Microsoft started moving Outlook.com users to the Office 365 interface earlier this week. My ad-free account was one of the "lucky" ones to be moved. Outlook's auto-account setup correctly configured the account as an Exchange account.
When your account is migrated, you'll need to remove the account from Outlook and add it back to your profile as an Exchange account. Auto-account setup will correctly configure it. The Outlook Connector will not work once the account is migrated. "How to add or remove an email account"
Not everyone who was moved feels as lucky, unfortunately, and once the account is moved, it cannot be moved back to the old interface. This isn't like the migration from Hotmail's interface to Outlook.com where you could switch back and forth between the old and new interfaces - once the account is moved into Office 365, it stays in Office 365. There is no going back.
It's expected that by spring 2016, every Outlook.com user will using the Office 365 interface.
Basically, everything that Outlook 2013 EAS users complained about is fixed by the switch to Office 365. As a bonus, the mailbox will sync to multiple computers much better. Rules and some (but not all) settings are stored in the mailbox and will be available on other computers.
Outlook users who migrate to Outlook.com will have a much easier time: add the Outlook.com mailbox to your profile and move, copy, or import your old data into the new mailbox. No more saving the calendar as an ics and importing it at Outlook.com.
New features: if you have aliases set up in your outlook.com account, you can use Outlook to send from that address. It's not sent "on behalf of". The default address is in the return path in the message header for both messages sent from OWA and from Outlook.
On the Mac side, calendar and contacts sync to Outlook for Mac. (Tested with the new Outlook (blue icon)).
Any feature that works in a pst or in a POP3 account will work in Outlook.com. This includes Categories and Flags.
Among the improvements Outlook.com users can look forward to:
- Multiple contact folders.
- Notes (on appointments and contacts) longer than 1024 characters.
- Attachments are supported on appointments and contacts.
- Formatting in the Notes field on appointments and contacts is supported.
- Contact groups work.
- Import old mail** into Outlook.com; calendar and contacts can be moved or copied within Outlook.
- Views and Rules are stored in the mailbox and sync to other computers also using Outlook to read mail.
**My mailbox currently reports the Office 365 quota of 50GB, so I can import a lot of old mail! I'm expecting them to reduce the quota before wide availability.
I think the move to Office 365 is a win for anyone who uses Outlook to read their Outlook.com mail or uses multiple computers, although based on the complaints in the Answers forum, not everyone whose mailbox was moved is happy with the new interface. People who read their mail in a web browser need to learn a new interface. Outlook 2003 users lose the Outlook Connector as Delta Sync is not supported. This also means Windows Live Mail users lose sync. POP3 and IMAP are supported but may need to be enabled in the options.
Outlook 2007 users may need updates installed in order to connect.
Select different modules from the App Launcher, accessed by clicking on the waffle icon in the upper left corner:
Click on the Gear icon in the upper right then choose Options from the menu to change your options and settings. Some options, such as changing the reading pane location or conversations sort order, are linked on the Gear menu (Display Settings).
As you can see from this screen shot, Rules created in Outlook sync to Outlook.com and down to any other computers that also use Outlook to access your Outlook.com email. Views will also sync.
More Information
First look: Outlook.com on Office 365
New ways to get more done in Outlook.com
Gary says
In my Outlook.com account I have set up a connected account and alias for my work email. I can send New emails using my work alias but it cannot Reply or Forward using my work alias. The replied or forwarded emails move in to my Sent Items but the recipient does not receive them!! In Sent Items, New emails are shown as from "my.name@work.com", whereas the replied or forwarded emails are shown as from "My name on behalf of My name ". Please help!
Diane Poremsky says
that sounds like a bug that was just fixed in build 16.0.8067.1000 -
https://www.slipstick.com/outlookcom/outlook-com-reply-account/
Harvey says
Hi,
I have completed the "reconnect" process for my Outlook 2016.
However, the Exchange Server "User Name" appears as my email address.
How can I change that to show my proper name?
Thanks!
Diane Poremsky says
That is how outlook 2016 does it - the only way to change the name is to use the script in this article: https://www.slipstick.com/outlook/rename-exchange-mailbox-account-outlook-2013/
Harvey says
Thanks Diane, I used the script and it did change the name. I tested sending a message and my name appears properly. However, this morning I notice the name has reverted back to my email address. Any advice on how to resolve? Thanks!
Diane Poremsky says
sorry I missed this earlier. Is it still doing this? If so, what type of email account? I know the google sync utility will do this every time outlook restarts - the sync utility sets up the data file and controls the name.
Harvey says
Hi, I too missed your response back in May 2017.
The account type is hotmail.com
Every time I run the script, things will eventually revert back to showing my email address.
Diane Poremsky says
Yeah, that is a "feature". Until Microsoft fixes it, you'll need to keep running the script.
You can vote for the ability to customize the name at https://outlook.uservoice.com/forums/322590-outlook-2016-for-windows/suggestions/19574968-provide-a-feature-to-customize-account-names-for-e
Lachlan Simpson says
Hello, with my custom domain no longer syncing on mobile devices, I have worked around by adding @outlook.com alias and making it primary. Logging in with this alias and my mail works again on mobile devices.
One issue Outlook 2016 uses the @outlook.com alias as default and I can't see any setting to changed the default.
Any tips?
Diane Poremsky says
You can change in Outlook.com settings but it will send using 'on behalf of' and include both addresses or use the ugly outlook.com address (outlook_uglycode@)
Lachlan Simpson says
My custom domain is grandfathered. My MX record points to MS servers. So why does the custom domain get treated as an external address as per your previous post?
Diane Poremsky says
Best guess is the transfer screwed up. Can you send mail using the custom domain? Are all mailboxes in the domain affected? I'll asked them about it again - is it the domain you used in the form?
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
Yes this has only recently become an issue, so i would agree the transfer had issues.
To answer your questions, yes i can send email using the custom domain, all mailboxes are affected and it is indeed the domain i used in the form.
Thanks in advance.
Diane Poremsky says
I saved this in the queue so i could check on it later - are you still having problems?
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
It was never resolved. I ended up trialling O365 which resolved that problem but it introduced another problem where no one could send email when connected to cell network. MS blamed the mobile network, and kept closing the support ticket. So in the end I moved to G Suite and everything works great now.
Thanks for all your assistance with outlook.com, if you ever discover how we can apply to MS to have our custom domain removed from existing outlook.com accounts I'd be interested in submitting a request. I don't like the fact those accounts can still send email using my domain.
Diane Poremsky says
>> no one could send email when connected to cell network.
sounds more like a configuration issue - but it's easier to blame a 3rd party. (It's not just MS that does this, unfortunately.)
Log into the Microsoft account portal and either delete the Microsoft account or add an outlook.com alias and delete the custom domain address. Also, remove all of the records from DNS that point to Microsoft.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
I was curious if the issues around custom domains not syncing on mobile devices was ever resolved? I'm still paying for O365 mailboxes which is a bit overkill for my needs.
Diane Poremsky says
If the custom domains are properly recognized in Outlook.com - sending & receiving works correctly, you can set it up in outlook desktop, log in with it etc. then it should work fine on the mobile device.
If i recall correctly, you had problems with the domain being recognized and have the outlook_ugly@ address.
Adam Hubbard says
FIX AVAILABLE! Also had the same problem with my custom domain -
To fix do the following....Create an alias on outlook.com BUT DONT set it as a primary - (Continue to keep your custom domain as your primary!).
Set up a new profile on Outlook 2016 (don't edit an existing)...Then use your alias email address and normal password to set up (Remember if you have 2 factor authentication you will need to use an 'app password').
This sets your account up, and automatically changes your email details to your domain email.
The only place the alias will show is when you send a new email (Your alias will show in the 'From' address)....BUT it still send and receives as if it was from your primary. No 'sent on behalf' etc etc etc.
Even microsoft told me to set the alias as the primary then set up and change back. Doesnt work. Using the method above works perfectly
Lachlan Simpson says
Ok thanks I will try that and see if it works for my account. I have one other question related to outlook.com account. I can edit my files on OneDrive via iPhone app but the iPad app says I need to activate and then says I need an Office365 license. How do I get the iPad app to work when the iPhone app is working?
Stuart says
Hi Diane, I signed up to Outlook Premium. When signing in with my new email address on my custom domain I noticed the accounts are linked with my Hotmail.com emails. So my new Inbox is currently being filled with all my Hotmail emails. Is there a way the custom domain can have it's own fresh new Mailbox?
Diane Poremsky says
No, not using a existing address. You'd need to make a new outlook.com account and add the address to it - not sure if you can move addresses once added, but you can crerate a new one using one of your 5.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
Just a heads up several users on my custom domain have not received emails via Outlook app or IOS/Android mail apps (appears to be mobile related) since Friday last week. I tried logging out of outlook app and deleting IOS account and then was unable to login again? Unable to verify account i think was the message. I ended up working around the issue by adding an @outlook.com alias and making this primary, then logging in with that. I have been chatting with outlook app support and it started off great but now i have another consultant that seems to think i need to contact my IT Department because of issues post outlook.com migration. I still have several users (some elderly) that i cannot get too to apply same fix and updated their devices. Is this something that Microsoft can look into ASAP? My custom domain has had sync issues since migration but not to the point when it stopped syncing lat Friday all together.
Diane Poremsky says
It sounds like an activesync issue. Do you know what server name it was using? eas.outlook.com should work but the accounts may need to be manually set up.
Did you add/change the autodiscover record to point to the office server?
I'll see what i can find out.
Lachlan Simpson says
Well I found a workaround. I've had to set up an @outlook.com alias and make it primary. Then deleted the accounts and set them up using that alias. If I use the custom domain as primary I'm unable to login. It can't authenticate? All my users are impacted and a colleague that has a custom domain has had the same issue too. This started last Friday, i think Microsoft broke something.
Diane Poremsky says
They may have... there have been issues with outlook.com since before US Thanksgiving holiday. Last week my contact asked me what DNS records were working with the grandfathered accounts. He said they were preparing an article but now i'm wondering if they did something to break it.
I have one new custom domain that can't be enabled as a login address - it's definitely annoying.
Lachlan Simpson says
If you can keep me posted that would be great. My elderly parents accounts aren't working and I can't get there to apply workaround until Xmas Day. Microsoft haven't even communicated this issue to anyone, we found out after our mail wasn't syncing last week. When is Premium Outlook.com being launched outside of USA? I would prefer to have control of my domain users again.
Diane Poremsky says
I haven't heard when it will be enabled worldwide, only that it will be coming. Will see what i can find out.
Lachlan Simpson says
Thanks Diane. More immediate issue though is not being able to login into our accounts with custom domain. It's okay for me I was able to recreate my account on device after creating @outlook.com alias and setting it as primary but my parents are a 2.5 hour flight away and are both mid 80's and have not been able to access email on their devices since last Friday. I don't know how to resolve this? Microsoft have done nothing since i notified them last Sunday.
Stu says
Any further update on when this may be offered globally? My current provider runs out soon and i'd love to move my domain over to Outlook Premium. Or is there a way around the geo restriction for now?
Diane Poremsky says
On the geo restriction, you'd need to register your address as a us address and might need to use a US-based VPN to mask your ip address. Basically, you need to convince microsoft you are in the us.
Stuart says
Thank you for the response and apologies about the repeated q's - I did not think they were making it through.
Stu says
Have you any update on when they will offer Outlook with your own domain globally? I'd love to sign up and not renew with my current host.
Diane Poremsky says
No, i haven't heard any updates on it. Sorry.
Lachlan Simpson says
Read FAQ - https://premium.outlook.com/?lc=1033#/FAQ
"Setting up your email with Outlook.com Premium"
I reckon this is what they are setting up and have broken existing custom domain names?
Diane Poremsky says
i think they just broke things in general - a lot of people had issues, not just the grandfathered custom domains. I'll check my old custom domains - i only use them for testing and don't use them daily.
Lachlan Simpson says
It's odd that up until last Friday logging in and authenticating with custom domain pre/post outlook.com migration has not been an issue. Now the only way I can gain access to accounts with custom domain is to add an @outlook.com alias and set it as primary. Then create device account with that alias and everything works straight away. Change primary back to custom domain and create an account on device and things are broken. Poor comms from Microsoft. Thanks as always Diane for assisting with information transfer to MS. We'd all be stuffed without you.
Lachlan Simpson says
So I still have multiple users that can't login with their email address (custom domain) "unable to verify account"I have had to set an @outlook.com alias for these users to login. After 2 weeks of useless advice from the Outlook App support team they have asked if I tried IMAP? Can you help out or give me some contact support details for escalating this to someone who actually understands?
Diane Poremsky says
Sorry, I was swamped and missed this - is it still not working?
Lachlan Simpson says
Still not working :(
Eileen C says
First off, I hope it's okay for me to post here - the issues I'm having are very similar to what @Lachlan Simpson is experiencing. I have 2 custom domains; one for work and one for personal. I'm using Office365 for the business email (2 users) and it works well. I had been using EAS for our 3 personal email accounts relatively flawlessly. Starting last month, I got emails from Microsoft with the subject "Reconnect Outlook 2016/2013 to Outlook.com to resume email access". I followed the instructions thinking all was well. This morning when I opened Outlook 2013, I had no email for my personal accounts. After a lengthy 'chat' with a Microsoft Answer Team Rep, he put on a band-aid and created an alias account for 1 of my email accounts - which would be fine except for the fact that the reply-to email is now the flunky alias account. I don't know where to go from here. EAS worked well for me, I like that it was free and I was able to forward my email to one account so I didn't have to manage 3 inboxes. Is there something else on the horizon that I just need to wait for?
Diane Poremsky says
EAS is no longer supported - they are shutting it off for Outlook. When they added EAS support to Outlook 2013, they discovered that not only was it a poor EAS client (many features didn't work) but it also negatively affected the server - for this reason, they disabled EAS for Outlook on Exchange server and Office 365. When they migrated outlook.com, they thought they'd make it easier on users and enabled it for Outlook.com accounts, but they had a lot of issues and they made the decision to turn it off immediately. https://www.slipstick.com/outlook/outlookcom/outlook-comswitch-account-microsoft-exchange/
Are they grandfathered custom domains or new custom domains? If by flunky alias, you mean outlook_uglycode@, the only way to get rid of it is to remove the non-microsoft alias or get the Answer desk tech to understand that they need to fix the grandfather'd domain so it works correctly.
Lachlan Simpson says
In addition I tried the manual set up using was.outlook.com & outlook.office365.com and both fail to authenticate when custom domain is primary alias. I have the following auto discover record set up.
Name: autodiscover
Value: autodiscover.outlook.com
TTL: 1 Hour
Lachlan Simpson says
eas.outlook.com not was.outlook.com. Silly auto correct :)
Diane Poremsky says
lol. autocorrect will get you every time.
Christine says
I have the same problems as Jennifer (OCT.18):my previously connected account is no longer connected. It showed up as connected with a status of "update in progress" (all day). I tried deleting and re-adding, to no avail. Now it says 'Update Failed'...cannot do anything, even the edit show that :there are problems downloading options, try later.
Cannot receive any emails anymore.
All this since the new interface imposed on us recently. I am desperate.
Diane Poremsky says
Did you remove the account from your profile and add it back using autoaccount setup?
Renee Daigle says
I have 2 outlook.com accounts. One of them was migrated and the other wasn't. How do I get the other one (which is my main email address) to migrate too!!!! I love the new interface and have been frustrated simply waiting.
Diane Poremsky says
They are down to the most difficult accounts. If you have shared calendars, send only accounts, windows phone with custom ring tones assigned, they are slowly moving them now. There may be other issues that cause delays in moving accounts, but are working on getting everything moved.
Al None says
The free outlook.com and the paid Office-365 sync the Drafts Folder with each other....but NOT with iOS 10. A reseller of Office-365, appriver.com, gave me a test account and iOS 10 DID sync the Drafts Folder. Do you have any idea what is going on? My outlook.com account has switched to Exchange.
Diane Poremsky says
Are you using the native iOS app or the outlook app? Did you add them as exchange accounts (use eas.outlook.com if asked for a server name)? Drafts should sync with both accounts, at least when added as exchange.
Noah says
Tell me about problems: Not being able to login. Not sending or receiving emails. I lost all my folders. Only 5 out of 30 folders show and they are empty. Years worth of emails gone....I thought I was the only one but I guess lot's of people are having different issues. Talked to MS Support 5 times and all they can say is that they are doing maintenance. Really? In my case over a month of maintenance since my account got transfered to the exchange service...I'm switching back to yahoo now I guess or If I ever get my folders back I will make a backup of important emails just in case they decide to do "maintenance" again
Diane Poremsky says
They were issues logging in over the weekend that they are trying to solve. I'm not sure if this is related to your problem tho - as far as I know, it only affected the ability to log in using Outlook.
faalil says
I'm getting error after outlook. com upgrade in my both windows phones Error code 85002012. mails and contact are not syncing, also the contact photos are disappeared as well, anyone having same issue? i went through msft answer, alot of them are effected with this issue? how can fix this? is this server site issue?
Diane Poremsky says
Did you remove the accounts and add them back? You need to do that when the account is first migrated... but there was also a problem with the service around the time you posted, so it could just be that- it should be working by now.
Also, losing the contact photos is common when the account upgrades - it depends on the source of the photo.
faalil says
they have posted a announcement regarding this issue
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Fixes-or-workarounds-for-recent-issues-on-Outlook-com-8c95d913-d96b-4065-9171-e1fa44b03ff5?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US&fromAR=1
Staceland says
After the migration my outlook.com account no longer connects. It keeps prompting for the password but does not accept even after logging into the web portal and changing the password. I have removed the account and tried adding it back as imap, pop, exchange and auto configure. No luck. Anyone having this problem? Outlook client is Outlook 2013.
Diane Poremsky says
How long ago was it moved? It an take 48 hours for DNS to update.
Do you have all Office updates installed?
Staceland says
I don't know when it was migrated. It just all of a sudden stopped working and research led me to find that it had been migrated based on the web portal having been changed from Outlook.com to Outlook Mail. All updates are current. I am running Windows 10 Professional.
Diane Poremsky says
Is it working yet? There was an issue with the servers about the time you posted. (Yes, I'm way behind in replying - I took a few days off for the US Thanksgiving holiday.)
Sam says
Hi, my account got migrated but it is still showing as IMAP, not exchange. The server is still imap and smpt, not outlook.office365.com. Why is it so different?
Diane Poremsky says
Did you use auto account setup to add it to outlook? If you se outlook 2003, imap/SMTP is the only option (unless you upgrade).
Jack Sher says
I am so happy to find this discussion, perhaps it will provide the answer to the mystery I've spent hours on. My wife's outlook.com email account was migrated to the new server. We learned this (many hours later) after being unable to sync a new Samsung cell phone to the account. It was marked by the account as quarantined. That issue has now been resolved and it had nothing to do with the phone.
Now, I cannot get her emails to show the primary alias "from" address. The primary alias is domained at godaddy in a pop account. I have not connected the account to the outlook account. Neither have I connected any other accounts nor are there any other aliases, besides the outlook.com address and this godaddy email address. It was my understanding that by merely making another verified email address primary, the server would send emails as shown to be coming from that alias (and only that alias).
Unfortunately, when emails are sent from the outlook.com account, they arrive with a rather lengthy string of letters and numbers @outlook.com followed by on behalf of the alias. It looks something like this: Joan Smith on behalf of; Joan Smith .
I assume that the string of numbers and letters is a microsoft account number for this email account, but that's just a guess. If I add the account to my desktop outlook 2016 using the automated method, the account will show up as being that string of numbers, even though I'm adding it as (for example) joansmith@outlook.com.
Any ideas? Do I need to also connect the account in order for the "send from" issue to show the way I want (joan@joansmith.com)?
Thanks!
Diane Poremsky says
You need to set the alias as the default account, verify the account display name is her name (and not the ugly address). Using the subscription license version, Outlook 2016's From field should let you select any address linked to the account to send from, if you have it configured as an Exchange account and all updates installed.
The phone won't support this but you should be able to open it on the phone using eas.outlook.com as the Active Sync server address. To fix the address problem, you need to add the godaddy address as a connected account.
If the domain is your personal domain with no more than 5 mailboxes, another option is to move the domain's email hosting to outlook.com - until Dec 31, it's 19.95 for a premium outlook.com account with 5 mailboxes and custom domain. https://premium.outlook.com/#/Offer If you go this route, remove the custom address from the outlook.com account before you do anything.
Jack says
After countless hours, Microsoft support has confirmed that there is no way for me to accomplish what I want from the upgraded exchange server (have emails show as being sent from my custom domain address). As they put it: " since XXXXX@XXX.com is an email address outside of Microsoft, it will always show that alias is sent as "on behalf of" a managed outlook/Hotmail/etc.. [that belongs to Microsoft].
Once you have brought your own domain @XXX.com to Outlook.com Premium and MX/TXT records are pointing to Microsoft email servers, it will appear as a normal alias."
I was not willing to do this because I've found that when there's a problem, like the one I've had, it's essentially impossible to get expeditious service and good help from Microsoft. At best, I waste time chatting with someone who has limited knowledge. In my case, I've moved ahead and subscribed to (the same Microsoft) Office 365 email but I've done so through godaddy, where i've always gotten good help quickly and where help is available 24/7. I must say that having moved the email over, it works really well.
Diane, thanks so much for your help and for all the value your Slipstick has been to me over many years. I'm sure it will continue to be a great resource for me and countless others.
Diane Poremsky says
Premium outlook.com would have worked but there are other benefits to having the business version, especially if you are using it for business mail.
Brandon. says
I've had the same issue - getting my alias as a reply to option in outlook 2016. I've updated by default reply to my alias in settings. However, this is not reflected in outlook 2016.
Do you need re-add the mailbox to have the option to use my alias as the 'from' address?
thanks in advance.
Diane Poremsky says
You will need to remove the account and add it back to change the default address in Outlook. The outlook.com aliases on the account should be listed in the From drop down, so you can use them as send from addresses.
Antonio says
After migration, all the rules of my inbox and connected accounts that worked for Outlook.com suddenly stopped working in Outlook Mail.
If this was intended as an improvement, well, it want absolutely wrong. I have a useless hub account now, and managing business mails has been as painful as they could possibly make it in the last week since the migration.
I give Microsoft one week to fix all these bugs, or I will definitely switch to Gmail.
Diane Poremsky says
Did you edit (or remove and re-add) the connected accounts to reset them?
The new outlook.com doesn't support all of the same rules the old server did, but I would definitely try editing the rules or recreating them.
Jennifer says
I am having the same issue where my previously connected accounts are no longer connected. They show up as connected with a status of "update in progress" (all day). I tried deleting and re-adding, to no avail. Any tips?
Diane Poremsky says
These are the connected accounts in outlook.com's options screen? How long has it been a problem? There were some issues today, not sure if connected accounts were affected tho.
Jennifer says
This just happened to me today!?!? I can't send or receive emails from my connected accounts and my calendar syncs aren't working either.
Did you figure out a fix?
Diane Poremsky says
Howe long ago was your account migrated to the new server? I've noticed there can be sync issues for about 24 hours - but there were also issues with the server today.
Ally says
Hello Diane,
I use a web interface to access my email not a Mail client,
Since Outlook.com migration changes I have lost an important functionality -- editing in HTML-- while composing/replying/drafting an email.... evplained with pics here--> https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook_com/forum/oemail-ocompose/outlookcom-changes-have-the-formatting-options/a652c580-fbb4-4f16-9155-73fd9fa6f428
Diane Poremsky says
You can't edit the source code in the OWA editor, but you can compose a message in an html editor then open it in a browser and copy and paste the formatted page.
Ron says
As a followup correction, I'm using Windows Mail.
Ron says
Just got an email from Outlook , Oct. 13.2016, to check out the upgraded Outlook....I use Microsoft Mail, not Outlook, so can someone tell me what the differences are and what the advantages, if any, are of Outlook New? Is it worth changing?
Diane Poremsky says
The upgraded Outlook.com is just a newer version of Outlook.com / Hotmail email. You can use the new web interface if you want, or you can keep using the Mail client. It's certainly worth checking out the new interface, but I would use the client I'm comfortable with. (I assume this is the Windows 8 or 10 Mail app, not the older Live mail client - if you use Live Mail, you won't have calendar and contact sync).
Mike says
Hi Diane
Apologies, I worked out how to choose the correct calendars in the web and Outlook client windows.
Rob Bullard says
>> New features: if you have aliases set up in your outlook.com account, you can use Outlook to send from that address. It's not sent "on behalf of". The default address is in the return path in the message header for both messages sent from OWA and from Outlook. <<
This is not the behavior I am experiencing. I have been migrated, and have re-added my Outlook.com account to Outlook 2016, so that it is configured as an Exchange account and not a EAS account. However, whenever I send a new email, specifying the Outlook.com alias email as the "From" account, the email arrives from "myemail@outlook.com on behalf of me@q.com." I do not seem to be able to ditch the "on behalf of." I guess I am going to have to go back to adding dummy "send" accounts in Outlook on all my machines to prevent it.
Has anyone figured out a way to solve this short of adding dummy send accounts to Outlook?
Diane Poremsky says
Did you add the Q account as a connected account?
Mike says
Hi Diane, don't know where else to ask this:
Within my Outlook.com account I have a few what they now call secondary calendars, for country holidays, but more important, for my wife and myself.
In the old EAS version, I set my wife's calendar as the default calendar to make it easier for her to add events.
Now:
1) My wife's calendar has lost its name and is just called calendar. I cannot change this anywhere that I can see.
2) More important, in the Outlook.com desktop, if I add an event it adds to my wife's calendar not mine. I cannot see anywhere to change the calendar in general or specifically for an event.
3) Ironically, the only way I have to change the calendar is to go to my calendar on my iPhone and I can change it there! (and it adjusts in the Outlook and web interface correctly. I can also, on my iPhone, set my calendar as the default calendar on the phone.
Am I missing something?
Mike
Diane Poremsky says
It sounds like you have both accounts in your profile and your wife's account is set as default. You'll need to select your calendar to add items to it.
You can't rename the calendar in accounts. Shared Calendars can be renamed.
CINDY BRYANT-BARIL says
Not sure I'm on topic, I use outlook.com with an outlook.com alias, I have comcast.net email accounts that are my main (business) emails addresses. The past few weeks my outgoing email from the comcast.net emails are not sending, but I am receiving. I have to send from my outlook.com email, but this is causing confusion with my many customers (and me) who use my comcast.net email address. Do I need to switch to Office 65, or what's the deal? I've tried to adjust the settings ie port # etc but I'm getting errors stating "we are upgrading out system and you cannot add or edit your account". Any suggestions?
Diane Poremsky says
>> i'm getting errors stating "we are upgrading out system and you cannot add or edit your account".
is this on the comcast account?
comcast did something - another client couldn't send mail merges, started about 2 weeks ago. He called comcast and they said it was because he was using a macro to send the messages. I had him use a different smtp server and it worked, so it wasn't the script. He called comcast back and they "fixed" it. For about 2 days. It stopped working again yesterday.
You could add the comcast address as connected account at outlook.com so you can send using it - but outlook.com uses the comcast smtp server, so it might not make a difference.
If you own your own domain then office 365 is a good option, but if you are using a comcast.net address it won't help.
Mike says
Hi Diane
After literally years of waiting, my account was finally upgraded to Exchange this morning.
Because of your hard work and help here, I new exactly what to do. I just wanted to thank you for your time and dedication. You are a real Most Valued Professional!
Mike
beq says
Sorry this is not the right topic, but have you posted anything about the Outlook.com Premium pilot program (https://premium.outlook.com) that lets you use a custom domain email address (ie. basically the replacement for https://domains.live.com)?
I still can't get invited to use it for some family members, so I was curious when this will officially be released.
Diane Poremsky says
I haven't heard any dates - will see what I can find out.
Jeff says
Hi
Suddenly, my outlook.com account does not synchronize anymore with Office Outlook 2016. No emails, calendar, people. Already 3 days ago.
I think it has something to do with the migration of the servers.
I have not a "outlook.com" email adress for my Microsoft Account. I removed the account from Outlook and tried to add it again. But this is not poosible.
All programs are up-to-date.
Thanks.
Diane Poremsky says
if you have a non-microsoft account, you need to make an outlook.com alias and use that to log in. Instructions are at https://www.outlook-tips.net/outlookcom/add-alias-outlook-com-account/
Karel Smutny says
Hello Diane, thank you for updated and relevant information.
I have a shared calendar. If I stop sharing it now, is there a chance I can be migrated sooner, or will I stay at the end of the list regardless?
Also, does using the account for logon to Windows 10 Mobile hold me back, too? Or is it just Windows Phone 7/8?
Diane Poremsky says
if you stop sharing the calendar, it might help, i can't promise because there are other issues that prevent migration. I don't know if windows 10 mobile is a problem, they just said windows phone.
bgf says
well, at least microsoft stock isn't sucking ...
Craig says
I dont share my calendar or sign into a windows phone. I have a very old hotmail account. Almost 20 years now. I do have an outlook.com address associated with it. It is associated to my Passport account, xbox live account and what not. I did get several emails that i was using a legacy mail client and it was no longer going to be supported but I have no idea where they were getting that information from. Any thoughts as to what might be holding up a migration for me?
Diane Poremsky says
It's impossible to know... but re the legacy client thing - they do track the clients used. I'm not sure how long the info is retained, but it's at least 30 days.
Craig says
Just thought I would pop back in and let you know I got migrated in the last few days. Not exactly sure when as I didnt sign into web browser to check if for the last few days. Been strictly mobile. But thankfully I'm over and on the new platform. Thanks for keeping this updated and I think its the only place I was able to get any relevant information regarding the migration.
Thanks!!
Nathan says
Hello Diane, Any new updates about this move? It appears I'm still on the old system.
Diane Poremsky says
They updated the calendar share warning to say mid-2017, but you could be moved at any time. I know calendar sharing and using the address to sign into a windows phone are constraints that can delay the move.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
My wife was migrated about a month ago now. She only access her mail via iPhone and iPad and has had major issues with slowness mainly around sync and downloading emails with attachments. The sync is painfully slow can take 20-30 minutes. I have deleted the mail account from both her devices and then recreated as exchange but it's made no difference. I got her to try the Outlook app and that seems to be ok so she might have to use a new mail client. Any ideas on why the native IOS mail app is not working with migrated mailbox? We never had an issue prior to migration. I can provide her mail address if Microsoft wanted to look into it.
Thanks in advance
Diane Poremsky says
I'm guessing it's activesync-related, possibly also due to the mixed state of outlook.com and autodiscover issues - will see what I can find out. The outlook app uses Exchange Web Services which is a bit faster.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane, That would be great if you could provide some insight. I have set up an auto discover record as per advice i read here. Please let me know if this record could be an issue.
In addition if you require the email address that is impacted let me know how I can do that privately.
Type: CNAME
Name: autodiscover
Value: autodiscover.outlook.com
TTL: 1 Hour
Diane Poremsky says
It's using outlook.office365.com as the server name? (And the screen before this says "Exchange" above the address)
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
I can't see the server name as AutoDiscover only required username and password.
Diane Poremsky says
This video doesn't have sound (will redo it in the morning) - but it shows how to do it. You need to choose Exchange as the account type and use outlook.office365.com as the addres when you set it up.
https://www.screencast.com/t/Ot54BPJkvy
Lachlan Simpson says
Thanks Diane. I have removed account from iPad and created as per video. Will let you know if the speed and sync improves.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane, using outlook.office365.com has made no difference. If you could make enquiries on activesync as you mentioned "possibly also due to the mixed state of outlook.com and autodiscover issues" it would be appreciated. Something is definitely not right since migration. I am almost hoping my account doesn't get migrated after seeing my wife's issues the last few weeks.
Diane Poremsky says
Thanks for the update. Will see what i can find out.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
Now my email address has been migrated and I am experiencing the same issue :(
Diane Poremsky says
I'll bug them about this again. :(
Lachlan Simpson says
Thanks Diane. If ActiveSync worked like it did on original platform this new O365 would be perfect. I've also noticed since changing mail accounts on Office 2016 client I can crash it everytime by filtering Inbox as Unread and then clicking on message that says to show more messages.
Diane Poremsky says
Are you using active sync? Try adding the account to your profile using auto account setup. That will add it as an Exchange mailbox - better experience, all features will work, including uploading mail. Remove the activesync account either before or after it's added as exchange.
A couple of weeks ago they did something that affected activesync - fits the time frame of the complaints about the addresses - so that is probably behind the issues.
Lachlan Simpson says
Yes I have changed Outlook 2016 over to Exchange Account and removed ActiveSync account. The crashing has started since connecting as Exchange Account.
I am using native IOS clients on iPhone and iPad this is where I'm noticing the ActiveSync issues since migration.
Diane Poremsky says
Did you remove the accounts on ios and add them back? I know they tweaked something on ios in early Sept and needed to undo it.
Lachlan Simpson says
I have done this several times previously, last time was a couple or three weeks back now. I will remove the account from my IOS devices and add it again. Will report back.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
Further to my previous reply. I deleted and rebooted my IOS devices then added the Exchange account back. I am not seeing any difference with Activesync on IOS default mail client. The new Outlook webmail and Outlook app for IOS appear to be syncing but Activesync is still not resolved.
Diane Poremsky says
Are all messages affected? I can repro it using activeSync, but only for meetings.Never mind, I'm mixing up problems. :( Must go to bed before i really screw up.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hahahahahaha. Yep this stuff can wait :)
Matt says
Hi Diane
Do you know what is happening with migrations from outlook.com for accounts with custom domains? I have a custom domain on here with 3 user accounts under that domain but none of them have been migrated yet. I didn't know if these would go into premium but that's not around yet. I don't use them for business just a way to have a short email address so not worth me migrating them to full Office 265 at the moment.
Thanks
Diane Poremsky says
They migrated some of the old custom domains over the winter/early spring & some people had issues with the migration. AFAIK, they will not be moved into the new premium domains, but that could change (or they could offer it as an option). If you are sharing calendars or using it to log into a windows phone, there will be a delay in moving it.
Adam Hubbard says
My custom domain was only moved yesterday - have 3 domains with 56 addresses in total - All were moved on the same day - So yours should be done asap.
Setting up:-
To set up in Oulook 2016 .
To fix do the following....Create an alias on outlook.com BUT DONT set it as a primary - (Continue to keep your custom domain as your primary!).
Set up a new profile on Outlook 2016 (don't edit an existing)...Then use your alias email address and normal password to set up (Remember if you have 2 factor authentication you will need to use an 'app password').
This sets your account up, and automatically changes your email details to your domain email.
The only place the alias will show is when you send a new email (Your alias will show in the 'From' address)....BUT it still send and receives as if it was from your primary. No 'sent on behalf' etc etc etc.
Even microsoft told me to set the alias as the primary then set up and change back. Doesnt work. Using the method above works perfectly
Lola says
How do I tell if my account has been migrated?
Diane Poremsky says
Log into Outlook.com and look at the URL - it is is Outlook.live.com/owa, it's the new server.
Matt says
Hi,
I was migrated about a week ago (mid August) and now have about a 50% chance of the site not loading (viewing via Safari 9.1.2 on Macbook Pro with OSX El Capitan 10.11.6). Any others finding this? Any theories about what's causing it, or will we have to wait for Safari to have have update to sort some some compatibility issue out?
Thanks, Matt
Diane Poremsky says
i don't think it's safari - i haven't noticed excessive slowness on my mac (although I don't use web access very much) - it looks like safari pre-loads/caches messages - the first few took a few seconds to open, now everything opens in a split second.
Kirk says
They just moved me. I didn't even know it was gonna happen. The new outlook is SLOOOOOW. Plus every time I hit the the back button on my android phone it exits me out of outlook. Hitting the back button just used to move me back one level. Since I've had outlook and been hitting the back button for the past 5 years, it should only take me 5 years to unlearn this. What was MS thinking?
I can't find ANYTHING that works better. GRRRR. How is this an upgrade? I only use outlook for email on a note 3 and a 2008 laptop. GRRR
Too painful to try to move all my emails and then get my current email forwarded to a gmail account. But I probably should just bite the bullet and do it.
HORRIBLE upgrade. Am I missing some features or something? Is there any way to use the "classic" site.
Diane Poremsky says
You are viewing Outlook.com in the phone's web browser? (I'll charge my android tablet and try it. I always use the mail app.)
You can add to it the mail app or use Microsoft's mail app called Outlook.
Kirk says
Yes in the phone's browser. Google Chrome. I click on folder. It used to take me back one folder level when I hit the back button on the bottom of the phone. Now it just leaves Outlook and takes me to the last web site I was browsing.
Once I open the dropdown of my folders. My only way to close the drop down is to click a folder. I can't close it with back button. Again it goes back to last web page.
It's very slow to load vs. hotmail. Granted Note 3 is not latest and greatest phone. & my laptop is reaching the end of it's useful life. But we are talking email not some graphic intensive game. When I first open in web page slow. When I hit drop down of my folders slow.
Much harder to see which email I've read and which I haven't. Just a very thin blue line on left hand side the pretty much blends in. To select all my emails like in my junk mail there are a couple extra clicks.
Some of this is me not familiar with Outlook which I probably haven't used since 2002. 14 years ago.
In the App, I hit the drop down. Another click to load all my folders "see all folders". Then when I load all my folders - It doesn't show UNREAD emails. UNUSEABLE unless I want to click through all about 30 of my folders to see if any new emails arrived with all the rules I have set up. Then when I go to open a folder it says emails have not been downloaded yet. & all it does to let me know whether they are read or not highlights them. Which is very difficult to see.
On note 3 NO BUENO! Almost useable on my 14 inch laptop.
Hoping it's just user error. Easiest way to fix is maybe to have my hotmail, outlook whatever it's called these days forwarded to gmail. I have a gmail account but have never really used it.
WOW. What was MS doing? Sorry about length of rant.
Diane Poremsky says
>> Granted Note 3 is not latest and greatest phone
It's probably equal to or better than my android tablet :) I'll check it out.
Robert Holah says
Hi Diane, first I really appreciate your very valid articles which help me enormously. I would appreciate your comments on the following. I am using outlook.com and outlook 2016. I have a non MS email account connected via IMAP to outlook.com. I then connect my laptop and windows phone to outlook.com using activesync. Everything is working fine except any emails I send from either my laptop or windows phone are not saved in sent items. This is true for outlook.com, outlook 2016 and the windows phone. Sent messages can be seen in the ISP account's sent items folder. Is there currently any restriction using this setup? Will sent items be saved when my outlook.com account is migrated? Thank you.
Diane Poremsky says
I'm not aware of any restrictions - I'll see if i can repro. If you have it setup to save sent items, it should save them.
Eugenia says
What the heck....I need to get into my account today, I did not ask for email to be moved ??????!! How do I stop this ??!!
Diane Poremsky says
They are moving all accounts to new servers with Exchange server back-end - you didn't have a choice in the matter.
Can you log in at Outlook.com?
What version of Outlook desktop software do you use?
Julia Osborne says
I hate the new layout and want the old one back.. If not I shall close my account. I kept my outlook/hotmail account as the format was simple and clear, unlike Gmail, but now even that is clearer than this new format.. it's especially difficult on a tablet which I mist often use. I feel quite angry this has been done in the name of progress. Julia Osborne.
pablo says
I dont have a new Outlook.com. Why?
Diane Poremsky says
they aren't finished moving ll of the accounts yet. They (hopefully!) should be done within 6 weeks though.
Marcy Gaynes says
I hate this new interface. Is there any way to slim it down and just see a list of emails like before?
Diane Poremsky says
in oulook.com? This is what i see: https://screencast.com/t/dYTBYiv8
all of the settings are in options, layout at https://outlook.live.com/owa/?path=/options/readingpane
bgf says
yup ... not migrated ... i would be nice to know approximately how many more accounts are left to be migrated ... or at least the percentage left to be migrated ...
i know i'll be one of those problem accounts ... roughly 25gb of email content spread out throughout hundreds of folders and sub-folder ... a result of doing business over the past 25 years ... and yes, i use them all :) ... i just had to dig up an email from 1997 believe it or not!
i can't wait for the calendar integration ... i've been using outlook 2011 on mac and would like to see if after the migration, the calendar would be populated in outlook 2011/mac.
Diane Poremsky says
yeah, i wanted to know an approx percentage of how many were moved. In my family, we're about 75% moved... if that % holds true across the board, it still means like 100 million to go, with some of the hardest to move left to go.... I have my doubts that they can meet the august worst-case deadline. if they are 90% moved, then yeah, it's doable.
HiggiML says
Diane, great post/discussion. Thank you! I've received several emails from MS telling me of the conversion and stating that it appears that I'm using WLM. I am not. I've been using Outlook 2013 on Win10 for months. I have two hotmail.com accounts and both appear to still be on the old MS servers. Outlook Account Settings show them setup as EAS (not Exchange) and the mail.hotmail.com interface shows outlook.com, Word Online, Excel Online, etc (not Mail, Word, Excel, etc.). June 30 has come and gone and I'm becoming more and more concerned. My questions: 1) Do you know if MS has finished migrating folks? 2) Do you think I've fallen through a crack and will one day soon lose email capabilities? 3) Any suggestion on how to contact MS about this? Thanks a bunch!
Diane Poremsky says
They have not finished migrating and moved the date back into July/Aug. They still expect to have everyone moved by the end of august and have most accounts that have never shared calendars or signed into a windows phone with the account moved.
Ritesh says
My outlook has not been updated, the update process is really taking time
Diane Poremsky says
Yeah, there are still a bunch of people waiting to be updated. They should be done "soon" (I know, I've been saying that for awhile and they originally said "spring", which is a couple of weeks past.)
HiggiML says
Diane, Thank you, thank you. This discussion has been the most helpful thing I've found re: MS' migration to O365. I have several hotmail.com accounts, which, as I understand it, is the same backend as outlook.com and msn.com accounts, so everywhere people mention upgrading outlook.com, I'm assuming that goes for my hotmail.com as well. My problem -- I keep getting emails from MS stating that they think I'm still using WLM 2012 to access my outlook.com account and that I need to take action by 6/30. I'm not using WLM. I'm running Outlook 2013 on Win10 and have been for months. Outlook shows each hotmail account as using EAS and it's now July. My questions -- What do you think is going on? If/when MS cuts me over, what can I expect to happen? Will my email just stop syncing until I re-add the accounts and see that they're of type "Exchange"?
Diane Poremsky says
Yes, it applies to the entire family of free email addresses available from Microsoft over the years.
On the emails: either there is a flag on your account as having used WLM within the last 60 days or so, or they are looking at people who used it within like the last year. Or they are clueless. Take your pick. :)
>> If/when MS cuts me over, what can I expect to happen? Will my email just stop syncing until I re-add the accounts and see that they're of type "Exchange"?
You're on 2013 and using EAS - so it should keep syncing after the account is moved.
Juan says
I have a new outlook.com web interface, however when setting up outlook2016 desktop application my account connects via exchange active sync (not normal exchange). I can't find a way to change the settings... I'd like to use the full exchange... Is this a known constraint or specific to some accounts?
The server in the settings is office365.. So I'm sure my account has been updated.
Diane Poremsky says
When your account was moved and you use auto account setup, the account should be configured as 'microsoft exchange'. you then remove the active sync account from the profile.
Juan says
That's what I've done but outlook 2016 sets it up as EAS... Not Exchange? Does an app password (I have 2 factor auth) have anything to do with this.
Diane Poremsky says
if autoaccount setup adds the account as EAS, then it was not moved to the new server yet, or they haven't completed the move yet.
Ismail says
Hi
The process of migrating the old Outlook.com accounts has been really slow. Is Microsoft planning to speed up the process because I am looking forward to use the new Outlook.com to increase productivity?
Diane Poremsky says
They should be done 'soon' - expected by the end of June with Windows phone users and people who share calendars moved last.
Ismail says
Hi
The process of migrating the old Outlook.com accounts to Office 365 has been really slow. Is Microsoft planning to speed up the process because I am looking forward to use the new Outlook.com to increase productivity?
Diane Poremsky says
They are finishing up - they expect to have most accounts moved before the end of the month with accounts used on windows phone or that have shared calendars moved last. (They expected to be finished this spring, the end of which is almost upon us. I don't think they'll quite make it.)
Lachlan Simpson says
They appear to have me in the Windows Phone or Shared Calendar bucket? I don't have either of these set up and I'm still waiting :(
Diane Poremsky says
There are other less common constraints but they only mentioned the two big ones - plus using the outlook connector or Windows live mail client, but the outlook connector is no longer an issue. I'm not sure about the live mail client.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane, as always appreciate your assistance. I'll continue to wait. I don't use Outlook Connector or Windows Live Mail client. I am your regular user, no fancy features, and I'm using Outlook 2016 and IOS mail client on iPad and iPhone. That's it. :)
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane. Any word from Microsoft on migration? Users on my domain (including myself) have still not been migrated to O365 platform.
Diane Poremsky says
I'm trying to find out but they are not answering it directly with an updated ETA - they told what i already knew - moving people sharing calendars or using it as their phone login is slow. Aug 31 is supposed to be the absolute final date to have all accounts moved but they expected to be finished moving everyone long before that date.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
I don't share calendars but when you say phone login. I use iPhone and iPad and I log in with my custom domain name. Should I create an outlook.com alias and log into these devices with the alias?
Strange if that's the case I have users on my custom domain that were migrated (without notice) and they log in with my custom domain name.
Appreciate you following things up. Without you there is no flow of information from Microsoft on this migration.
Diane Poremsky says
The phone login applies to windows phone only - and only for people who use the outlook.com account as the login for their phone (similar to how it works for windows 8/10 to log in using a Microsoft account).
Marc Cann says
Dear Diane,
Would you know if an ability to add a photo/picture to a contact is being considered / worked on? This really is quite surprising that what appears to be a fairly basic feature (judging by how this has been available with other email providers for years) is still not available.
Diane Poremsky says
it is possible in the new outlook.com on office 365.
Marc Cann says
Can you please tell me how to do it using the online interface? After clicking on the 'edit' button the options I'm presented with do not include photo/image. Unless I'm missing something obvious. Thanks.
Diane Poremsky says
The web interface picks the photos up automatically from the person's Microsoft account, or Facebook and LinkedIn if they are connected. If you sync with outlook you can add the photos in outlook and they'll sync up.
Chris says
I just last week read about this and switched my custom domain outlook domain email (former live custom domain email) to use imap with outlook 2007 instead of the hotmail / outlook connector. From the comments it looks like, now there is a 30 day wait after constraints are removed, then I will need to resetup the account as an exchange account, or just use outlook autoconfig with the email address, is that correct? Thanks for the help
Diane Poremsky says
there was a 30 days wait, but they expect to have everyone moved by the end of this month, so it shouldn't be long. After it's moved, use autoaccount setup to configured the account in outlook - it will add it as an exchange account.
Rip @ 5280 says
Diane
With the name "Outlook" used in so many different ways now, it's had to search for an answer to relatively basic questions, so I’m hoping you can help me. I will use "outlook.com" to refer to the old/original email service.  And "Outlook Mail" to talk about the new service based on Office 365.
Originally, we had four members of my family sharing our outlook.com calendars. Â Each person had their own individual account and shared their calendar with the other family members (full edit privileges). My wife and I could use our Outlook 2016 app (running on our Windows laptops) to view all the calendars and add events to each of them. Â This was especially important to manage our kid's calendar and the "family" calendar.
Figuring our outlook.com accounts would be trick to move over to O365, I decided to create new email address for everyone and they were all created on the new Outlook Mail servers. I then shared all the calendars with all of the other accounts.
I soon discovered, however, that in Outlook 2016 (running on both Windows 10 and Windows 7 laptops), I can only view the shared "Outlook Mail" calendars. I cannot add new events to them. Â They are all read only.
What's more, I have a new Mac and discovered that I can add events to the shared "Outlook Mail" calendars using the Outlook for Mac app. Â This makes it all the more confusing as to why I am unable to do so running Outlook 2016 on a Windows 10 laptop.
Hope this make sense. Â Thanks in advance for any help/guidance?
Diane Poremsky says
mac uses web services for the calendar, which is read-write. How did you add the calendar to outlook?I think it's editable if you add it to OWa, but will double check.
Rip @ 5280 says
When letting Outlook 2016 for Windows auto-configure the account, my new outlook.com email is configured as a Microsoft Exchange account, which I thought was great. But since I'm not on a corporate Exchange server, the calendar wants to use permission settings from Exchange to grant what's essentially editor privileges.
Looking at the setting when auto-configured on Outlook for Mac, I see it's set up as a "Microsoft Account" (not an Exchange account). Looking closer, I see the server is outlook.office365.com.
Now, if I go back to Outlook on Windows, I can do a manual setup using outlook.office365.com as the server settings and I can now create appointments on a shared calendar. My account says Exchange Activesync instead of Exchange, but I think this changes the fundamental behavior is what's allows me to create appointments on the shared calendar.
Bottom line, I'm not sure this is working as it's supposed to, but I did figure out a workaround. Although the workaround may be depriving me of some of the cool new features/capabilities that were supposed to be available with the new Outlook.com move to the Office 365 platform.
Diane Poremsky says
The behavior is correct - the default account type is Microsoft Exchange after it's migrated. At this time, editing shared calendars in Outlook is not supported. It is coming in a future update.
The problem right now is that it's (rightly) using exchange permissions but you can't give other permission to the calendar because they aren't in your GAL. Anon permissions won't work and would allow anyone access to your calendar. It works in Mac (or should) and online because they use Exchange Web Services, not ExMapi, which is what Outlook uses.
ActiveSync does deprive you of some features, but keep an eye on the appointments you added or edited - I've had a few disappear from shared calendars after doing tricks like this. (I added them on my phone.)
Rip @ 5280 says
Thanks, Diane. You referenced "coming in a future update." What should I be on the lookout for so I know when the fix is released?
Diane Poremsky says
I'm sure it will be announced everywhere - I'm not expecting it before fall/winter.
pandafusion says
Hi! I had this thread bookmarked from when my account stopped working this past fall. I use Outlook 2013 to access a custom domain outlook.com account. I tried to carefully read through the various comments for the last few months, but am still confused. This morning, my email stopped receiving in Outlook 2013 (web interface is fine, so I know my password is correct).
The error message is a small dialog box that says:
"Enter your username and password for the following server"
Server: eas.outlook.com
Username: (my email address)
Password: (my password)
Should I be using a different server name? This was working until this morning and the password is still correct for my online login. Thanks!
Diane Poremsky says
In Outlook, use autoaccount setup and try addins the account to your profile. It should go in as an Exchange account as that url indicates the account was moved to the new server. If the account is created, remove the account using the EAS server.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
Any news on migration status? When is it due to be completed? I have still not been migrated? No shared calendar or windows phone. Half my custom domain accounts have been migrated many months ago, not sure why the rest weren't migrated?
Diane Poremsky says
They are in the final stages - should be done within 30 days. Is the domain the one in the email you used here? I'll ask about it.
Kiki Paul says
I online chatted to Microsoft last week and they said ETA for completion is end of June.
Diane Poremsky says
Which is 30 days :) Earlier they said they'd be finished in the spring - which ends June 21... so they get everything done by June 30, they won't be too far off.
Lachlan Simpson says
Thanks for following up :)
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
Just read your article Add an Alias to an Outlook.com Account
When my custom domain account gets migrated do I need to create an alias to login as Exchange?
Diane Poremsky says
Custom domains should be ok since the only email account in DNS is for the custom domain - but you will need an autodiscover record in DNS. Any one using a comcast or gmail address as a Microsoft account to sync calendar and contacts will need to use an alias for sure as autodiscover will use their mail servers.
Lachlan Simpson says
Can you advise the autodiscover record details and I'll add it to DNS.
Diane Poremsky says
create a CNAME for autodiscover pointing to autodiscover.outlook.com
Lachlan Simpson says
Awesome! Thanks Diane.
Kiki says
Sadly, Still on the old server. Sigh. I wonder when it's going to happen.
Diane Poremsky says
Soon, hopefully. I have a couple of accounts still on the old server. If you attempt to share a calendar with someone on the other server, you'll get this message: "We're currently upgrading Outlook.com accounts. During the upgrade, you won't be able to share your calendar with some accounts, but you can still send a link to your calendar by clicking "Get a link". We'll be done with the upgrade by the end of August 2016. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for using Outlook.com."
They picked a date which was supposed to be far enough into the future that they'd have no trouble meeting the deadline.
vasam says
I'd like to also ask about my custom domain (it's the one used with this comment) - still not migrated. None of us (having address on this domain) is using shared calendars, however one is using WP 8.1. I'm starting to worry that we will be stuck with the old Outlook.com forever. Maybe my location is the problem (none of the accounts are a US account)?
All accounts on a custom domain should be moved at once or each independently?
Diane Poremsky says
the WP user is likely holding it up - but you won't be stuck on the old server forever - it should be moved by the end of this month. WP users are moved last and because it's a custom domain, you're all stuck waiting.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
Not sure if my previous messages are reaching you, they are not visible here? I would appreciate if you could make enquires for my domain which is same as I used here.
Diane Poremsky says
The messages are here - everything stays in moderation queue until i have time to respond and I took a few days off the Memorial Day holiday, so I'm way behind. (i'm checking on the domain).
pandafusion says
Hello,
I attempted the auto account setup. It attempts an encrypted connection, but is unable to get one. Unencrypted connection also fails. I removed the EAS account, shut down, restarted, etc. I have not been able to auto add the account thus far. Thoughts? The domain is arch tech online.com
Diane Poremsky says
What version of outlook? Are all updates installed?
pandafusion says
Outlook 2013. Fully updated. The issue persists. I have an Android app (Nine) on my phone. It works fine. Web interface is fine. Outlook 2013 continues to not establish an encrypted (or unencrypted) connection.
Diane Poremsky says
Is it still not working?
calling all toasters says
They still need to find a way to get it to receive email. Micros**t persists in using the scandalous SORBS anti-spam list, which means your senders can have their emails bounced back for no reason at any time. And, of course, YOU won't know when it happens. This is a great way to lose business and alienate friends.
Any other email client is vastly preferable to outlook.com, and it isn't close.
But, uh, it has a clean display or something.
VanguardLH says
Still reading through all the replies. I noticed your response about Windows Live Mail regarding Exchange or EAS (Exchange Active Sync) means that WLM is not an option as an e-mail client. WLM has no support for either of those protocols and won't get them added. You said "DeltaSync will not be supported, that is a given. What [Microsoft] said they will do is release an update that uses Exchange Active Sync."
Microsoft did come out with an update (KB3093594) but then yanked it because of sync problems. They tried to add EAS to WLM but that experiment failed miserably. I have discussed this KB update to WLM to add EAS in Usenet where winston has been very clear that installing this update results in loss of sync with WLM and requires an uninstall and reinstall of WLM to get it working again -- until Microsoft yanks Deltasync at which point the WLM users are forced to move to POP3 or IMAP4 to receive along with SMTP to send. WLM never did have Exchange support. The experiment to add EAS to WLM failed. Deltasync will die after the big rollover of Hotmail/Live/Outlook.com accounts to the Office 365 interface. WLM users are left with POP, IMAP, and SMTP - standard protocol over which Microsoft had no control in defining (i.e., they are not proprietary).
So WLM has neither EAS or Exchange support. WLM users will lose Deltasync support when Microsoft drops that. WLM users are stuck with degrading to POP3 or IMAP4 support which means sync on e-mail only. No contacts or calendars sync between client and server. WLM has been legacy status for awhile now. After loss of Deltasync, it will be relegated to the realm of other lowly e-mail clients that can only do POP, IMAP, and SMTP - the 20-30 year-old standards.
Microsoft acquired Hotmail. They added POP support. They yanked POP support. They added IMAP support. They added WebDAV support. They yanked WebDAV and went to Deltasync. Now they're dropping Deltasync and simplifying their resources by going to only their EAS and Exchange proprietary protocols (both of which leaves out WLM users). I used to keep a history of the changes that Microsoft made to Hotmail, then Live, and then Outlook.com along with all the protocol changes but I grew weary of the repeated edits.
Diane Poremsky says
Right - they planned to add EAS to WLM then pulled it - WLM users will need to use POP3 or IMAP for email or find a new client - the windows calendar app does a good job, but contacts would be a pain not having them in the email client or not syncing them to the server.
DeltaSync will be turned off June 30.
VanguardLH says
"Rules created in Outlook sync to Outlook.com". One of the nasties with EAS (using OL2013) was that rules all got smashed together for different accounts. With POP or IMAP, I have some rules that are okay when applied to any of my accounts but many rules in an account should NOT be applied to other accounts. Some rules in account2 should NOT be applied against account1. However, EAS mashed all the rules together up on the server and then a later sync put them all together in OL2013. The same happened with server-side whitelists. One of my Hotmail accounts is set to exclusive mode: only senders in my contacts or Safe Senders whitelist have their e-mails left in the Inbox while all other e-mails get dumped in the Junk folder. With EAS, the Safe Senders from each Hotmail account got downloaded to OL2013 and later synced back up to each account. The result was that one account that had no Safe Senders whitelist suddenly had dozens of them because of the whitelist in my exclusive-mode Hotmail account (to opt-in those senders). Will using Exchange after the Office 365 migration keep my rules separate on the server and in the client for each e-mail account? Will the Safe Senders (and Safe Recipients and Block Senders) be kept seperate for each account? How about the contacts for each account? Contacts in a personal account shouldn't show up in a business account. I don't want all my contacts, whitelists, and blacklists all mashed together as one set to be used across all accounts. I have these differently defined in different accounts and want them to remain independent. Hopefully created N Exchange accounts in OL2013/2016 will keep them separate to have N independent accounts in the client (and not mash them together in the client or up on the server). EAS destroyed independence of my N Hotmail & Outlook.com accounts.
(Sorry if this showed up twice. I thought I had clicked on the Post Comment button but this message was still displayed in compose mode.)
Diane Poremsky says
Yes, rules and safe senders will be separate after the accounts are migrated. Contacts will be in their own contacts folder, If you have multiple accounts in the profile, any account can use the contacts, contacts. You can configure the outlook address book to show the account's own contacts first though.
VanguardLH says
Will contacts in account1 (on the server) remain separate from contacts in account2 (on the server)? While OL2016 via Exchange may keep them separate in its local config, does it keep them separate thereby independent up on the server in each account? I don't want contacts in account1 getting mixed in with contacts in account2. The same for the Safe Sender whitelist defined in each account (on the server). Who I whitelist/blacklist in one account in not who I want whitelisted/blacklisted in all my other accounts.
Diane Poremsky says
contacts will be separate- stored in their own folders in their own account. safe and blocked will also be separate. But... while contacts will be in separate folders, if the accounts are in the same profile they are not 'locked' to one account. You can choose a contact from account 1 and send a message to it using account 2.
VanguardLH says
I tried the link you gave to opt into the early access program. I got a page saying "At this time, the program is full and we are not accepting any more requests for early upgrade." Apparently they filled their quota very quickly for users that want to get in now instead of waiting, or they might be on hold for some massive rollover after getting to go-ahead. I tried the link you gave to get info on a Premium account. That page said, "We are sorry, but it looks like you don't have an invite right now." Maybe I cannot get an invite until after I've been migrated from Outlook.com to Office 365.
I had Office 2013 Pro with its Outlook but lost that (turned out the seller sold me a pirated copy sliced out of an MSDN subscription). So I'm back to Office 2010 Home with no Outlook and have been using Thunderbird in the meantime. I never liked the deficiencies of EAS, like calendar reminders being the default (1 hour) instead of what I set in the event in OL2013, so switching to using Exchange will hopefully make Outlook more robust. I'm on the fence to purchase Office 365 Personal (has Outlook) as I'd like to trial it as soon as Microsoft moves me from Outlook.com to Office 365. I wish Microsoft would move more swiftly on this migration.
I'm one of those that chose not to move my Hotmail account to Outlook.com. Yes, the same service is being used but I wanted to keep me@hotmail.com separate from a new me@outlook.com (although I might connect them later). Hopefully Microsoft doesn't burn old @hotmail.com accounts when they switch to the Office 365 interface and server(s).
Diane Poremsky says
Yeah, at least for now, they are no longer accepting requests. I thought they might turn it back on and left the urls up.
Premiu7m accounts aren't available if the account is still on the old server.
So far they haven't harmed Hotmail accounts in the move. Have you looked at eM client? It's a decent client that looks a lot like Outlook,
VanguardLH says
The free version of em Client only support 2 accounts. I have 6 at Microsoft (3 Hotmail, 3 Outlook.com), 1 with Gmail, and 1 with my ISP. The paid version of em Client costs $50. For another $20, I can get Office 365 Personal which not only gets me Outlook but the latest versions of Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Publiser, Access, and OneNote (which is free anyway to everyone) but also gets me the goodies with an Office 365 accounts, like an additional 1TB of OneDrive space and 60min/mo for Skype. em Client is only and e-mail client (with calendars and contacts when using Exchange) and I'd still have to look elsewhere for a Tasks components (e.g., WunderList or Todoist) but not get all the other office suite components. The savings of only $20/year for em Client ($50/year)just doesn't seem cost efficient compared to $70/year for Office 365 Personal. There is a lifetime license at $100 for em Client that would save you money over the long haul. It galls me that the only difference for the cost is the duration of the license. Nothing extra is added to the program for the extra money.
Diane Poremsky says
eM isn't a subscription, and at this time, they don't charge for upgrades. And... if you use the trial and wait for it to expire, they might offer it for $30. (They have in the past.)
Is Office 365 a good value? Sure. But not every WLM user needs it and there are many people who would do better with eM & word/excel online - if only because eM syncs gmail calendar & contacts. (I have a Home premium sub which is an even better value - in the 3 years I've had it, I used 15 minutes of Skype and no more than 5 GB of OneDrive. The 3 family members i share with used 0 Skype and even less onedrive space. I suspect this is typical of most subscribers. I never use Publisher and rarely use PowerPoint.)
Marc Cann says
Dear Diane,
Thank you for a great article and for keeping us up to date. One of my accounts has just been migrated but I noticed that it doesn't work well with my android phone. More specifically, I have a few calendars but they all are the same colour in my phone's calendar app (google calendar) and there’s no way to change it. Kind of defeats the purpose of having multiple calendars if you cannot differentiate between them. Not sure whether it’s Google or something that Microsoft could do to fix this.
Thanks,
Marc
Diane Poremsky says
This is the native android calendar? If the phone app doesn't support different colors for different calendars, you can't change it. The Outlook app supports each calendar in a different color but it looks like the native Android calendar does not. (It looks like there is a calendar color app in the app store - just tried it. I'm lazy, would rather pick from one of 10 colors, not use sliders to create a color but it works.)
Michael Schober says
Hi Diane, we had contact autum2015 abt this issue which according to you should remove several problems I have. Meanwhile it got worse. EAS or Outlook.com is destroying mail attatchments collected from another account (IMAP). This is becoming a real pain bcs I have to ask people (business partners!!) to resend their mails and hope that it works then several times a week. Is there any chance to request to be move very soon? - If not I will be an ex-outlook.com customer quite soon.
Diane Poremsky says
As long as you aren't limited due to any constraints, it should be moved soon - they expect to have all accounts not limited by constraints moved before the end of spring and accounts that have constraints soon after.
Jeff says
Hi Diane,
I am a 365 member and my outlook.com account has not moved over to the new one yet, it is still the old interface, but my other free outlook.com accounts have. Are they still rolling out or am I not going to be migrated or is it because I am a member that I am going to be the last one to be upgraded?
Diane Poremsky says
They are still working on it - will likely still be migrating accounts for at least the next 6 - 8 weeks. If you share a calendar or sync with windows phone, the account will be one of the last ones moved.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
Do you know what the list of items is that causes delay in being moved? I have a custom domain and only two accounts have not been moved. Mine is one. I'm not doing anything special that I know of that would cause a delay.
Diane Poremsky says
At one time there was a long list of things that could cause problems - but I only know of 3 - using outlook 2010 or older or Live mail (Outlook Connector/Delta Sync issues), accessing the account using windows phone (it's the ms account that signs you into the phone), and sharing calendars (accounts need to be on the same server to share). I'm pretty sure deltasync is no longer an issue (they moved a bunch of outlook 2010 users in Jan.) but the other two are still a problem.
Lachlan Simpson says
That's odd I use Outlook 2016, iPhone and iPad. No shared calendar.
Lachlan Simpson says
My two remaining accounts look like they are logging into new environment with the white background and blue outlook symbol but after some delay resolve back to non O365 environment :(
Diane Poremsky says
Hopefully, soon. :)
Daniël de Vette says
After the upgrade of Outlook.com I can't use an diffrent account for sending mail. It works great on the webversion of Outlook.com, but in Outlook 2016 or the Outlook Android app it only sends from my outlook.com account instead of my custom domain account. This wasn't the case in the old Outlook.com. Diane, do you have the same issue? And do you have an solution?
Diane Poremsky says
It's working (in Outlook 2016) on one account but not on another. I'm using the insider preview but i think it was fixed in a recent general update - so everyone should have the build that adds the aliases to the From menu.
Brian says
Hi Diane - your site has been the most informative that I have found regarding the Outlook.com to O365 migration - thanks for sharing the information that you are privy to...and can! Is there any news you can share about the schedule for the migration? I am on a Mac with the latest version of Outlook and need the calendar and contact integration. I have made multiple early access requests to MS but alas I remain on Outlook.com. Now the link says that the Early Access program is closed and I can find no information about when I might expect to be migrated. I would appreciate any info you can dig up and provide!
Diane Poremsky says
The last information i have is that they are still on target to be finished moving active accounts by the end of spring.
Markus says
It's not sent "on behalf of".
How did you manage to get this? I had it working with the old Outlook.com (based on Hotmail) by sending through one of the connected accounts. But now with the new version based on Exchange I always get the "on behalf of" and even worse, instead of my.name@outlook.com I get this " on behalf of .
Which makes all my mails look like super spam.
Richard says
Hi Diane, thank you for keeping us updated.
I am delighted that it appears I was moved across last night, and now having reinstalled my account I can finally see and sync my Contacts and Calendar in Outlook for Mac!!! Horrahhhhhhh Outlook has once more become of use.
vasam says
Hi Diane,
any update on users with custom domains? Will we be able to migrate to O365 infrastructure as well? Or is the old Outlook.com the final stage for us?
Thank you!
Diane Poremsky says
The old servers will be shut down and custom domains moved to the new servers. They moved some around Christmas - some were successful, some not so. They may be moving the rest last after they work out what went wrong.
They are also offering a 5 mailbox premium version for (I think) $50/yr. AFAIK right now, the only benefit would be a global address list and easier calendar/contact sharing. But it won't work if you have more than 5 mailboxes.
Lachlan Simpson says
Interesting. Where is the link for premium version?
Diane Poremsky says
Try https://auth.microsoftonline.com/PremiumOutlook.aspx
Lachlan Simpson says
Thanks Diane :)
Lots of FAQs. Has it been confirmed if those of us with custom domains can migrate to the premium offer? Would we be able to manage the existing mailboxes or would there be errors due to them already existing?
Diane Poremsky says
I would not try it with the old custom domains - for starters, it's still in preview... and after it's out of preview, Microsoft can tell us if it's possible to move them over to the premium offer.
I would try the link to request the move though - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/outlookpreview/default.aspx
Jeff says
There is one thing that doesn't seem to work anymore. If an user that is on the old infrastructure shared a calendar with you and your account has been migrated then the calendar won't show up on your device (at least iOS).
Diane Poremsky says
Correct, you can't share calendars between servers - you can publish the calendar and subscribe to the calendar but it will be read-only. That is actually one of the things that usually prevents an account from being moved - accounts sharing calendars will be moved last.
Stefan says
Hi, thanks for the great amount of good information about the migration. I actually wondered why my primary account has not been moved when the others have. Now that I read about the issue regarding shared calendars it all makes sense. Do you think it could help removing the other persons from the shared calendar for a wile and then invite them as soon as we are all migrated?
And if so, how long after I remove them can we expect to see the migration take place?
Best Regards
Diane Poremsky says
It will help to remove the shared calendars, but it will likely still be 30 days - which is basically about the same time they expect to be finished. That said, if you can get along without the shared calendar for now, I would do - it will reduce potential errors when the account is moved.
Rogier says
Hi Diane,
Great article! There is very little to find about this subject.
Do you have any clue how to get myself migrated a little *cough* faster *cough*?
I have recently switched to using the native mail client on mac and can't set up push mail since outlook.com does not support IMAP IDLE nor EAS(mobile only).
Diane Poremsky says
I thought I posted a link on this page... this is supposed to be working now: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/outlookpreview/default.aspx - and if there are no constraints preventing the move, the account will be moved "soon".
one thing I learned today - connecting with a windows phone or sharing an outlook calendar are two constraints that will delay the move. if you do and stop doing it today, it will be 30 days before they can move.
vasam says
When I tried the link, it told me that: "It looks like you’re using some features that we’re not supporting in this program yet."
I'm not sharing any calendar nor using WP (I'm on iOS). What other constrains it could be?
Diane Poremsky says
The only other constraint i know for sure is using deltasync - the outlook connector (with outlook 2010, and older) and live mail use deltasync - but there are other constraints and the list changes as they solve problems. Constraints expire if whatever caused it is not used for 30 days.
Darryl says
How do I import my Outlook 2013 .PST file into Outlook.com? I want to preserve my calendar, contact, tasks and email so I can sync with android smartphone.
Diane Poremsky says
Was the account moved to the new server yet? After it is moved, you can use Outlook's import function to import it into the exchange account. If it hasn't moved yet, it's just a matter of time - they should be done within a couple of months or so.
Darryl says
Is there anything I can do beforehand since I really need access to this info on my phone? I attempted to set up a IMAP account and was able to migrate data over but cannot copy to Exchange ActiveSync. I get an error message "provider does not support this"
Diane Poremsky says
You can't copy mail in EAS. You can set the account up as imap and upload it that way, but it's buggy. It's really better to import after the upgrade - if there is mail you need to upload now, do it using imap but hold off on older mail until the account is moved.
Tim says
Hi Diane,
Great Article! After reading it back when it was published I have waited for ages for my account to be migrated! So I Finally had my old hotmail account migrated to the 365 system this week, however it has now left a few glitches I cant rectify. I am now running windows 10, and the native windows 10 mail/calendar app wont recognise that my hotmail (which is also my primary microsoft account) has migrated over. I initially tried to log in as an outside user, delete the primary account then re log in and have it re-add itself (if all that makes sense), but it keeps giving me a sync error Error Code: 0x86000c1f, which i googled and Microsoft claim no knowledge of (seems a bit silly if they implement a code they now know nothing about??).
Likewise in the one-calender app, when I try to add my hotmail as an exchange account, it cant connect and asks for details like: email address, Server, Authentication (Basic or NTLM?), Domain, User Name & Password.
Have you any knowledge of these issues or any general tips to allow easy connection to my outlook.com account?
Diane Poremsky says
0x86000c1f... hmmm. another guy is getting the same error on his windows phone. I'll bug Microsoft some more. :)
Diane Poremsky says
Do you have a lot of folders? I don't know how many is too many, but reducing the number of folders may fix this. It worked for my other guy...
to see how many you have, log into outlook.com, go to options, general, mobile devices. select the device then the pencil. folder count is near the top. (I have a shocking 59 and it works ok, even though it's about 50 more than i recommend. :))
Tim says
Thanks Diane, I have a ridiculous amount of folders but I get a synced folder count of zero in all devices interestingly (including my desktop outlook 16). It works fine on my desktop and in the web outlook.com. Just not in windows 10 mail or calendar. It simply cant sync.
Diane Poremsky says
Yeah, it won't be a problem on desktop because it uses Exchange services, only ActiveSync has a problem.
Tim says
My windows 10 mail/calender STILL doesnt work :(
Diane Poremsky says
This is using the mail & calendar app?
Kenneth says
Hi, I'm wondering if there's any official announcement that saying when we can expect to migrate all existing accounts to 365 servers... I've been waiting for half a year and don't want to wait without any updates. Any information/updates would be appreciated...
Diane Poremsky says
They announced two weeks ago that all new accounts in the US are being created on the new servers and this would soon be worldwide, so we are getting closer. They haven't said how far along (in %) they are but are expecting to have all accounts moved by summer/end of the FY June 30.
Diane Poremsky says
They are now accepting requests - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/outlookpreview/default.aspx - but if your account has any constraints that will prevent moving it, it won't be moved. Connecting with windows phone, using outlook connector or live mail (delta sync) or sharing calendars are constraints I'm aware of.
Kenneth says
Hi Diane, thank you so much for your reply...! But, I tried the link you provided. After clicking "Get on the list" and "I want early access", nothing really happens... it just went back to the old mailbox.... :(
But still, thank you very much.
Diane Poremsky says
I'd try using a different browser. You should at least get a message that your account has constraints.
Kiki Paul says
Corrected post - sorry, got my own As & Bs confused...
Hello, one of my addresses (which was only a year old) (let's call it A) was moved weeks after the announcement. The other, which i have had forever and is my main one (let's call it B) , is still on the old Hotmail connector. Unfortunately, my Outlook 2010 no longer communicates with my main B address very well. I cannot search contacts from the menu bar, the default mailbox & calendar it opens with is A, even though I've made sure in File>Account Settings address B is the default account. It's no major drama and a real first world problem, but still.... Any ideas? Thanks so much!
ERIC DODGE says
Dear Diane:
you say that we can't sync Live mail calendars and contacts to O365, the way we used to be able to sync those things from previous windows versions? That's unfortunate, but I can't believe we are totally abandoned? However, I can't find any explanation I can understand for migrating from LIve Mail to O365 outlook. (on the same computer, in my case). Yes I can share a calendar, but I want to load my calendar info into 365 as my starting point for my default calendar. I've pretty much given up in trying to copy over emails, being content to deactivate the mail on my Live mail, and use the old live mail app as an archive. I have been able to copy over the contacts list. So what about that calendar.
Thank you for any guidance.
Diane Poremsky says
It is an Exchange account, same as millions of businesses use and Calendar and contacts will sync between the server, outlook, and smartphones.
If you are using the Windows Live mail 2012 client, you need to get the latest update for it - the original one won't sync calendar and contacts. The update adds ActiveSync support, which can't upload mail. You could use IMAP to upload mail - or Outlook, if you own it. If your account was moved and you let Outlook set it up as an exchange account, you can move or import any outlook items from a pst file. Anything previously on the outlook.com server should be migrated over automatically.
Sandra says
I don't understand what this article means. I'm a home user with Office 365 Outlook on my desktop, which I use for all my e-mail accounts including outlook.com, gmail, yahoo, and comcast. I used outlook.com directly only when it's the automatic default from a website. What would this set up have to do with Exchange accounts?
Diane Poremsky says
Microsoft is moving the Outlook.com accounts to a new server and retiring the old servers. The new servers are using the Office 365 infrastructure - this means once your account is moved, it's running on Exchange server on the back end and Outlook will connect to the outlook.com account using the same Exchange protocol used by businesses. It's definitely a better experience for anyone using Outlook - everything syncs, all features work, and it doesn't require an addin.
How do you know if your account moved? One sure sign is the Outlook connector stopped working, but you can confirm it by logging into outlook.com and looking at the banner over the inbox.
Kiki says
Thanks Diane, for the time frame. I wish they had a progress meter somewhere - it would certainly help in managing expectations! "In the next few weeks" (from their original email) was never going to work.
One of my accounts was moved in the week after the announcement but my oldest (and main) account is still on the old platform. An annoying side effect is that Outlook 2010 now thinks the new platform is my main account. I can no longer automatically search for contacts in my main account from within 2010, unless i open the contacts page and search from within there. I am also unable to save certain settings as outlook says the "file is not valid". I never had this before until my newest outlook account was migrated. I've set up a new profile etc but the behaviour persists. Would you have any thoughts? Thanks!
Diane Poremsky says
Microsoft offered to move MVP's accounts in one of the first batches and I gave them two addresses to move - I'm still waiting for one to move. I had two custom domains, one was moved (and is broken - the custom domain doesn't work.).
Search should work if you are using instant search - it should search all as along as you have the option selected to search all accounts.
See if this helps the data file problems - https://www.slipstick.com/outlook/change-the-default-data-file-from-exchange-to-another-account/
Kiki Paul says
Unfortunately the file i want as the default file, says "Not available". It's really strange because it worked for years.
Diane Poremsky says
The new account is exchange and it wants to be default. It is possible to trick Exchange and set a pst as default but it's not working with connector accounts. When i set up a client a few weeks ago, I had to set up the moved accounts as imap so we could set the desired account's data file as default until it gets moved in the coming weeks.
MJH 10 says
Still sitting with the "old" Outlook.com here. Thought I would be converted by now. I have 100+ business cards I don't want to add until the conversion is complete. Don't know how to jump the queue!
Diane Poremsky says
At this time they are not accepting requests but they are working on migrating everyone - will be finished by summer.
MJH10 says
Thanks! Reminds me of a song by Neil Diamond, "... and spring became the summer..."
Diane Poremsky says
LOl Yeah... last summer they said by the end of the year but it was pretty obvious there was no way they'd get 400 million accounts moved that fast. They are making progress and i expect them to finish by mid-year.
MJH 10 says
I tried that first link to move up in the queue; apparently not effective as I'm still "patiently" waiting for "summer."
Diane Poremsky says
Yeah, I don't think the requests are working as I added an address to the list and it's still waiting. They had told me earlier that they wouldn't accept requests and I think the links were intended for accounts they offered the option of early upgrade to.
vasam says
Well, I had also tried adding my address to the list and still sitting on the "old" Outlook.com (using custom domain).
But about one day after I done that, I was moved to a different server (after many months/years, maybe I was never moved before) to dub131.mail.live.com.
Coincidence?
Diane Poremsky says
It's hard to say - they might be consolidating servers. It's my understanding they are moving accounts by data center but if an account has any constraints that prevent it from moving right now, it won't be moved. My guess is as they close out a data center or a server farm, they consolidate accounts that can't be moved to a new server so they can shut the original servers down. This could mean your account will be moved last - unless they go back and try to move these accounts as they remove constraints. (I don't know what the constraints are - the list changes as they run into problems migrating and solve other issues. Outlook connector was a constraint at one time, not sure if it still is. Anyone using it couldn't be moved for at least 30 days after they stopped using it.)
QVP says
This move would have nothing to do with business cards. You can try either of these links though to get moved faster.
https://mail.live.com/default.aspx?owaoptin=1
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/outlookpreview/default.aspx
Diane Poremsky says
No, but s/he doesn't want to add more contacts until after the account is moved. The first link is offered automatically to qualifying accounts when they log into web access. Anyone who is offered the opt in banner when they log into outlook.com will be on the list, the account has no constraints that would prevent moving the account. Adding yourself to the list doesn't guarantee the account will be moved - if there are constraints on the account, it won't be moved until the constraint drops. One constraint I'm aware of is using delta sync within 30 days - this would be the outlook connector or windows live mail client.
Terri says
I am using a Mac. I have installed Office 365 and have set up the outlook email to my yahoo and outlook.com accounts. However, none of my outlook.com contacts synced over to the 365 outlook app on my mac. Since I am using safari, when I go into outlook.com, it only allows me to export my contacts to a .csv file. When I open up the outlook app on my computer, I can only import a .olm file. I have yet to figure out how to convert the .csv file to the .olm file.
I guess I'm mostly baffled that when I set up outlook on my mac that it didn't automatically sync all my contacts?
Can you help?? :)
Thanks!
Diane Poremsky says
It definitely should have synced the contacts. Did some sync? If so, is there anything common with the ones that didn't sync? I know linked contacts won't sync - they need to be in outlook.com contacts, not linked ot another account (facebook, linkedin, gmail, skype etc).
Lee Hudson says
I am anxiously awaiting my mailbox to move. Diane, you mentioned a pop-up box for web users to elect an early migration. I haven't seen that. Do you know of any trick or trigger to get that pop-up to happen? Thanks for keeping us updated on the migration.
Diane Poremsky says
This is the pop up you'll get if your account qualifies for early upgrade - I'm checking to see if they are really accepting requests. In the meantime, you can certainly try clicking it but don't put too much stock in the message that says "in a few days".
https://mail.live.com/default.aspx?owaoptin=1
QVP says
Well, they moved my mailbox today, which is good. However, they broke the sync to my Windows phone. Maybe they don't care because there are only about 14 people with Windows phones???
Diane Poremsky says
lol, no i don't think it's because nobody uses it. Did you remove the account from your phone and add it back?
QVP says
That's the whole problem. There is no such thing as removing it and re-adding it. This is a Windows phone so it's all integrated. You can add/remove other mail accounts, but the Microsoft account is built in. I even did a factory reset on my phone and signed into it from scratch on initial startup. Once again, it automatically configures my Hotmail account but then syncing fails with error 0x860001cf.
Diane Poremsky says
Oh. that is a problem. Is this windows phone 10 or are you still using 8.1 on the phone?
QVP says
It's Windows 10 Mobile. My Hotmail account has been working fine on this phone for a long time, and other mail accounts as well. Immediately after they moved my mailbox to Exchange, my Hotmail account stopped syncing to my phone, and it now just fails with the error I posted above. My other mail accounts still work fine. I also tested my Hotmail account on a couple of other phones too and it won't work at all. They somehow broke ActiveSync on my account and I don't know how to get it fixed. :(
QVP says
Any other ideas on what may be the issue?
Diane Poremsky says
No, not offhand. I asked my outlook.com contact but didn't hear back yet. Will ask again.
QVP says
correction on my prior post. The error is 0x86000c1f
Diane Poremsky says
Is the address you used here your correct address? Someone from the outlook.com product group is going to look at your account.
Roger Oakes says
Once again Microsoft does something to its users without any notification and no way to prevent it or even tell them that NO CHANGE is desired!! This is a HUGE DOWNGRADE!! I LOST so much screen space to this stupid change because I am forced to accept little notes or commentaries with each and every line of email!! Now I cannot see enough of my email messages stored or even recent emails!! This is going to force me to abandon my email address of over 20 YEARS!! Maybe I can save it by using a professional email program that respects me as the user and the client instead of some piece of dirt for Microsoft to beat on as often as the corrupted politicians allow!! I hope the EU INCREASES the MS fine to DOZENS of BILLIONS!!
Diane Poremsky says
Are you talking about message preview? You can turn that off in gear > display.
John says
Hi. Welcome to the future. If you want to stay in 1995 get a Gmail account, as they never update it for the future. Why are people like you so against change? In a tech world where things change frequently, maybe you shouldn't be using technology then.
Dale says
Diane,
I heard there will be an Opt-in to get your outlook.com account migrated sooner. Have you hard anything about this?
Would love to get mine done and off EAS.
Diane Poremsky says
They were going to do an opt-in but there are things that can prevent an account from being moved and were concerned that it would annoying people if they opted in but then couldn't get moved quickly. Instead they will offer early moved to people using the web interface - they'll pop up a dialog asking if you want to move early.
They seem to be picking up the pace so many it won't be long.
Dale Bentley says
Thanks Diane - looks like I will wait patiently for this to occur.
Spqr753 says
Hi, Diane. I am hoping you can help me. I use Outlook.com and have been migrated to the Office 365 interface. Two questions that I have are:
1) The 365 interface allows the creation of multiple Contact folders as you note, and those folders sync between multiple computers via Outlook 2013. However, I cant get either an iPhone or an Android to sync with multiple folders...they each just sync with the main Contact folder only. Is that the intended behavior, or is there a way to get mobile devices to sync with multiple Contact folders?
2) More distressingly, after a few days of syncing my Outlook 2013 contact folder to Outlook.com (i deleted the connection and re-added it as an Exchange Account), I notice that some of the fields in some of my contacts are blank. And, while the number of contacts is the same on the two PCs that I am sync'ing, the number of contacts on Outlook.com differs from what the PC's show.
Any help on the above would be greatly appreciated!!!
-Spqr753
Diane Poremsky says
Which fields are blank? I'm wondering if the fields were mapped wrong in the transfer to the new server - if so, the values are there but not in the field you are expecting them in.
Are you using the native ios and android apps? In iOS, click Groups (in the native app) - is the addition folder listed? If so, check it. It's similar for Android but my device has a dead battery.
In the outlook app, search will find the contacts in the other folders.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
Has the login issue for custom domain owners been addresses or do users still need to create a @outlook.com domain to login?
Diane Poremsky says
The custom domain should be working for most people in outlook.com (with browser) it should also work with ActiveSync on phones or outlook 2013 /2016 (use eas.outlook.com as the domain name). Adding as an exchange account in outlook may or may not work.
Lachlan Simpson says
Thanks for eas.outlook.com :)
Guillermo says
I created this morning a new account and I got still the old Outlook. Not sure if migration is based also in countries. I was signing in for a new account from Finland (Europe)
Diane Poremsky says
It's possible that it's by country, but I was told they aren't at 100% yet and I got lucky. I don't know what % get lucky...
Chris says
if someone opens an account now, finds himself directly in Office365 or must he still wait?
Diane Poremsky says
I haven't made a new account in a few weeks to test it, so i guess it's time. :) The account I created this morning is on the new server - not sure if 100% are on the new server now or only a percent and I got lucky.
Chris says
Thank you for the info :). Do you register on this link https://www.live.com/ ?
Diane Poremsky says
That will work, then click the Sign up now link.
https://signup.live.com/
George Santiago says
Can I ask to be moved now, or do I have to wait till they do it them self's?
Diane Poremsky says
You need to wait. They seem to be moving faster - or, are moving people who connect with Outlook faster. At one point I was told they were considering moving everyone who connected with outlook at once. They may still do that.
BTW, my contact said they aren't at 100% for new accounts on the new server, but she didn't say what % are going to the new server as of today.
Nathan says
What about tasks? Does this migration enable the use of full-featured outlook tasks both on Outlook.com web interface AND synced to Outlook on PC? If not, do you ever see such a thing happening? If I could create an appointment/task from an email that works the same way on mobile, web, and pc for personal email I would be so happy.
Diane Poremsky says
Yes! Tasks will sync everywhere, just like they do for corporate exchange users. Creating them from email might not be available everywhere though- that is a limitation of the apps on the different devices.
James Williams says
Desktop Outlook 2016 stopped working for a primary email account that uses POP3 settings under a private domain (.com). The secondary account that was setup using IMAP works fine. Even my personal email accounts work fine under the same program. After spinning around with the M.O. tech, we have gained no ground in solving the problem. He invoked the 24 hr ticket closing rule on me after day 2. Is it possible that the Encryption Certificates and/or Algorithms related to the security settings under S/MIME Cryptography format may be causing an issue? I install an outlook app on my phone and I can access the email. I can access the email via Microsoft Outlook online portal, but no matter what we try, the desktop outlook is constantly looking for a different password for that email address. I will use that email address.
John says
Hi Diane - Happy Thanksgivng. Question - do you have a general update on the progress of the migration. My main email has still not made it over. Also, what will happen to the email alias created under an outlook.com main email?
Diane Poremsky says
Migration is ongoing, probably not be finished until late spring but they *might* move outlook users as a group in a few weeks.
The alias will be moved with the account.
Antonio Marques says
Hi Diane . Thanks for this article.
I'm still stuck with Office 2010 because it is the only version of Outlook that correctly creates contact "Groups" out of the "Groups" in the Outlook.com People, instead of interpreting them as "Categories".
Will this migration affect this behavior? Is there a way to make Contact Groups from Outlook.com appear as Groups - and not as "Categories" as they do now?
Thanks in advance for any insight about this issue.
António
Diane Poremsky says
When the account is migrated and you add it back as an exchange account, group contacts will work correctly - like they do in pop3 or any other exchange account.
Antonio Marques says
That is tremendous news, Diane!
I added one of my Outlook.com accounts to Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2016. In Outlook 2010 it still appears as a "MAPI" account (so, I'm assuming it has not been migrated yet); but in Outlook 2016 it does appear as an "Exchange ActiveSync" account - however, the behavior of the "Groups" is still the same, appearing as Categories instead.
Should I assume the account has not been migrated yet, right?
Diane Poremsky says
That account has not been migrated - MAPI in 2010/2007/2003 is the connector account, in Outlook 2013/2016, it's added as an Active Sync account. When it's migrated and re-added, it will say Microsoft Exchange. The connector account will stop working when it's migrated.
Antonio Marques says
Again, thank you very much for your insights!
Best regards from Portugal,
Antonio
Mark says
I have a custom domain with outlook.com and it looks like one of my accounts was recently migrated to the new systems. I am no longer able to get email on my iPhone for this account. I have tried re-adding it with the outlook.com and the exchange options, but no luck. Does anyone know what the new exchange activesync server settings need to be? I have tried m.hotmail.com and s.outlook.com. Both will authenticate when I add the account on my iPhone, but will not pull any email or contacts down. It keeps asking for a password. Oh, and autodiscovery doesn't work as it is a custom domain pointed to outlook.com.
Diane Poremsky says
I'm trying to find out what is going on. One of my custom domain accounts was moved within the last 48 hours (no notice either). Can't set the account up in outlook and when i send from the web, it uses on behalf of in the address. :(
Christopher Bates says
I'm having this same issue with one custom domain account that moved. Repeated reconfiguration of EAS on my iOS devices with every server name I can find referenced results in the same thing. Account passes initial validation but any subsequent action results in a password prompt or failed connection message.
Diane Poremsky says
I'm trying to find out what is going on with the accounts. It seems like they moved a bunch of the custom domains over the weekend. I noticed my DNS didn't have autodiscover record - i added it, but that didn't make a difference (just a different error :)).
Joe La Rue says
I have the same issue too. iPhone refused exchange password (Sunday afternoon) I have outlook.com with a custom domain. I tried all 3 EAS servers but it won't sync or get my mail. IMAP and POP doesn't work either. Web interface works and looks like it's a newer interface. Chatted MS support about IMAP not working. She used m.hotmail.com and it took it on Outlook 13, but no emails/ folders synced up. She told me it takes awhile for it to sync. Don't think it will work. Glad I'm not the only one with this problem. If anyone hears of new EAS server, IMAP, please reply. I'm trying to move my email to Google Apps.
Diane Poremsky says
on the phone - it is working in the outlook app. It's still not working in outlook or in the native iPhone mail app. I'm trying to find out more information. (I suspect there might be an issue with DNS.)
BTW, if you are considering moving to google apps, you should consider a paid office 365 account - they have plans for $4/mon per mailbox (email only) & $5 (includes OneDrive for business). Either way, you'll need to migrate.
Joe La Rue says
I have two users on my domain, mine is moved over completely, my wifes is the one having the issue where i cant access the account via the outlook program, EAS, IMAP or POP. I still have my MX records pointing to hotmail until i can get it all moved over.
Please let us know if you hear something on any new server settings or anything. I also created a SR with Microsoft. I'm trying to get it moved over before the Thanksgiving holidays.
Clive says
I have just had the same problem today. Turns out that if you setup an alias email address and use it instead of your proper one, it works.
So login to outlook.com on a web browser and go to setting/options/mail/accounts/connected accounts/"Manage or choose a primary alias" and then create a new @outlook.com alias.
For instance, if your real account is email@mickymouse.com you could create an alias mmousealias@outlook.com and then enter mmouse@outlook.com as your username for which ever email app you are using. Password etc all stay the same.
Hope this helps.
Diane Poremsky says
it **should** work without the alias. The problem with setting another address as the primary alias is that it will be used for outgoing email.
Joe La Rue says
I tried the alias was not able to get in via IMAP or POP. Worth a shot though...Thanks
Diane Poremsky says
Same here. I can only get the outlook app on my iphone to work with the moved account. (android should work too, but didn't test it. The outlook app uses ews, not eas.)
Clive says
Alias worked on the native "Mail" app on iPad and on "Nine" email app on Android.
Ken Steele says
Any word from Microsoft on the email migration with respect to personal domains? I too, have a personal domain and several email accounts under the old 'domains.live.com' system. All have stopped working via iPhone and Outlook, which I assume is related to the migration. I would think it's just an MX record change. I currently have one of the form '.pamx1.hotmail.com', but obviously can no longer manage the domain to get a new record entry. Are we all stuck with using a paid service to get Outlook and iPhone working again with these kinds of accounts? I find it odd that several references all say "Buy Office365 to manage your domain," but what they really mean is Office365 for Business. Near as I can tell, there is no Office365 Home option, other than the aforementioned $4/user/month Exchange Online plan.
Diane Poremsky says
A bunch of us had the personal domains moved late last week and had issues with it - the word I had Wednesday was they knew the cause of the problems and were working to fix it, no ETA though. Those of us who are grandfathered will keep our plans.
Clive says
Of course it should work without an alias! But if you want it to work until Microsoft figures out what went wrong then use this "work-around". There is no need to set the newly created alias as Primary, therefore it doesn't get used for outgoing mail.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Clive. My father inlaw has an android phone and his account on my custom domain got migrated and he can no longer access his mail. I'm not familiar with Android and I'm currently overseas and wanted to help him get up and running.
If he creates a new exchange account using the alias I have added to his account how do you set the email address to be the custom domain without entering Manual setup which requires the exchange server address which I'm unaware of where to locate?
Diane Poremsky says
You can't add Exchange accounts to outlook using manual setup.
Clive says
Hello Lachlan,
Just to be clear, I use an email app called "Nine" on my android phone. However, I believe this should probably work for the built in email app. In fact I've just tested it and it works.
So you have setup an alias within the custom domains email account and that alias ends @outlook.com? Lets say it is flibble@outlook.com. When the app asks you for the email address and password for the new email account you want to setup, you enter flibble@outlook.com and whatever the password is. The email app will then go off and automatically find out what the name of the server is (I believe it will be outlook.office365.com should you ever need to enter it manually). Because you never made the alias the primary all of the "reply to" email address should all be that of the custom domain.
I'm not sure I've done a good job of explaining it. But I hope this has helped.
Diane Poremsky says
That is correct - when you send mail, it should use the primary alias, regardless of the account you used to set it up.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Clive
Thanks for testing mate I really appreciate it. I'll get this info to my father inlaw.
Regards
Lachlan
Clive says
Sorry, that should have been... enter mmousealias@outlook.com as your username.
Sarah says
This is possibly a stupid question, but how can I tell if I've been silently migrated? When I log into outlook.com my toolbar is similar to the screenshots in this blog, but it doesn't say "Preview"
Diane Poremsky says
The old URL is https://blu175.mail.live.com/ (blu175 will vary). migrated accounts will use https://outlook.live.com
Sarah says
Thanks! I haven't been migrated yet then - I'm slightly regretting being an early adopter of Outlook 2016 now, as I have 'current' mail in both .ost and .pst formats and no way of combining them other than by frequently archiving from the main .ost to a local .pst file. Which then means I then can't access them through the cloud. But these things shall pass!
Diane Poremsky says
I'd leave everything in the cloud - after you are migrated to the new server, you can import the pst. This will allow all the new mail ot be available everywhere and the old mail only on computers with a copy of the pst.
Ahmed says
The post says everyone will be migrated by 2006.
My account haven't been upgraded its been more than 9 years extra as stated by the article.
Diane Poremsky says
It should be 2016... bad typo, bad finger! Thanks for pointing that out.
I'm now expecting it to be mid- to late-spring of 2016 before everyone is migrated, although as they get near the end they might be able to move people faster. They are going slow right now, looking for bugs and issues as they move groups.
Mike Bilak says
My Outlook.com just changed to Outlook Preview and I do not like the email setup at all. How to I change back to Outlook.com look. Microsoft took a huge backward step on this one. I've had my hotmail account since 1997 and hate to switch now. Please tell me that there is a way to change back.
Diane Poremsky says
You can't change back to the old Outlook.com - everyone is moving to the new server. Sorry.
If you are using Outlook desktop, remove the account from Outlook and add it back - autodiscover will add it back as an Exchange account (requires Outlook 2007 and newer, all updates installed)
Helen says
Hi, I have Outlook.com on office 365. I don't think it is congifured properly ( I am not very computer literate so cannot be sure). I was thinking about trying to remove the account and adding back on but I cannot find the tools menu. Am I missing something? Any help would be appreciated please.
Diane Poremsky says
What version of Outlook do you use? Beginning with outlook 2010, you'll use File tab, Account Settings to access accounts (or Control panel, mail if outlook isn't open).
Lachlan Simpson says
What don't like you like out of curiosity? My account hasn't been migrated yet.
gadgetero says
When is the full migration to be finished? I am still waiting for my account to be migrated :(
Diane Poremsky says
I believe it might be awhile - probably 6 months. I was originally led to believe the end of the year (or early next), but i don't see that happening at this point. We're trying to talk them into moving outlook users in one big group - if successful, I don't expect this to happen before early next year.
That said, they are moving thousands a day, so it could be any time.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
I have a custom domain on outlook.com. Is that included in migration of outlook.com addresses or are they being handled separately?
Diane Poremsky says
I was told they will be moved last (but will remain in the outlook.com system). Time will tell (I have a custom domain of my own.)
vasam says
Does this mean that custom domains will get (at some point in the future) the new look but not the "Exchange" backend - which is obviously the biggest advantage?
Diane Poremsky says
It will be the Exchange backend unless they completely close the program. When I asked about it during a meeting (and wasn't able to get a followup at the time), I got a weird answer, like they were referring to Microsoft accounts, not the grandfathered live domains. Custom domains will be migrated last and will have all of the features available in the free accounts. They won't have a GAL with everyone in the domain listed, like they would if they had a paid Office 365 account.
Lachlan Simpson says
Thanks for confirming.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
Will user accounts located in Australia sit on our local O365 data centres or will our data be located offshore?
Diane Poremsky says
I believe they will be handled the same way they are now - based on the address you entered when you signed up - but I will double check.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
We're Microsoft able to confirm if Australian based customers will sit on the Australian hosted O365 in Sydney/Melbourne?
Diane Poremsky says
Accounts will be hosted on data centers in the user's region, as determined by the country selected when they create the account. AU's should be in one of the local data centers.
Lachlan Simpson says
Thanks for chasing up :)
john says
Hi Diane,
Very helpful forum here. I'm on outlook.com. Can I opt in to migrate now? If so, how?
Also, would I be notified if I've been upgraded?
I anxious to move on Exchange. Thanks in advance for your time.
John
Diane Poremsky says
They are not accepting requests to migrate but you may receive an email or a popup when you log into outlook.com asking if you want to migrate early.
They are supposed to send emails out a few days before the migration and right after but if you log into outlook.com and the banner says 'outlook mail (preview)' then you were migrated. If it still says outlook.com, it was not moved.
I believe outlook.com addresses are moving first - like, Hotmail, msn will be moved later.
Lachlan Simpson says
Hi Diane
Are outlook.com mailbox's still migrating to O365? Microsoft seem to have gone very quiet since announcement.
Diane Poremsky says
They are working on it, but with something like 1 billion active accounts, its a slow process. They are moving outlook.com addresses first, Hotmail, live and msn will come later. Also, web-only users & Outlook 2013 ahead of people using the Outlook Connector or Windows Live Mail (because those accounts will need to be reconfigured). Sometime this fall all new accounts will be created on Office 365 - right now a % of new accounts are on Office 365 servers.
Lachlan Simpson says
Thanks Diane
Paulo Caetano says
Dear Diane,
Do you know if these move will finally allow the outlook.com users to set up the fetch time for other POP3 accounts? Currently this setting is automatically set to 30 minutes and cannot be changed...
Thank you.
Diane Poremsky says
No, that won't change. It's 30 minutes with connected accounts in Office 365 too.
gadgetero says
So it works?! Great!
gadgetero says
Thanks! Let us know the result. In theory with OS X Yosemite and El Capitan, we have option to add Exchange accounts to use with Mail, Calendar, Contacts and Reminders. I think it uses EWS
Diane Poremsky says
This is from Yosemite, so it should be the same on El Capitan - I used Exchange account type when i set it up.
The old outlook.com uses EAS, but Apple syncs using EWS.
gadgetero says
Does the new Outlook.com on Office365 work with Apple Mail, Calendar and Reminders using Exchange protocol on OS X? I mean on Mac. EAS has been working fine but I miss support for Macs.Thanks!
Diane Poremsky says
If Exchange accounts work, it will. I don't think Apple Mail supports Exchange but Outlook for Mac does. (I tested it in Outlook 2016 for Mac, will double check Apple Mail.)
decomplexity says
Thanks again Diane for your most informed replies.
I have recently on (Microsoft's Community Forum) been inveighing at some length against the current implementation of contact groups (there called Categories) in outlook.com and contact groups in Outlook where group names are collated in name order with contacts. Windows Live Mail (soon to RIP?) at least offers a separate display of contact groups in the navigation window. Below is an edited version of my fulminations...
Having contact names and group names mixed is a pain for users of both Outlook and outlook.com. For example, one of my PCs has a contacts folder with a small number of contacts (around 1400) and 25 contact groups. The names of the latter are scattered within the list of contacts. If I forget the name of a group I wish to select, I need to scroll down the contact list looking for (e.g. in outlook.com) contact group icons which at least are different from contact icons. I can display what contacts are in each group but have no way to check which groups a contact is in. It appears to be common practice to prefix group names with AAA just to ensure they collate at the head of the list and can easily be found.
.
A contact group is not a contact; they should APPEAR separate. There is an n-to-n (‘bill of materials’) relationship) between groups and contacts, and STORING their names internally in one list is indeed logically correct*. However, what should follow though is that the user should then be able to DISPLAY AND UPDATE:
- a list of contacts such that each contact shows the groups in which it is a member
- a list of groups such that each group shows the contacts which are members of it
The implementation in Outlook, outlook.com and Windows Mail (but not WLM) fatally confuses how contacts and contact groups are logically STORED with how they should be DISPLAYED (and updated) and USED (in e.g. an email To: box). WLM however thankfully displays a list of contact groups (a.k.a. ‘categories’), although there is no way to list which groups a contact is a member of.
Outlook’s use of Categories is a partial solution which addresses the DISPLAYED issue through stock Views, although a custom View with Expand/Collapse set to Collapse is better:
- the contacts assigned to a category can be grouped by category, and
- the categories assigned to a contact can be displayed.
But USING one or more Categories to address an email is tortuous and unfriendly. One has always to first select the category to be used for addressing and only then invoke the email creation screen to create the email content. I should be able to decide on the fly whether I want to create the content first and then decide on who the addressees are - or vice versa. Contact groups allow me to do both; categories don't .
Can I suggest a way forward, at least for Outlook:
- in Address Book / Tools, provide an additional option for selecting the source of distribution lists when addressing an email: contact groups, categories, or both.
- when a group name OR CATEGORY is typed (or autocompleted, or searched for and selected) into (e.g.) a To: address box, the name is expanded into a list of addressees in the usual way
This sounds such an obvious solution that there must be something wrong with it!
It also gets round the long-standing problem that contact groups cannot be exported since the categories of which a contact is a member are even exported in a .csv export
*Notes:
In many implementations a group can have contacts from more than one contact list (folder), and a contact can (in principle at least) be a member of groups in more than one contact list. The data model is thus a bit more detailed but is a straightforward extension of that described above.
Harder to resolve are the problems stemming from:
- one individual appearing in more than one contact list (since, for example, each contact list can come from a different source, e.g. in Outlook 2010 from a local .pst contacts folder and an online one from outlook.com)
- each such individual having more than one slightly different representation of their names in the each contact list (‘John Doe’ and ‘JK Doe’)
- each individual having more than one slightly different representation of their names in the same list
- each individual having more than one email address
One individual could, for example, appear three times in contact list A and twice in Contact list B. In each appearance he or she could have more than one email address (Home, Work and mobile) and these email addresses may not be the same. And each contact list may be updated independently - their sources may be different - and be out of synch with the others.
There is not a huge volume of data involved, but the data structure has then become sufficiently complex to need a database management system to look after it. BCM without all the salesperson data?
Diane Poremsky says
There are pros and cons to the Exchange way of handling groups - generally speaking, it's recommended to use categories instead, but you need to send mail from contacts (after grouping or searching for the category), not using the address book picker and people prefer using a picker. As far as changes, anything is possible, but i honestly don't see Exchange switching to the outlook.com way of using categories.
On finding a dl, use instant search - messageclass:ipm.dist (or create a custom view).
if you make heavy use of DLs, i have a macro that will categorize the contacts of members.
decomplexity says
Many thanks Diane.
Anyone using outlook.com to share contacts and contact groups among several WLMs clearly need to plan a way out. Even if Microsoft does, in the fullness of time, add an EAS stack to WLM, it will still be unable share contact groups with outlook.com (or whatever it has been rechristened by then) – I guess the implementation may well follow the Outlook 2013 paradigm of translating outlook.com contact groups to Outlook categories. And if they also provide a better way than at present to USE categories to address email, e.g. using a category name in a To: address list in the same simple way one can currently use a contact group name, this may be an acceptable way forward.
One short term plan might be to install Outlook 2013 (or wait for 2016?) in readiness, configure - and perhaps use just once – a link to the outlook.com account, but continue to use WLM with Deltasync until the Move happens. Then switch clients.
Diane Poremsky says
Outlook.com contact groups will definitely change - the outlook version of contact group will be used going forward. Outlook categories can be used to address mail, but you need to be in the contacts folder, you can't pick from the address book. I have no idea what will work in an WLM-EAS - won't know until they release something.
decomplexity says
The logistics and timing of the changeover by Microsoft still seem up in the air, and Windows Live Mail users in particular need to tread very warily indeed.
If in preparation for the changeover they move to Outlook 2013 now, their outlook.com contact groups suddenly appear as Categories (courtesy of EAS replacing Deltasync).
If they wait until Microsoft moves them, WLM loses touch with outlook.com altogether unless the user anticipates the move by switching to IMAP beforehand. But they still lose synched contacts and calendar. If Microsoft does indeed implement EAS for WLM, users will need to ensure they get the update automatically or download it upon notification by Microsoft. Anyone using back releases of WLM will not get it – and there were three major versions of WLM. And from memory Vista users cannot use the current version of WLM either. There are some surprises in store!
Phone users may also be discomfited. If we discount the Outlook app which is still in state of flux, it is unclear how the current stock email clients on Android Lollipop or Apple Mail on iOS 8 will react. These presumably use EAS now, but if one or both clients is not also fully ‘Extended MAPI/RPC over HTTPS’ compliant will EAS still be a selectable option or will auto-discover simply fail.
Has Microsoft announced any move details, timing, notice period and notification arrangements yet?
Diane Poremsky says
AFAIK, they've only moved web users (plus MS employees and MVPs by request) - they will soon begin a test move of accounts who have used Outlook to connect. They'll send them an email in advance (with the chance to opt out) and a reminder right before the move.
The phone apps, window apps, as well as Outlook 2013/16 should be totally seamless and will work fine (I use the native apps, the outlook app and several 3rd party apps on both android and apple). At most they might be told to restart the app if it was open during the move. They all use EAS now and will continue to use it after the move. Autodiscover will update the accounts automatically the first time they connect after the move. Outlook 2013/2016 will work with either EAS or Exchange for the foreseeable future but if they remove the account from outlook and add it back, it will be added back as Exchange. I wish they'd just move all outlook 2013/2016 users - they suffer the most with EAS problems and would benefit the most with exchange.
Anyone who has used older versions of Outlook or WLM with deltasync or feedsync within the last 30 days won't be moved until later, unless they stop using WLM. They'll receive an email letting them know the account will be moved and a second one right before. I'm guessing the new WLM will be ready by then.
Diane Poremsky says
oh, and specifically to this: Has Microsoft announced any move details, timing, notice period and notification arrangements yet?
I was originally told "this fall" but i suspect they might still be moving accounts into next year. As of 2013, they had like 400M active accounts and it seems like they aren't moving them fast enough to get all 400M moved by the end of the year.
Newly created accounts will begin to be created on the new servers some time this fall. At first, it'll be hit or miss, with a % on the new server and if all goes well, all new accounts will be on the new server.
Users will receive an email letting them know the account will be moved in coming weeks and one right before. Web users go first, then outlook, then WLM users.
Stevce taylor says
Glory!! Thank you!
Stevce taylor says
I liked using DeltaSync (Outlook Connector) because DeltaSync allowed me to move incorrectly sent emails to the right place (for instance, to work Exchange address when they should have been to home Outlook.com address). With EAS, it won't let me do that. You can't control which email address your contacts will reply with.
Diane Poremsky says
When your outlook.com account is moved to office 365 servers, you'll be able to move mail between folders and accounts (using outlook 2007 and newer).
Roland Schweiger says
> DeltaSync will not be supported, that is a given. What they said they will do is release an
> update that uses Exchange Active Sync.
Would be great because it could keep us continuing to use WLM for a while, and i suppose i am not the only one who makes use of contacts and calendar(s) syncing to multiple devices.
And i suppose if correctly implemented, EAS will be much more stable than DeltaSync.
> Ah, correct - the Outlook app accounts are not integrated with Android functions (or Apple)
> - I added my Exchange to the native apps and turned off mail & calendar sync. (If you
> need to send mail using apps, set it to the lowest sync available.) FWIW, you don't have to
> use the Outlook app - you can set the accounts up in the native app (as an Exchange or
> Corporate account). Both the outlook app and the native apps use EAS to connect to the
> Outlook.com mailboxes.
And there is the Point - i mostly Need calendar(s) and contact sync and with the Outlook.com app installed, the "Outlook.com" account that appears in Android 4.2.2 System works just fine. I don't know what protocol thes "Outlook.com" Thing uses, if it is a variant of EAS then i suppose everything will continue fine after july 31, and i could leave everything as it is. If however this Outlook.com account goes with some Kind of DeltaSync, it will no longer work in the future.
And as we noticed, currently, the new Outlook app will not make the accounts Show in android System.
I did try in android's (or rather the samsungs phone) native eMail app to install an Exchange account ant this works for email and at first glance it appears to work for contacts and calendar.
But it does not - contacts are improperly synced and only synced once, and calendars don't work because only the first calendar of the Outlook.com address will Show up.
> you can set the accounts up in the native app (as an Exchange or
> Corporate account).
So i suppose as i have tried, you mean the native app of the phone or android System.
Do you mean Setting this up AFTER having installed the new Outlook app?
This is the only thing i have not tried yet (and i've hat at least 4 tries).
greetings
Roland Schweiger
Diane Poremsky says
App of the apps use ActiveSync - when you account is finally moved, activesync should continue to work ok. Autodiscover will update the Activesync address as needed.
Re: setting the accounts up in the native app: it shouldn't make a difference if they are set up in outlook. It should just work. I'll see if i can repro aync issues on my droid. I've never noticed any issues with it though, although I don't tend to change the contacts much.
Roland Schweiger says
Thanks for the quick reply, Diane!
OK only yesterday i had my 1st look at Thunderbird because all the new Information from MS made me fear i will loose all contact / calendar sync - in WindowsLiveMail as well as in my old Android 4.2.2
And when it Comes to TB+Lightning+EWS, obviously in the future the only way to properly allow calendar + contact sync would be via EWA, but EWS currently is not supported with Outlook.com eMail addresses (hence including @live and @Hotmail and so on)
But as MS says it will migrate Outlook.com to Office365, my hope and questikon was whether at that time after the Migration, EWS would be supported for all Hotmail and Outlook.com addresses, this would finally allow to sync calendars/contacts in TB.
Personally i would like to stick with WindowsLiveMail currently even though it's mor or less legacy and i am very frightened that MS would stop DeltaSync protocol Support after the Migration.
If they say they'll offer some plugin or DeltaSync-->EAS Bridge or WLM update to pull everything via DeltaSync, that would be a great relief.
Android 4.2.2 (the jellybeans Version which still runs on many Million mobile phones) seems to be a Problem for the Moment, please if you are so Kind, check wich your old phone.
The "Outlook.com" app made an account type named "Outlook.com" appear in Android System. So when going to android System Settings --> Accounts ---> you would see "Outlook.com" accounts, then your account (in my case an @live.de email address) and it offered (and still offers) contact sync and calendars sync.
And here the plural is important! It synced all calendars of that particular account - Holidays and any overlapping calender.
As MS sent many Messages to my phone prompting me to update to the Outlook app, i uninstalled the Outlook.com app and installed the Outlook app, set up my account (account type Outlook.com because it is an @live address) and the app started and Shows me things like email and the calendar and so on.
But the account now will not sho in android System Settings, and thus, any android-specific or phone-specific Thing like the telephone's contact System will no longer Show contacts or calendar. Thus currently it renders the Outlook app useless, at least for android 4.2.2
An alternative would be to set up an Exchange account directly in Android 4.2.2 but this never worked properly. Contacts only synced for the first time and then refused, and only the first calendar would Show up, and not any further calendars like Holiday etc.
So i hope all the confusion will be sorted out soon and everything turns out for the good :-) as Overall i like the MS Services.
greetings from Vienna.
Roland Schweiger
Diane Poremsky says
DeltaSync will not be supported, that is a given. What they said they will do is release an update that uses Exchange Active Sync.
Ah, correct - the Outlook app accounts are not integrated with Android functions (or Apple) - I added my Exchange to the native apps and turned off mail & calendar sync. (If you need to send mail using apps, set it to the lowest sync available.) FWIW, you don't have to use the Outlook app - you can set the accounts up in the native app (as an Exchange or Corporate account). Both the outlook app and the native apps use EAS to connect to the Outlook.com mailboxes.
My 'older' Android is 4.1.1, my newer one is 4.4.something.
Roland Schweiger says
Indeed the question remains and is important: will Thunderbird + Lightning add-on + Ericsson ExchangeCalendar / EWS work after the Migration of Outlook.com to Office 365 is completed? If i understood correctly, all Outlook.com (including @live addresses and so on) will be migrated to office365; and in Thunderbird the mentioned add-on only works if EWS is supported. This is important because it would for the first time hopefully allow the use of calendars and contacts sync with Microsoft accounts. I am not the only one who will on the Desktop have to Switch from WindowsLiveMail to Thunderbird, because they say that after the migrationk the DeltaSync Protocol also is no longer supported and this would make WindowsLiveMail useless for contact and calendar sync.
A similar Problem right now rises up on my android side - i have Android 4.2.2 and until now i used an app called "Outlook.com" which after Setting up the Microsoft email address, it placed an account type named "Outlook.com" in the android System and it therefore allowed calendars (all calendars of an MS account!) and contact sync with android- or even phone-specific programs. Now MS is prompting me to replace this "Outlook.com" app with an app named "Outlook" and when i do so and set up the account, this account will NOT appear in the android System and therefore calender and contact sync to android- and phone-specific apps is lost. However, if this "Outlook.com" account type is powered by the deltasync protocol, it will also loose sync soon.
And hence, when i create an Exchange account directly in the android System, contac sync only works for the first time and calenders do not work properly at all - only the first calendar is shown, so i was quite safe with the Outlook.com app + the WindowsLiveMail on the Desktop.
Currently fearing to loose all sync, so there is a lot of confusion and uncertainty.
-- Will WindowsLiveMail continue to sync calendar and contacts?
-- If not, will EWS be supported after the Migration so that calendar(s) and contacts could finally at last be syncd in Thunderbird? (lightning + ericsson ews plugin)
-- Will there be a solution for slightly elerly android Versions e.g. Andoid 4.2.2 jellybeans, so that contacts plus all calendars can still be synced in the android System?
does anyone know more?
greetings,
Roland Schweiger
Diane Poremsky says
Do they work with Exchange mailboxes? If it works with Exchange now, especially Office 365 Exchange, it will work with Outlook.com accounts that are migrated. (The eM client will sync everything too.)
RE: Windows Live Mail: microsoft said they are updating it to support ActiveSync - that will pull in mail, calendar, and contacts. IMAP and POP3 are also supported, of course, they are email-only protocols.
Outlook.com app vrs Outlook app: microsoft stopped supporting the outlook.com app. The outlook app doesn't download contacts, the people part is actually recently-used addresses but Search should find contacts. The native android contact app should sync the contacts, i have an old android in my office and will check.
Jay says
Will this new setup work in thunderbird? As far as I know EAS is not supported by Thunderbird and the only client that supports EAS is Outlook2013 (and perhaps Outlook2016 which I don't use yet)
Diane Poremsky says
You'll be able to use POP3 or IMAP with t-bird and other clients. It will support EAS - which is used by smartphones and tablets and I think the eM client also uses EAS. Outlook will use Exchange (MAPI) connection,, not EAS.
RoadHazard says
I quickly signed up for Office 365 ($9.95/month) hoping to get all the benefits of the new server, before realizing that only Office 365 for Business (not Home) offers Exchange Server. I guess I'll have to wait for the late-2015 upgrade.
Diane Poremsky says
Yeah, you would need an exchange online account to get exchange... the outlook.com accounts should be migrated by the end of the year. It won't be longer before you'll be able to request early migration.