Syncing Outlook.com with Android 4.4

[ozaz]

As detailed here, there seem to be two methods to setup sync of Android device with Outlook.com
1. setup outlook.com account in android settings as exchange account
2. setup using outlook.com app

I have just systematically tested both methods (using a non-rooted Galaxy S4 with 4.4.2). Neither works completely satisfactorily. I thought i'd post here in case it helps provide some clarity for anyone else setting up their device for sync with outlook.com

Method 1. Setup as Exchange account in device settings: settings > accounts > add account > microsoft exchange activesync)

• Mail: provides 2-way sync.
• Contacts: provides 2-way sync. Also, shows outlook.com contact groups, thereby enabling contact filtering by these groups. (for Galaxy owners: note that there seems to be a bug in the Galaxy S Planner app since it does not filter the contacts when the groups are selected, however the 3rd party Contacts+ app does).
• Calendar: provides 2-way sync. However, there is no multi-calendar support. Only the primary calendar is synced.
• Tasks: provides 2-way sync. However, there is no multi-task-list support. Only the task list associated with the primary calender is synced.

Method 2. Setup through Outlook.com app: https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...apps/details?id=com.outlook.Z7&token=AmIR4j1q

• Mail: Mail is now accessed within the Outlook.com app rather than the device's mail client. Provides 2-way sync.
• Contacts: Contacts are still accessed within the device's contacts app, rather than Outlook.com app. This is read-only (not editable on device) and does not show outlook.com contact groups.
• Calendar: Calendars are still accessed within the device's calendars app, rather than Outlook.com app. This is 2-way sync and provides multi-calendar support
• Tasks: does not support syncing of tasks.

Conclusion: Neither method works completely satisfactorily

• Syncing of mail is fine with both methods. I suppose choice largely comes down to whether you want to access your mail through the device's mail client (method 1) or through the outlook.com client (method 2).
• Syncing of contacts is superior via method 1 (supports 2-way sync and contact groups)
• Syncing of calendars is superior via method 2 (provides multi-calendar support)
• Syncing of tasks is only possible via method 1, but this method does not support multiple task lists.

So, if you need 2-way syncing of contacts, access to contact groups, and multi-calendar support you need to use both methods simultaneously.
Please comment if your experience differs.

A couple of questions
I dislike having to use two methods. Is there any other way?
Is there a way (perhaps 3rd party apps) to access multiple outlook.com task lists on Android?

 

[Jerrduford]

I would look into cloud magic email - I've been using it for corporate exchange but it seems to have setup for any emails. The main reason I went with it over stock application is to bypass the required security PIN lock which is very annoying every time I need to unlock my screen.

It's also VERY low data consumption (we're talking less than 10mb/day when I get 200+ emails a day), and supports push (obviously your email provider will need to as well).

 

[Gregory McDaniel]

With Method 1, how do you see the Tasks? Which app? In the Google Calendar app it's not one of the "calendars" associated with the outlook.com EAS account, nor is there a separate "Tasks" app.

 

[ozaz]

With Method 1, how do you see the Tasks? Which app? In the Google Calendar app it's not one of the "calendars" associated with the outlook.com EAS account, nor is there a separate "Tasks" app.

I can see it it the S Planner app on my Samsung phone. Hadn't realised it wasn't available in the google calendar app.

 

[ozaz]

I would look into cloud magic email - I've been using it for corporate exchange but it seems to have setup for any emails. The main reason I went with it over stock application is to bypass the required security PIN lock which is very annoying every time I need to unlock my screen.

It's also VERY low data consumption (we're talking less than 10mb/day when I get 200+ emails a day), and supports push (obviously your email provider will need to as well).

The thing is, email is the one aspect of both recommended methods that works fine.
It's calendar, contacts, and tasks that have issues.

 

[TXTayloc]

After almost a week with the Samsung Galaxy S5, and the non-synching Kies 3, I finally found something that works.
MyPhoneExplorer.

Setup was not too bad, and works just fine over USB (I haven't tried BT or WiFi).

GREAT SOLUTION for corporate-enabled phones that need business contacts.

If this helps only one person, then it's worth the post.
Cheers!

 

[pcwalina]

I struggled badly with not being able to sync my contacts and calendar from my GS5 to my Office365 Outlook account (it worked fine from my laptop to my GS5). The "standard" way of setting this up (driven by my GS5) didn't work. After many phone calls and a lot of dead-end online solutions, I was able to finally get it to work by the following:

- "Accounts", "Microsoft Exchange Activ", then manually configure the setup per the following
- E-Mail address: Enter in your email address
- Domain/username: forwardslash and your email address (e.g. \yourname@email.com)
- Password: Enter in your Office365/Outlook password
- Exchange Server (THE BIGGIE): outlook.office365.com
- Check the "Use Secure Connection (SSL)"

 

[Kelemvor33]

Any of these solutions (or any other solutions) offer a way to do alerts based on rules? Email from XXX with YYY in the subject = play alert sound 1. That kind of thing? The native email app doesn't support anything except the Preferred Sender List thing which is very lacking.

 

[AndroidHK]

Hi- thanks for the clarity on the post- nicely done and simple!

Question for the contacts... can I edit my outlook contacts in the android stock contacts if using option 1?

And does the contact pictures show in the stock contacts that are in Outlook 365?

Thanks so much!

David

 

[Svenfran]

Phone is a Nexus 5 running Kit Kat 4.4.4 through AT&T on a no-contract plan. I recently set up an Outlook.com account on my PC that syncs with my Outlook 2010 PC client (email, contacts, and calendar). Then I set up the Outlook.com app on my phone to sync with the Outlook.com account. So in essence it's Outlook 2010 as master, with Outlook.com web app and Outlook.com Android app. I have tried everything I know how to do to sync the phone's Calendar app with the Outlook.com account, which shows up in the Calendar app. The calendar won't download or sync, and I can't see any option for viewing it in the Outlook.com app, except the app DOES have Account Settings for Calendar and Contacts. But the "Touch to sync now" option works only on the Contacts, not the Calendar. Any ideas for how I can keep my Calendar synced would be greatly appreciated. My email provider tells me this account can only be accessed via IMAP or POP3, and of those two, Outlook.com only offered the POP3 option, so that's what I used to set it up. Help appreciated, of course. New to this forum, but I've viewed it many times, so it's time for me to join in and maybe help someone else when the time comes. Svenfran

 

[ozaz]

Any of these solutions (or any other solutions) offer a way to do alerts based on rules? Email from XXX with YYY in the subject = play alert sound 1. That kind of thing? The native email app doesn't support anything except the Preferred Sender List thing which is very lacking.

I don't know how to do this. It's not something I've ever wanted.

 

[ozaz]

Hi- thanks for the clarity on the post- nicely done and simple!

Question for the contacts... can I edit my outlook contacts in the android stock contacts if using option 1?

And does the contact pictures show in the stock contacts that are in Outlook 365?

Thanks so much!

David

Since my original post I have stopped using Outlook.com for my contacts and calender, but based on my original post and my recollection option 1 provides 2-way sync (ability to edit outlook contacts from the phone).

I don't know about pictures - it's not something I remember testing.

 

[ozaz]

Phone is a Nexus 5 running Kit Kat 4.4.4 through AT&T on a no-contract plan. I recently set up an Outlook.com account on my PC that syncs with my Outlook 2010 PC client (email, contacts, and calendar). Then I set up the Outlook.com app on my phone to sync with the Outlook.com account. So in essence it's Outlook 2010 as master, with Outlook.com web app and Outlook.com Android app. I have tried everything I know how to do to sync the phone's Calendar app with the Outlook.com account, which shows up in the Calendar app. The calendar won't download or sync, and I can't see any option for viewing it in the Outlook.com app, except the app DOES have Account Settings for Calendar and Contacts. But the "Touch to sync now" option works only on the Contacts, not the Calendar. Any ideas for how I can keep my Calendar synced would be greatly appreciated. My email provider tells me this account can only be accessed via IMAP or POP3, and of those two, Outlook.com only offered the POP3 option, so that's what I used to set it up. Help appreciated, of course. New to this forum, but I've viewed it many times, so it's time for me to join in and maybe help someone else when the time comes. Svenfran

I'm not sure I understand your setup. You say Outlook 2010 is the master, however I'm not even sure how this would be done.
I would say that Outlook.com should be the centralised master. Outlook 2010 & Outlook.com app on Android should both be clients to this master.

Beyond saying that, unfortunately I can't help you troubleshoot your issue with the calendar on he phone as I've stopped using Outlook.com.

 

[Svenfran]

I'm not sure I understand your setup. You say Outlook 2010 is the master, however I'm not even sure how this would be done.
I would say that Outlook.com should be the centralised master. Outlook 2010 & Outlook.com app on Android should both be clients to this master.

Beyond saying that, unfortunately I can't help you troubleshoot your issue with the calendar on he phone as I've stopped using Outlook.com.

Thanks, ozaz. I used a Microsoft tool (Hotmail Connect, I think) to sync Outlook.com to Outlook 2010 on my PC, so I think changes to either sync two ways. Then I set up the Outlook.com on the phone. I'll keep researching and post the answer if I find it.

 

[dwestall]

I have tried everything I know how to do to sync the phone's Calendar app with the Outlook.com account, which shows up in the Calendar app. The calendar won't download or sync, and I can't see any option for viewing it in the Outlook.com app, except the app DOES have Account Settings for Calendar and Contacts. But the "Touch to sync now" option works only on the Contacts, not the Calendar.

I was having the same problem. I have a Galaxy S4 and was on Android 4.3, I use Exchange Active Sync for syncing my Outlook email and contacts, and the Outlook.com app to sync my Outlook calendars (because it supports multiple calendars). But I recently performed a factory data reset and upgraded to 4.4.2. Android's Automatic restore feature automatically restored most of my apps including Outlook.com. But, when I tried setup the calendar sync the option wasn't there, I was seeing the same behavior you are. I was able to fix it by deleting the cache and data and uninstalling the app in Settings/Application manager and then re-installing from Play Store. I suspect there was some problem with the Automatic restore.

 

[LouiseElizie]

I have a different issue with syncing my new Galaxy S5 to my laptop's Outlook 2007 program.
On the phone, my default calendar is S Planner which opens a Google Calendar for me to enter details into. I've trialled it and it syncs perfectly with my laptop's Outlook program via Kies 3. But I'm not sure I want to use Google Calendar. It seems to be linked to my Google+ account which I hardly use and don't know the security settings of. If I use Google Calendar on my phone, is it possible that my calendar details might accidentally be able to be accessed by other people through my Google+ account?

I want a private calendar that's only accessible by me on my phone and my laptop.

Any help in achieving this will be most appreciated!

 

[jmie28]

Hi Ozaz,

Thanks for the writeup. With your help, I managed to configure to my liking the proper sync for Outlook.com account on my Note 2.

Just to update you, not sure if there was an update somewhere or there is a new feature from Android 4.4.4 (am using Note 4 now). If you add the Outlook.com account as Exchange ActivSync in Note 4, multi-calendar is now supported including subscribed calendars. This is viewed by the S Calendar app (since I'm using the Note series of devices from Samsung). However, it will appear as 1 calendar under your Outlook.com name. So there is no way to edit it separately from the device itself. Hopefully they can do a proper multi-calendar sync with this method in the days to come so that we won't need to install the Outlook.com app.

 

[Leonidg]

Now there IS a cleaner way:

Microsoft has recently released the OUTLOOK app (do not mix it with Outlook.com, which is an absolutely different animal). This app does sync ALL EMAIL ACCOUNTS and ALL CALENDAR ACCOUNTS correctly, including repeating events like anniversaries or birthdays. It even has a Calendar widget if you want to see all your upcoming appointments/events.

So you are all set with email and calendars and can drop whatever other email or calendar apps you are using.

(!) The interesting thing is, this app does NOT create accounts in the OS, so no other apps can access its data... And while it has decent (even though not stellar) email and calendar functionality, it does not sync contacts so far. Let's hope they improve the UI slightly, as it is much richer in iOS (like customizing colors assigned to various calendars, etc.).

Exactly due to the latter "problem" (this is not a problem, strictly speaking - just a weird way of accessing data only from within the app), you still need to add your personal (outlook.com or similar) and/or corporate accounts as MS Exchange ActiveSync accounts to the Android OS in order to have a two-way syncing of Contact data, including photos. That way contacts are editable on the phone.

Enjoy!
Leo

 

[robinottawa]

Yes, but who wants to navigate through the app to find a person and their number every time you want to phone them. There is no dialer and therefore no way to see recent calls, frequent callers, etc. It takes at least 4 clicks to call my wife. No thanks.

With 4.4.2 KitKat, Android on my LG G2 does not show any of my Outlook.com People even though the account is linked via the stock phone book.

 

[Heather Spence-Jones]

A huge "Thank you!" The "BIGGIE" is just the tip I needed to sync my Hotmail acct to my 4.4 version of Android! It has been troubling me for weeks!!!!!