Set up your Outlook email on iPhone.

This guide adds your Microsoft 365 or Outlook email account to the Mail app that comes built into your iPhone — no extra app to install. Follow the steps with screenshots below; the whole process takes about five minutes.

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Before you begin

You'll need:

  • Your Microsoft 365 work email address (e.g. yourname@yourcompany.com.au)
  • Your Microsoft 365 password
  • Your phone's authenticator app or SMS access for two-factor verification

If you're unsure about any of these, give us a call before you start — we'll walk you through it.

1

Open Settings and find Mail Accounts

Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Apps, then tap Mail, then tap Mail Accounts.

You'll see a list of any email accounts already on your iPhone (often iCloud, by default). Tap Add Account.

iPhone Mail Accounts screen showing existing iCloud account and an Add Account row

The Mail Accounts screen — tap Add Account.

On older iOS? If you don't see Apps in Settings, look for Mail directly in the main Settings list, then tap Accounts.
2

Choose Microsoft Exchange

You'll be shown a list of email providers. Tap Microsoft Exchange — this is the correct option for both Microsoft 365 and traditional Exchange email accounts.

iPhone Add Account provider list showing iCloud, Microsoft Exchange, Google, Yahoo, AOL, and Outlook.com options

Tap Microsoft Exchange — not Outlook.com.

Why not "Outlook.com"? The Outlook.com option is for personal hotmail/outlook.com mailboxes. Business and work email accounts — even if they're on Microsoft 365 — use the Microsoft Exchange option.
3

Enter your email address and a description

In the Email field, type your full work email address. In the Description field, give the account a name you'll recognise — for example, your business name, or simply "Work". Tap Next in the top-right corner.

Exchange account setup screen with Email and Description fields filled in

Enter your work email and a description, then tap Next.

A small panel will appear asking how you want to sign in. Tap Sign In — this lets Microsoft handle the authentication securely.

iPhone modal asking to sign in to Exchange account using Microsoft, with Sign In and Configure Manually options

Tap Sign In — not Configure Manually.

Configure Manually? Leave this alone unless we've specifically asked you to use it. Manual configuration is for very old Exchange servers or unusual setups.
4

Sign in with your Microsoft 365 password

You'll be redirected to a Microsoft sign-in screen. Your email address is usually pre-filled — just tap Next, then enter your password and tap Sign in.

If your business uses two-factor authentication (almost all do), you'll then be prompted to approve the sign-in. This is usually done by:

  • Tapping Approve in the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone, or
  • Entering a six-digit code sent to you by SMS.

Follow whichever prompt appears on screen.

Stuck on two-factor? If you've changed phones recently or never set up Authenticator, give us a call — we can help you get back in and set things up properly.
5

Allow Mail to access your account

You may see a permission prompt asking whether the Mail app can access certain things on your behalf — such as reading your inbox, sending emails as you, and accessing your calendar. Tap Accept to continue.

This is a one-time prompt and is required for the Mail app to work. The permissions are between your iPhone and Microsoft 365 — nothing is shared with anyone else.

6

Choose what to sync — and you're done

Finally, you'll see a list of toggles for what to sync to your iPhone:

  • Mail — your inbox, sent items, and folders
  • Contacts — your work address book
  • Calendars — meetings and appointments
  • Reminders — Outlook tasks (optional)
  • Notes — Outlook notes (optional)

For most users we recommend leaving Mail, Contacts, and Calendars turned on. Tap Save in the top-right corner.

Your new account will appear in the Mail Accounts list. Open the Mail app on your home screen — your work emails will start to sync within a minute or two.

No emails showing? The first sync can take a few minutes, especially on a busy mailbox. If nothing has appeared after five minutes, check your Wi-Fi or mobile data, then give our helpdesk a call.

Need to add a shared mailbox as well?

If your business uses a shared mailbox — such as reception@yourcompany.com.au or info@ — the setup is a little different from adding your personal account. We've put together a separate guide for that.

Add a shared mailbox on iPhone →

Screenshots in steps 1–3 are reproduced from Microsoft Support for clarity. All other content is original to Hello Computer.

Need a hand?

If you get stuck at any point, our team is happy to walk you through the setup over the phone or via remote support.

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