Using Outlook Web App offline

Offline access lets you use Outlook Web App on your laptop or desktop computer when you're not connected to the Internet. After you've enabled offline access, Outlook Web App will work in an offline mode as needed depending on your network connection. When you're online, Outlook Web App will automatically update the offline information. To use offline access, you need at least Internet Explorer 10, Safari 5, or Chrome 24.

In this article

What can I do when I'm offline?

How do I turn offline access on or off?

What else do I need to know?

What can I do when I'm offline?

Most tasks that you can do online are available when you're offline. Tasks you can do while offline include but aren't limited to:

• Reading and responding to messages.

• Sending new messages.

• Viewing and editing your calendar.

• Responding to meeting requests.

• Viewing and editing your contacts.

If you try to do something that's not available offline, either you will see an error message or what you did will change back. Anything that you do while offline will be uploaded to the server when you reconnect to a network.

Top of Page

How do I turn offline access on or off?

1. To turn Outlook Web App offline access on or off, select one of the following, depending on the options you see:

   • Settings > Offline settings

     OR

   • Settings > Options > General > Offline Settings

2. Select or clear the Turn on offline access check box.

3. Select OK (or Save).

When you turn on offline access in some browsers, you may see a message warning you that the website is requesting space on your disk. For the best offline experience, accept the request for space.

Warning:  You should not turn on offline access on a computer that you share with others.

Top of Page

What else do I need to know?

• Offline access may not make all of your email and calendar information available offline. Some of the available features and limitations are:

  • The last few days of messages. Supported folders include Inbox, Drafts, and any folders viewed within the last few days, up to 20 folders. If you've viewed more than 20 folders in the last few days, the most recent 18 plus Inbox and Drafts will be available.

  • In each folder that's available offline, you will see three days of content or 150 items, whichever is larger.

  • Attachments aren't available when offline.

  • The previous month and future year of your calendar.

  • A limited set of upcoming calendar reminders. If you're offline for a long period of time, calendar reminders will stop working until you go online and Outlook Web App can download current information.

  • Only your primary Calendar will be available offline.

  • All the items in your Contacts folder, plus any people that you email often and any that you've emailed recently.

  • Offline access doesn't include archived folders, Team folders, tasks, or Favorites.

  • You can't search for or sort items in your mailbox when offline, and the built-in filters won't work when you're offline.

• You have to enable offline access on each computer that you want to be able to use Outlook Web App on when not connected to a network.

• Offline access for Outlook Web App is designed for portable computers such as laptops and notebooks. It can't be enabled in browsers on smaller devices, such as tablets and smartphones.

• Your web browser determines where on your computer the offline information is stored and how much space it can use. If your offline information won't fit in the space that's been set aside, you may be prompted to increase it. If the space can't be increased, less of your information will be available when you're offline.

Top of Page