Server mailbox. The system administrator is responsible for backing up the data in an Exchange mailbox. You could also use File | Import and Export to make a copy of your Contacts folder as a .pst file for a backup.If you have data in a Personal Folders .pst file, then you'll want to shut down Outlook and back up that file periodically. See Outlook & Exchange/Windows Messaging Backup and Dual-Boot for information on how to find the file on your system and what other files you'll want to back up (e.g. those containing various Outlook configuration settings).
... recover data from a damaged Personal Folders .pst file?
You need to run the Scanpst.exe utility, possibly alternating with Scandisk.exe to fix disk problems. See To repair a damaged Personal Folders PST file
How do I ...
... send one message to lots of people but hide their names?
After you open the message, choose View | Bcc Field, then put the names/addresses in the Bcc box. (Bcc stands for blind carbon copy.) Put your own address in the To box, since many mail programs will throw away a message without a valid To address as junk mail.If you want to compose one message, but have it delivered to each person individually with their address in the To box, see Mass Mail Tools.
... use my Hotmail account in Outlook?
As of September 2009 you can use POP3 or the Outlook Hotmail Connector (Outlook 2003/2007/2010 only). See this article for POP3 settings and links to the current Outlook Hotmail Connector.
... automatically reply to messages when I'm on vacation?
If Microsoft Exchange is your mail server, you use Out of Office Assistant, and the server sends the reply. Otherwise, you use Rules Wizard and leave Outlook running while you're gone, so that it can send the reply. See To make automatic reply rules in Microsoft Outlook.
Collaboration
How do I ...
... share my contacts and calendar with other people?
For complete sharing, you need Microsoft Exchange Server. Without Exchange Server, you can share free/busy calendar information over the Internet in Outlook 98 or later versions or transfer data with the Net Folders feature in Outlook 98 and Outlook 2000. (Net Folders is not available in Outlook 97 or Outlook 2002). Other methods include web-based tools and third-party servers. See Sharing Microsoft Outlook Calendar and Contacts.
Other
Can Outlook ...
... read Internet newsgroups?
No. Outlook cannot connect to Internet newsgroup (Usenet) servers. The View | Go To | News command in Outlook 2003 and older launches Outlook Express, which is a separate program, sharing only the name and a handful of Internet-related components. (If you work in an Exchange Server environment, it is possible that the administrator has set up some public folders to hold Internet newsgroups.)
Why can't Outlook ...
... operate exactly like ACT!, Organizer, Maximizer or some other PIM I've used?
Software programs are never one-to-one identical in features. Even individuals with the same PIM will use it in many different ways. In most cases, there is a way to get Outlook to do what you want it to do. If you don't find a clue searching this site, post a message in one of the discussion forums for Outlook, and be very specific about what version of Outlook you are using and what you want to accomplish. Just asking "how do I make Outlook work like ACT!" won't get you any good answers.Also, there are many full-blown contact management programs based on Outlook, usually in conjunction with Exchange Server. See Contact Management Tools.
... do whatever it is I think that Outlook should be able to do?
Any software program has limitations. At some point, the developers have to say "enough!" so they can actually ship it out the door. With years of experience using Outlook, we've found the workarounds for the most common scenarios and invite you to search our site. If you don't find what you're looking for, post a message in one of the discussion forums for Outlook, and be very specific about what version of Outlook you are using and what you want to accomplish.
More Information
General information:
- More Outlook User Tips
- Microsoft Outlook Solutions -- Our main Outlook page with links to the various versions and many, many more resources.
- Outlook Tip of the Day
- Training Tips for Outlook 2000
- Microsoft Outlook - How-To Articles -- for Outlook 98 and 2000, but also largely apply to other versions. Unfortunately, the individual how-to answers are not always 100% complete and accurate.
- How to prevent and remove Outlook duplicates
- Organize and prioritize
- Save time with voting buttons
- Reuse responses with signatures
Also see these excerpts on Communicating with E-mail from Quick Course in Outlook 2000 from Microsoft Press. While these articles are written specifically for Outlook 2000, they many contain useful information for users of newer versions of Outlook. However, menus, commands, and screenshots have changed. Obviously, new features are not covered in these articles.
- Part 1- Using the Inbox
- Part 2- Composing Messages
- Part 3- Addressing Messages Quickly
- Part 4- Attaching Files to Messages
- Part 5- Sending and Retrieving Messages
- Part 6- Replying to Messages
- Part 7- Forwarding Messages
- Part 8- Deleting Messages
- Part 9- Organizing Messages
- Part 10- Applying Custom Filters
- Part 11- Using Folders
- Part 12- Moving Messages
- Part 13- Organizing Messages with the Rules Wizard
Leave a Reply
10 Comments on "Welcome to Microsoft Outlook"
Have a PC that uses Window 8 which I find very different from my old Windows 7. I have a job that requires Outlook and I'm not advanced enough to reprogram my PC to get it.
Do you have Outlook (or Office ) installed? That is the first step.
Well, after months of using Verizon email, my attempts to switch to Outlook have been dashed! Possible problem is that the name listed on the internet provider as account owner is other than my own? More trys in the future to setup Outlook!
The name on the account shouldn't matter as long as your account supports POP3 or IMAP. What happens when you try to set it up?
New computer. Old HD quit and lost a lot of files, including Outlook pst. etc. Now, on my new desktop, can't get Outlook 2010 to setup? Msg. says "can't connect to Microsoft Exchange server". Also; "Name on account can not be verified"...? I've been using Outlook for many years at office and home. Now, only at home. Have I failed to do the initial setup of my desktop incorrectly, or will I have to setup a new account for Outlook?
Do you use Exchange server? Go to Control panel, search for Mail. Edit the profile and create the correct account type - if you use autoaccount setup and let outlook set up the account it should find the correct account type, most of the time.
How do I install "Microsoft Word2007" onto my computer so that I can continue using that feature?
Ummmm... you stick in the Office disk and run set up? But I get the feeling that it's really not the answer you are looking for. :)
What feature do you need to continue using?
The most common reason people ask this question is because they have standalone Outlook and spelling and other features don't work correctly. If this is the case, find a copy of winword.exe and copy it to the same directory as outlook.exe. The file can come from a different versions of Office; one person said it worked with a file he named winword.exe. The spelling section at Missing Features in Standalone Outlook have a little more detail.
I purchased Microsoft 7 and 2010 Office suite. I can recieve but not send emails in Outlook 2010. I use Charter as my ISP and they say its a software error. I have tried several things..incluiding Charter instructions. .can' t download the Errorfix file for 0x800CCCerror ... doesn't work for 2010. Can you help me PLEASE... driving me crazy.
What is the text of the message?
Have you tried any of the solutions at https://support.microsoft.com/kb/813514 ?