Use the web version of Outlook like a desktop app
Here’s how to install Outlook as a standalone web app or PWA. Show
This looks like Outlook in a browser but it’s not, it’s Outlook as a standalone Progressive Web App (PWA). It’s available now in Windows 10. Outlook.com running as a PWA in Windows 10 with Edge browser.It’s not the upcoming Project Monarch but a part-way step in that direction. What is Outlook web app?We’ve all used webmail, email managed in a web browser window. Almost any mailbox can be accessed via a web page. That’s more than a single web page, it’s a program running in the browser. A complex set of Javascript and other web code. Microsoft is one of many companies taking that a step further with Progressive Web Apps. These look and act like stand alone programs but are really web apps. These PWA’s can, in theory, run on any platform (Windows, Mac or Linux) as long as a supported browser is installed. For Microsoft that means their Edge browser. PWA’s are a ‘work in progress’ both with the core technologies and deploying them to the public. Microsoft Office is big on PWA’s because they would drastically reduce development costs while expanding coverage across many platforms. What’s the big deal?At present, not a lot. Outlook as an app doesn’t do anything that Outlook in a web browser can’t. It’s a stepping-stone to much bigger things for Microsoft. The only obvious benefit, for the moment, is that the app appears in the taskbar as a separate program, rather than buried among browser tabs. What’s the catch?The current Outlook web app isn’t much. There are many things that it can’t do which Outlook for Windows or Mac can. NO offline support. The Outlook web app may show a few recently viewed items but there’s no proper caching of data for offline use. No Mac support. That should change once the Edge browser is properly available on the Mac. Doesn’t support all mail accounts. Just Microsoft hosted mailboxes (Microsoft 365 hosted, Outlook.com ) Edge browser required. The ‘new’ Edge browser (Chromium based) is usually required. Install Outlook as a web appLogin to a Microsoft 365 hosted mailbox or Outlook.com using the Microsoft Edge (Chromium) browser. Google Chrome will work for Microsoft 365 hosted mailboxes. Edge is needed for Outlook.com. Then go to the Edge Apps menu and look for Install this site as an app …. In Google Chrome it’s a little more obvious, right on the browser menu as Install Outlook … Google Chrome browser – Install Outlook – for Microsoft 365 hosted mailboxes only.The web app will now appear on the screen, looking like a stand-alone program. Including its own icon on the taskbar. Just like any other taskbar icon, right-click to Unpin or Close Window. Make Microsoft Office a Progressive Web App or PWA
Outlook is the email application through Microsoft 365. The desktop version of Outlook is locally installed on the computer. Generally a desktop application has more robust features and options available than a mobile or web app.
You do not need to manually configure any settings to access your email for the first time. Outlook Web App The web version of outlook is accessed by signing in through browser instead of opening an application. Go to outlook.office.com to access your email web app. Instructions for logging into the Outlook Web App. The desktop client is more robust and has more features available, but for the most part you are able to do the same basic functions in each application. Outlook for PC, Outlook on the web, and Outlook for iOS & AndroidVisit Microsoft's Support page for a more in depth overview of the features, similarities and differences in the Outlook apps. If you are interested in learning more about any of the Microsoft Office Suite applications, visit the Office 365 Training Center. Outlook Video Training Office 365 Quick Start Guides
Outlook Web Access (OWA) is a browser-based way to access your Microsoft Outlook email. While it's also been known as Outlook Web App, it's now more commonly referred to as Outlook on the web. OWA once applied exclusively to the online version of Outlook which came with Microsoft Exchange Server. These days, Outlook on the web is more commonly accessed from a Microsoft 365 or free Outlook.com account. While the version of Outlook that runs on your desktop as an app for Windows or Mac still gives you the most flexibility, power, and features, you don't need to use it — Microsoft makes it easy to open your Outlook inbox in a web browser instead. That means you can see your Outlook inbox from any computer. How to open Outlook on the webTo open Outlook on the web, just open the URL that's associated with your Outlook account. That should be the Microsoft 365 sign-in page or, if you have a free Outlook account, Outlook.com. Enter your email address and password and then select "Sign in." If you do happen to be using an Exchange Server rather than a Microsoft 365 account, you might need to ask your network administrator for the URL to the OWA website for your account. How to use Outlook on the webWhile Outlook on the web is a simplified version of Outlook, you'll probably still recognize it as the email program you already know from the desktop. Here's how to find your way around:
How to compose a new message
How to set an out of office messageYou're probably used to setting an "out of office" message when you're on vacation or otherwise unable to respond to new emails. You can set up an out of office message from the web.
For more details, read our article on how to set an "Out of Office" reply on Microsoft Outlook when you'll be unreachable by email. How to view your Outlook calendarTo switch to the Outlook Calendar, just click the Calendar icon at the lower-left corner of the page. Here, you can customize the view. By default, you'll see the Month view, but click "Month" at the top-right and choose the view you prefer from the drop-down menu. You can add events and appointments to your calendar using the "New event" button at the top-left of the page. For more tips on how to get the most out of your calendar, read our article on the best tips and tricks to manage your Outlook Calendar on any device.
How to manage your tasks and to dosTo switch to your tasks, click the "To Do" icon at the lower-left corner of the page. If your left-most pane is too narrow, you might not see the icon; instead, click the three dots and then choose "To Do" from the pop-up menu. The To Do page has a task list pane on the left side of the page and the list of tasks on the right. To create a task, click the list in which you want the task to appear. Then, in the task pane on the right, click to the right of the plus sign and type your to do. You can mark a task by creating it in the "Important" list or by clicking the star after creating it.
The best Outlook on the web settingsWhile you can get up and running with Outlook on the web in minutes, there's a lot more power and customization hidden just under the surface. Here are some ways to get more out of Outlook on the web:
Dave Johnson Freelance Writer
Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider. Read more Read less |