Sync Email, Contacts and Calendar with Outlook 2016 across multiple devices

BigLeviathan on 04/05/2018 - 15:01
Last edited 04/05/2018 - 15:32

Hi guys,

Need your help here. I'm helping my mate set up his new laptop.

I have installed the latest Outlook 2016 (as part of Office365 subscription); he is currently using ozemail, which is part of iiNet now.

What he wants to achieve is to have all emails, contacts, calendar, tasks synced and accessible from all of his devices (such as iPad and this laptop).

When I setup the ozemail email using IMAP, the contacts, calendar and tasks become "this computer only" (aka local-only)

I contacted Microsoft Support, they said the email should be an exchange email (to be able to sync all of the contacts, calendar, etc)
I contacted iiNet, they only provide an IMAP and POP3 options (not an exchange one)

So, how do I make sure the emails, contacts, calendar are all synced up across multiple devices?

Thanks heaps!

Computing Microsoft Outlook

Comments

  • pformag on 04/05/2018 - 15:30

    IMAP is server based only, maybe you set it a POP?

    https://support.office.com/en-us/article/what-are-imap-and-p…

    Try installing Mozilla Thunderbird, as set up the email as IMAP, and see if it works. Then you know if it is a software issue or email issue.

    • BigLeviathan on 04/05/2018 - 15:31

      Hi,
      Thanks for your response; but with POP, when he deletes the email from one device, the other device won't get synced/deleted too right?

      • pformag on 04/05/2018 - 15:33

        Yeah that is right. IMAP syncs across all the devices. So if you delete it on one device, it will delete on all the others.

        • BigLeviathan on 04/05/2018 - 15:43

          Sorry, I misread your original comments. I have checked that I have set it up using IMAP.

          It seems the issue falls with Ms Outlook 2016.

          As much as I want to use another email application; he is an old chap and I'm reluctant to introduce him with Mozilla Thunderbird…

        • pformag on 04/05/2018 - 16:34

          @televisi: All good. I think emails will sync, but yeah calendar and contacts won't. I use google calendar, and you can add those accounts (google) to outlook, that way you can get all your contacts and calendar events across, but you need a google account.

          https://support.office.com/en-us/article/see-your-google-cal…

        • BigLeviathan on 06/05/2018 - 02:29

          @smigglejiggle: haha interesting workaround! Will remember this next time I'm dealing with imap that requires calendar sync

  • retiredfeline on 04/05/2018 - 15:51
    +4

    He has to accept being assimilatedembraced by the Office365 ecosystem. Redirect all Ozemail mail to O365 then use the MS apps or webpages. It's not a good idea to use an ISP's mailbox anyway, it will be difficult to change ISPs.

  • Clear on 04/05/2018 - 15:53

    Microsoft are right. Exchange is the way to go for all of those things to sync across multiple devices and apps. I hate IMAP/POP with a passion.

    The downside is that exchange will cost you money. Microsoft offer plans but there are other companies offering hosted exchange as well.

  • MishyMoo on 04/05/2018 - 15:59

    With a Google/Gmail account, I'm able to add and delete, and it syncs with all my devices (if I'm logged into the same Gmail account on other devices). I can add email addresses from others providers such as Hotmail (doesn't everyone have multiple email addresses!? :), have them all coming to 1 inbox via the Gmail app.

    Not everyone likes logging into Google (you can stay permanently logged in).
    My calendar, notes, maps, email and any other Google apps are the same and all up to date on all my devices. It took very little effort for me to set up.

    I hope your mate enjoys his new laptop

  • dave999 on 04/05/2018 - 17:35
    +3

    I would suggest setting up an outlook.com email address (or Gmail but you probably are better off with outlook.com), and redirect all emails to the new account. From there everything will sync perfectly.

  • Findo on 05/05/2018 - 01:30
    +1

    Outlook.com email addresses play nice with exchange active sync.

  • BigLeviathan on 06/05/2018 - 02:27

    Thank you everyone for all of your suggestions and comments.

    I contacted Microsoft support and have them migrated the subscription from his ozemail to outlook.com (Yes, I've convinced him to change his email to outlook.com email and I created an outlook email that is easy to remember)

    The downside of this re-subscription is need to:
    - relogin word/excel
    - export import emails from old ozemail to outlook from within outlook app
    - reupload the onedrive files
    - auto forward ozemail emails to outlook

    As he is with adsl, it takes a while for the upload/email sync to complete

    Luckily, the outlook webmail is accessible while the outlook app sync done in the background

  • [Deactivated] on 08/05/2018 - 08:44

    There is an outlook app for phones as well that is fantastic (for saving and restoring contacts at least). Although I'd probably just get him to use the email through a browser as it is a simpler interface and it won't look different if he has trouble learning new things because you can access that page from PC/Mac/iOS/Android and it will always look and feel essentially the same.

    Save the web shortcuts to email, calendar, contacts, etc on his desktop.

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