Outlook for iOS – Actionable Messaging Feature

Summary: Actionable messaging feature now available for Outlook for iOS mobile app

Comments:

• Microsoft announces support for actionable messaging in the Outlook for iOs mobile app
• Provides the ability to take action on request in an email without leaving your Inbox or switching apps
  • Examples of actions are requests for Group Approval, Feedback Surveys, Approval requests(timesheets)
• Availability of the feature is now being rolled out with completion in the next few months

Additional Information:

• Actionable Messages in Outlook mobile help you act fast on the go – Microsoft Tech Community – 483559
• Designing Outlook Actionable Message cards with the Adaptive Card format

Revisions:

May  7 2019:  Initial Draft and Publish Date

How To Disable Quick Suggestions – Outlook.com(Beta)

Summary: This article shows how to disable the Outlook.com beta e-mail composition’s ‘Quick Suggestions’ feature

Comments:

• Microsoft released the Outlook.com beta to the public on August 8, 2017
• The Outllook.com beta requires the user to opt-in. (Note: Opt-in is not permanent at this time, one can also opt-out.  Also, beta features should be considered as ‘most-likely to become permanent’ in the foreseeable future)
• One of the new beta features is called ‘Quick Suggestions’
  • Quick Suggestions is enabled by default and shows suggestions as you type
  • Quick Suggestions are available in the user’s Inbox when composing a message
  • Quick Suggestions can easily be disabled in the mail composition setting
• Outlook.com beta availability is being rolled-out to all users over a period of weeks thus not all users will have access to the beta at the same time. Additionally, not all features in the beta may be functional at this time.

How To:

 Disable Quick Suggestions

• Logon to Outlook.com to access your Inbox and Click the ‘Gear’ icon  (located upper right)
• Scroll down and select ‘View full Settings’

      

• Click on ‘Mail’ and then ‘Compose’

    

• Scroll down to ‘Quick Suggestions’ and uncheck the ‘Offer suggestions’ item

    Enabled:

    

    Disabled:

    

• Click Save, then Click ‘X’(upper right) to close the ‘Settings’ windows to return to the Inbox

 

Revisions:

August 9, 2017: Initial Draft Date

August 11, 2017: Initial Publish Date

August 12, 2017: Added comments and additional graphics

Outlook.com – Action Required Email Notice – Fact Check

Summary:  Fact Checking the Microsoft Action Required Email notice to reconnect Outlook.com accounts in Outlook 2013 and Outlook 2016

Comments:

• Microsoft recently sent an ‘Action Required’ email notice notifying users to reconnect their Outlook.com type accounts(Outlook/Live/Hotmail/Msn.com) in Outlook 2013 and 2016
• The email noticed stated that reconnecting is necessary to ensure continued synchronization and non-interrupted email access between the server hosting your Outlook.com type account and Outlook 2013 and Outlook 2016
• The message notice is the result of migrating all Outlook.com type accounts to the new backend Office 365 platform server
  • The new Office 365 platform supports the Exchange protocol format for sending, receiving and synchronization.  The old server supported Exchange Active Sync(EAS) but did not support the full featured Exchange protocol
  • The new Office 365 platform supports both Exchange and EAS though the latter may only be temporary(the underlying reason and real purpose of the notice) until all accounts are migrated.  At that time, support for EAS may be(highly likely) discontinued.
    • Editor Note: March 1, 2017 – As expected EAS support was discontinued in February 2017
• The email notice includes a link to a web based article echoing the content of the email notice. The web based article furthermore states the following:
  • “If you don’t reconnect your upgraded email account, you won’t be able to send or receive Outlook.com email via your desktop version of Outlook 2016 or Outlook 2013 until you reconnect”
• The email notice does not account for and ignores end users who use POP3 or IMAP protocols in Outlook 2013 and 2016 for sending and receiving mail and also(specifically for those using IMAP) synchronization of messages, folders, and subfolders between the Outlook.com account’s web interface and the local installed Outlook 2013 and 2016 application/programs.

 

Fact Check:

• True – All accounts will be migrated to the new Office 365 backend server which supports Exchange
• True – To take advantage of more features and synchronization provided by the new Office 365 server reconnecting your account to use the Exchange protocol instead of the Exchange Active Sync(EAS) protocol is necessary
• True – Outlook.com type accounts using Exchange in Outlook 2013 and 2016 do not need to reconnect.  The email notice, for accounts currently using Exchange, can be ignored.
• True – The ability to send and receive email will cease when using Exchange Active Sync(EAS) in your desktop version of Outlook 2016 or Outlook 2013 until you reconnect
• False – The ability to send and receive email will cease when using POP3 or IMAP in your desktop version of Outlook 2016 or Outlook 2013 until you reconnect (see below)
  • Reconnecting is ***Not Required*** for Outlook.com accounts using the POP3 or IMAP Protocol. Sending and Receiving email will continue to function since the new Office 365 server supports both POP3 and IMAP
• Partially True/Partially False:  “If you do not reconnect your account your Outlook.com emails will soon stop syncing to Outlook 2016 and Outlook 2013”
  • The above implies that all email sync will cease. 
    • Synchronization of emails will cease for accounts using Exchange Active Sync(EAS)
    • Synchronization of emails(including folder and subfolders) will **not** cease for account(s) using the IMAP protocol

 

Email Notice:   (Dated Dec. 21, 2016)

Action Required: Reconnect Outlook 2016/Outlook 2013 to Outlook.com for uninterrupted email access

Dear Outlook.com customer,

Earlier this year, Microsoft introduced the new Outlook.com, which provides a business-class email experience to help you stay connected and get more done. Now that you have been upgraded to the new Outlook.com, it’s necessary that you reconnect Outlook 2016 or Outlook 2013 to your Outlook.com account. As someone who has an Outlook.com email account connected to a desktop version of Outlook 2016 or Outlook 2013, you’re receiving this reminder because you have not yet reconnected your account.

What to do: Reconnect your desktop version of Outlook to your Outlook.com account to ensure uninterrupted email access. If you do not reconnect your account, your Outlook.com emails will soon stop syncing to Outlook 2016 and Outlook 2013. Once you reconnect, your Outlook.com emails will resume syncing to your desktop version of Outlook.

For detailed instructions and help on how to reconnect your account, please visit the official Microsoft support web site at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=837697.

Note that this change only affects any Outlook.com accounts you are accessing via Outlook 2016 or Outlook 2013; you do not need to reconnect to your other email accounts, such as Office 365, Exchange, or other third party email accounts. You can also continue to send, receive, and access email from your Outlook.com account on the web via any popular web browser.

We recognize that reconnecting your account is inconvenient, but this step will ensure that you are able to take full advantage of the new Outlook.com over a more secure and reliable infrastructure. If you have any questions not answered by the support article above, please contact customer support at: https://support.office.com/home/chat.

Thank you for being an Outlook.com customer,

The Outlook.com team

FAQ:

Q. What happens if I don’t reconnect Outlook 2016 or Outlook 2013 to Outlook.com?

A. Your Outlook.com emails will soon stop syncing to Outlook 2016 or Outlook 2013 until you reconnect your account. You will still be able to access your Outlook.com emails via a web browser at any time.

Q. Do I need to reconnect Outlook 2016 or Outlook 2013 to any non-Outlook.com accounts (Exchange, Office 365, Gmail, etc.)?

A. No, you only need to reconnect Outlook 2016 or Outlook 2013 to your Outlook.com accounts.

Q. Will I lose any emails when I reconnect my account?

A. No, you will not lose any Outlook.com emails when you reconnect your account. Your email and calendar data remain accessible via the web. Once you reconnect, your Outlook.com emails and calendar data will resume syncing to your desktop version of Outlook.

Q. Where can I get help if I have trouble reconnecting Outlook 2016 or Outlook 2013 to my Outlook.com account?

A. For detailed step-by-step instructions, please refer to the help article at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=837697. If you have any questions not answered by the support article above, please contact customer support at https://support.office.com/home/chat.

 

Additional Information:

• Reconnect Outlook 2016 or Outlook 2013 to Outlook.com for uninterrupted email access
• Add your Outlook.com account in Outlook for Windows

 

 

Revisions:

December 28, 2016: Initial Draft and Publish Date

March 1, 2017:  ‘Editor Note’ in ‘Comments’ – Support for EAS discontinued February 2017

March 15, 2017: Added comment that accounts using Exchange do not need to reconnect

Outlook.com – Keyboard Shortcuts

Summary:   Keyboard Shortcuts for use in the Outlook.com Mail user interface

Comments:

• Article covers the keystroke(s) combinations/shortcuts for use in the Outlook.com Mail web-based user interface
• Shortcuts are provided in a table format for the Outlook.com  ‘List Pane’ and the ‘Preview Pane’

How To:

• Outlook.com Mail ‘List Pane’ Shortcuts

 

• Outlook.com Mail ‘Preview Pane’ Keyboard Shortcuts

 

Additional Information:

• Reference: Support.office.com  – Keyboard Shortcuts in Outlook.com
  • See above article for a cross-reference of supported shortcuts in Gmail and Yahoo Mail

Revisions:

December 8, 2016:  Initial Draft and Initial Publish Date

December 29, 2016:  Revised ‘How-To’ section to a table format; added table format comment

Windows Live Mail 2012 Action Required Email Notice: Fact Check

Summary:  Fact Checking the Microsoft Email Notification – ‘Action Required for users of Windows Live Mail 2012’

 

Comments:

• Microsoft recently sent an email notifying users of Windows Live Mail 2012 that required changes were necessary to continue to send and receive email for Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, Live.com, and MSn.com email addresses
  • (Note: Email notice shown below in the ‘Additional Information’ section).
• Microsoft’s optional recommendations (optional not necessarily required, see ‘Fact Check’ and ‘Recommendation’ section below) 
  • If using Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 switch to the Windows included Mail App
  • Take advantage of a free one-year subscription of Office 365 Personal, and which provides Outlook 2016 to connect to your account which functions with Windows 7, 8.1, and 10
  • If using Windows 7, upgrade to a newer version of Windows(Windows 10) and use the included Mail App.
  • Access your account using a web browser(by logging with the account username/password) to the Outlook.com web site

 

Fact Check:

• The notice, and limitedly, only applies to the use of the soon to be discontinued DeltaSync Protocol for sending and receiving mail and synchronizing Contacts and Calendar data in Windows Live Mail 2012
• The deprecation of the DeltaSync protocol is due to the migration of all Outlook.com type accounts to the new backend server on the Office 365 platform which does not support DeltaSync.
• The notice does not apply to end-users who have Outlook.com type accounts configured and using the POP3 or IMAP protocols in Windows Live Mail 2012(POP3 and IMAP in Outlook 2013 or Outlook 2016 is also not impacted)
• Contacts and Calendar data will no longer synchronize between account web based cloud services(People.live.com and Calendar.live.com) and Windows Live Mail.  Any changes to Contacts or Calendar data will have to be made in both locations.
• Bottom Line Facts:
  • True: All Outlook.com type accounts will be migrated to the new Office 365 back-end server
  • True – After account migration Sending  and Receiving of email messages will stop functioning in  Windows Live Mail 2012  if using the DeltaSync protocol
  • False – Sending and Receiving of email messages will not stop functioning if using POP3 or IMAP

 

Recommendations:

• If using POP3 or IMAP for sending and receiving mail in your Outlook,com type account(Outlook.com/Hotmail.com/Live.com/Msn.com) no changes are necessary.  POP3 and IMAP will continue to function for sending and receiving mail in Windows Live Mail 2012
• If using DeltaSync in WLM for sending and receiving mail switch to IMAP or POP3
  • Use of the IMAP protocol will continue to mirror the messages and folders and subfolders between WLM and the accounts web user interface INBOX.
• If signing on to Live Services(aka Microsoft Services) in Windows Live Mail 2012
  • Back up your Contacts to a CSV file or VCF files, Stop signing in to discontinue using the previously synchronized[Online-Local] database, and  Import your Contacts from your backup into the Default[Local only] Contact database.

 

Additional Information:

• Microsoft ‘Action required for users of Windows Live Mail 2012’ email notice

Dear User,

Earlier this year we introduced a new Outlook.com that will help you collaborate with others, focus on what matters, and get more done. The new Outlook.com delivers an exciting set of new experiences across web, phone, and desktop, and we’re eager for you to start using it.

It appears that you are currently using Windows Live Mail 2012 to connect to your Outlook.com account. Windows Live Mail 2012 does not support the synchronization technologies used by the new Outlook.com. When account upgrades begin at the end of June, you will no longer be able to receive email sent to your Outlook.com account in Windows Live Mail 2012. Rest assured, you can always access your email by logging into Outlook.com from any web browser, and you will continue to have access to all your data that is currently in Windows Live Mail 2012.

If you currently use Windows Live Mail 2012, we recommend that you switch to the Mail app in Windows today. The Mail app is built in to Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10, and has a more modern design. To begin using it, simply launch the app and add your Outlook.com account.

If you are using Windows 7, you can upgrade to a newer version of Windows to enjoy the Mail app and the other benefits. If you do not wish to upgrade, you can access your account via a web browser, or, you can take advantage of a free one-year subscription of Office 365 Personal, and use Outlook 2016 to connect to your account.* This Office 365 subscription also includes other productivity applications such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel. It works on Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, and Windows 10.

Please take action before June 30th, 2016, which is when we’ll begin upgrading accounts that currently use Windows Live Mail 2012. If you have more questions, please find answers to common FAQs in this help article, or you can contact Microsoft support.

We recognize that changes like this can be difficult, and apologize for any inconvenience this causes you. We hope that you’ll enjoy the benefits of moving to the new Outlook.com.

Sincerely,

Outlook.com team

• Outlook.com Migration to the Office 365 Server
• Windows Live Mail DeltaSync Deprecation
•  

Revisions:

May 2, 2016: Initial Draft Date

May 8, 2016: Initial Publish Date

Windows Live Mail–DeltaSync Deprecation

Summary:   Microsoft is deprecating(discontinuing) the DeltaSync protocol supported by Windows Live Mail

 

Comments:

• DeltaSync is an email protocol used in Windows Live Mail(2012, 2011¹, 2009¹) for Sending and Receiving mail
• DeltaSync supported Outlook.com type email accounts(Outlook.com, Live.com, Hotmail.com, and MSn.com)
• DeltaSync provided synchronization of email messages and folders/sub-folders between the Outlook.com type accounts configured in Windows Live Mail and the corresponding account’s web based Inbox.
• Sending, Receiving, and Synchronization will cease to function once an Outlook.com type account is migrated to the new backend server on the Office 365 Platform

 

Recommendations:

• For those using the DeltaSync protocol in Windows Live Mail 2012 switch to one of the other two protocols(IMAP or POP3) – See ‘How-To’ sections below 
  • IMAP supports synchronization of messages, folders, and subfolders between the local client(Windows Live Mail 2012) and the Outlook.com type account(Outlook/Hotmail/Live/MSn.com) web based INBOX
  • POP3, does not support synchronization of messages, folders, subfolders between the local email client and the account’s web based INBOX.  (NOTE: To use POP3 in a local client, the POP3 setting must be enabled in the account’s web based user interface(UI) Settings).

 

How-To:

• POP3 and IMAP settings for Outlook.com type accounts(Outlook.com/Hotmail.com/Live.com/MSN.com)

• IMAP server name imap-mail.outlook.com

• IMAP port 993

• IMAP encryption method SSL

• POP server name pop-mail.outlook.com

• POP port 995

• POP encryption method SSL

• SMTP server name smtp-mail.outlook.com

• SMTP port 587

• SMTP encryption method TLS

 

 

Revisions:

April 15, 2016:  Initial Draft and Publish Date

April 16, 2016:  Added Footnote [1] – Windows Live Mail 2011 and 2009 are no longer supported by Microsoft

April 17, 2016:  Added comment and link for requirement to enable POP3 in the account’s web interface Settings.

Outlook.Com Migration to Office 365 Server

Summary: Outlook.com Microsoft’s web based suite of services is migrating to a new backend server

Comments:

• Microsoft is rolling out a new version of Outlook.com web based suite of services
• All Microsoft accounts(MSA) using Outlook.com, Live.com, Hotmail.com or Msn.com email addresses will be migrated to the new backend server operating on the Office 365 platform
• Outlook.com web based services comprise of E-mail, Contacts, Calendar and Tasks
• Outlook.com was formerly known as Hotmail and in some circles/locations referred to as MSN(or My MSN)
• The new Office 365 platform and backend server will support the following email protocols
  • Exchange
  • Exchanged Active Sync
  • IMAP
  • POP3
• Office 365’s backend server ***does not*** support DeltaSync which was a sync-able protocol used by Windows Live Mail 2012, Windows PhotoGallery(for Photo e-mail via Live Mail), Outlook Outlook Connector and Outlook 2013.   (Note: Windows Live Mail and PhotoGallery are part of the Windows Essentials suite of products) 
  • DeltaSync will be deprecated and no longer available for migrated accounts
  • The deprecation of DeltaSync means that Contacts and Calendar configured to use the DeltaSync protocol in Windows Live Mail, Outlook Connector and Outlook email will cease to sync between the web UI service and the local installed email client (i.e. no sync up or down)
    • Once an account is migrated any changes to Contact and Calendar data will need to made in both locations(web UI People service) and the local email client Contacts module).
    • The lack of synchronization also indicates a need, if using either location(web UI or local client), to maintain backups of Contact data(exported to CSV or VCF or PST files) for recommended archival purposes.
    • Photo e-mail which upload picture data to the Microsoft Account’s OneDrive will also cease to function once the account is migrated to the new backend server on the Office 365 platform
• Microsoft’s currently supported local email clients for the Office 365 backend server are Outlook 2013, Outlook 2016, Office 365(which includes Office 2016), Windows 8.1 Mail app and the Windows 10 Mail app.
  • Outlook(2013/2016) support synchronization for Mail, Contacts, and Calendar data
  • Windows 8.1/10 support synchronization of Mail(Mail app) Contacts(People app), and Calendar(Calendar app) data when using a Microsoft account to logon to Windows
  • Outlook 2013 and 2016 for the best user experience should use the Exchange protocol(both Outlook 2013 and 2016 will automatically configure an account during setup to use Exchange)
• Account migration is expected to be completed by the end of 2016 CY  First Quarter of 2017 CY.

Additional Information:

• Microsoft Office Blogs for Outlook.com(includes information on new features)
  • https://blogs.office.com/2016/02/17/outlook-com-out-of-preview-and-better-than-ever/
• Send Feedback to Microsoft – Outlook Feedback for Outlook.com(aka Outlook UserVoice)
  • https://outlook.uservoice.com/forums/284136-outlook-com

Revisions:

February 15, 2016: Initial Draft

March 1, 2016: Initial Publish Date

June 30, 2016:  Revised content for better clarity, added new content, re-organized bullet items.

July 31, 2016:  Updated comment on completion date for account migration; Added Feedback link

Outlook.com – Microsoft Discontinues Facebook and Google Chat

 

Summary:

Microsoft Discontinues support for Facebook and Google Chat in Outlook.com

 

Comments:

  1. Outlook.com users will no longer be able to chat in Outlook.com with Contacts having Facebook accounts

  2. Outlook.com user will no longer be able to chat in Outlook.com with Contacts using Google Talk Chat

  3. Recommended alternative is to use Skype for Outlook.com chat and Skype Voice and Video Calling

  4. Feature removal does not prevent using Facebook chat option in Facebook web user interface

  5. Alerts for messages sent in the Facebook Chat web user interface will continue to be sent via email

  6. Skype use will require Facebook friends to have a Skype account

 

Additional Information:

  1.  Email sent to Outlook.com account holders:

 

  2. Media Article (Mary Jo Foley, Zdnet.com), Feb 24, 2015

      http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-to-drop-facebook-google-chat-integration-in-outlook-com/

 

Revisions:

March 15, 2015: Original Draft and Publish Date

April 1, 2015:  Added Comments (Items 4, 5, and 6)

April 16: Added Link to Zdnet Article

Outlook.com – Save email attachments to OneDrive

 

Summary:

Outlook.com now provides the option to save Outlook.com email attachments to OneDrive in a single click

 

Comments:

  1. New feature provides the option to save single or multiple email attachments in a single click to OneDrive

  2. Saves files to OneDrive folder called ‘Email Attachments’

  3. Saved files are accessible via OneDrive web user interface and also OneDrive mobile app

  4. Saved files can be shared with other via the ‘Share from OneDrive’ feature

 

Additional Information:

  1. Outlook.com blog article

    http://blogs.office.com/2015/01/14/save-outlook-com-email-attachments-onedrive-one-click/

 

Revisions:

January 18, 2015:  Original Draft and Published Article

February 2, 2015: Corrected typo comments

Outlook.com – One Drive Supports Up To 10 GB files

 

Summary:

  Microsoft permits uploading up to 10 GB size files to OneDrive

Comments:

  1. Feature is supported by Windows and Mac desktop apps, all mobile apps, and OneDrive web user interface

  2. Supported by Microsoft’s ‘Share from OneDrive’ feature allowing sharing of larger files over email

Additional Information:

  1. Outlook.com blog article

    http://blogs.office.com/2014/10/08/outlook-com-now-supports-sharing-larger-files-onedrive/

2. Share from One Drive

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XpPJHxum5s

3.  OneDrive Blog – OneDrive Now Supports 10 GB Files

   https://blog.onedrive.com/onedrive-now-supports-10-gb-files/

 

Revisions:

November 2, 2014: Original Draft and Published Date

December 17, 2014: Added Comment Item #3

Outlook.com–How to Make Your Account More Secure

 

Summary:

  Microsoft recommendations/tips to make your Outlook.com account more secure

 

Comments:

  The Microsoft blog article provides sound advice on ensuring your account takes advantage of available security options

  1. Use a Strong password

  2. Change your password often (every 60 days is recommended)

  3. Use different passwords for different accounts (email, financial, student id, credit cards, retail purchasing, etc.)

  4. Use Two-Step verification

  5. Protect your password (never give it out)

  6. Use available security proofs – e.g. alternate email address, phone number (and keep them up to date)

 

Additional Information:

   1. Outlook.com blog article – 5 tips to make your Outlook.com account even more secure

      http://blogs.office.com/2014/09/25/5-tips-make-outlook-com-account-even-secure/

  2. Two Step Verification (aka Two Factor Verification)

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7aVPU8-kKw

 

Revisions:

October 6, 2014: Original Draft and Original Publish Date

December 7, 2014: Corrected typos; added Youtube link

How to Create Aliases in Outlook.com

 

Summary:

  Overview and How to Video for creating aliases in Outlook.com

 

Comments:

   1. Microsoft created video showing how to create aliases in Outlook.com

   2. Alias accounts allow signing on to your primary account using alias username and primary account password.

   3. Alias accounts provide additional options in web mail user interface to choose which address (primary or alias) to send an email (from)

 

Additional Information:

    1. Outlook.com blog with video – http://blogs.office.com/2014/06/26/how-to-create-an-outlook-com-alias/

    2. How to available on Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtKkVXGS164#t=16

 

Revisions:

  June 29, 2014: Original Draft date

  June 29, 2014: Original Publish date

  June 30, 2014: Edited comments and added Youtube link

Advanced Rules and New Features Available for Outlook.com

Summary:

New features introduced in the Outlook.com web interface

• Advanced Rules
• Expanded Undo Commands
• In-line Replies
• Improved Messaging

Notification:

Outlook.com introduces the most sophisticated rules in webmail

Comments:

All of the new features provide improvements in the management of email in the Outlook.com web user interface

• Multiple and Optional Conditions
• Time Constraints
• Check Status of Read/Unread emails
• Sender Contact Verfication
• Undo option for web interface not just email composition
• In-line reply without launching a new composition window
• Find recent messaging conversations from the Inbox
• Switch to message conversations across multiple services (e.g Facebook, Skype)

Revisions:

May 13, 2014: Original Draft and Publish Date

June 01, 2014: Added Notification to Outlook.com Blog

Outlook.com–Import Email from Yahoo

 

Summary:

  New feature allows importing email from Yahoo and other IMAP accounts using Outlook.com Import Wizard

 

Comments:

  1.  Import Wizard Based

  2.  Permits keeping old account and email address (No impact on old 3rd party account; account remains intact)

  3. Email confirmation upon completion of Import

  Additional Information:

    Outlook.com Blog article

       – http://blogs.office.com/2014/04/16/outlook-com-customers-can-now-import-their-email-from-yahoo-mail/

 

Revisions:

April 17, 2014: Original Draft

April 19, 2014: Original Published

May 9th, 2014: Updated (added Comment #3)