A basic guide to Microsoft Outlook

The e-mail program is offered differently depending on requirements

Updated November 11, 2019

Microsoft Outlook is an application mainly used for sending and receiving emails. It can also be used to manage various types of personal information, including calendar appointments and other similar items, tasks, contacts, and notes. However, Microsoft Outlook is not free; You have to buy it or pay a subscription if you want to use it.

The development of Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook was introduced to the public in 1997 and was included with Microsoft Office 97. Outlook Express was included with Windows XP (and was the only free version). Since then, Microsoft has released a plethora of updated versions, each offering more features than the previous one.

Microsoft Outlook is included with many Microsoft Office application suites, including various versions of Microsoft Office 2010, 2013, and 2016 and Microsoft 365. It’s important to note that not all versions include Outlook, however. For example, Microsoft Outlook is available in Microsoft 365 Home but not included in Office Home & Student 2016 for PC.

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Microsoft Outlook is an application that you pay for and install on your device. An Outlook email address is a free Microsoft email address and can be viewed for free on the Outlook webmail portal: https://outlook.live.com/.

Do you need Microsoft Outlook?

If you only want to send and receive emails, you don’t need to buy Microsoft Outlook. You can use the Mail app included with Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. Both offer a desktop email program. You can also retrieve your email from your email provider’s website (e.g. https://mail.google.com/mail/). But when you need to do more, you need a more powerful email manager.

With Microsoft Outlook, you can sync your personal information with your phone, tablet, and other computers as long as you can sign in to them with a Microsoft account. You can sort your emails into folders based on rules you create, automatically send out-of-office messages, flag emails for follow-up, and receive emails from Exchange servers. In the latter case, you can receive business and personal messages from the same Microsoft Outlook application even when you are out of the office. You can’t do this with the Mail app that comes with Windows 10. You can also delay sending your emails, request receipts, and more.

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It is also possible to integrate your personal data into Microsoft Outlook. It includes an address book, calendar, to-do list, and virtual sticky notes. What you type into the calendar can be synced to your other devices. You can delegate tasks to other people. You can also share and delegate calendars.

Do you have Microsoft Outlook?

You may already have a version of Microsoft Outlook on your computer, tablet, or even your phone. You should inform yourself before you buy.

To check if Microsoft Outlook is installed on your Windows device:

  • Out of search window on the taskbar (Windows 10) and To start (Windows 8.1) or via the screen Seek window on the To start Menu (Windows 7), enter outlook and the press Enter.
  • see For a outlook Main dish.
  • To find out if you have a version of Outlook on your MacTo find it, see viewfinder sidebar, sous Requests. To find out if you have Microsoft Outlook on your phoneSearch in any search field.

    Where to get Microsoft Outlook

    Sign up and install Office 365.

    If you’re sure you don’t already have a Microsoft Office suite with Outlook, you can get the latest version of Microsoft Outlook with Microsoft 365. However, Microsoft 365 is a subscription that you pay for monthly. If you’re not interested in paying monthly, consider buying Microsoft Outlook.

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    Some employers, colleges, and universities offer Microsoft 365 to their employees and students for free.

    You can compare and buy all editions and suites available in the Microsoft Store. Microsoft Outlook is now available in the following office suites:

    Additionally :

    • You can purchase Microsoft Outlook separately for PC or Mac.

    Once you have decided to purchase, follow the necessary steps to download the installation files. Once done, launch the installer. It’s easy and foolproof most of the time. When you choose Microsoft 365.

    Microsoft Outlook has many identities

    Michael Zwahlen/EyeEm/Getty Images

    People refer to Microsoft Outlook in many ways and with very different terms. This creates confusion around Microsoft Outlook, which is simply a one-stop application for managing emails and other personal information. However, for the sake of completeness, note that Microsoft Outlook may also be referred to by these terms:

    • outlook
    • Outlook 365
    • Outlook email
    • Microsoft email
    • Outlook Express
    • Outlook Online
    • Outlook Hotmail
    • Microsoft Office email