Set up Outlook on your Mac.

Follow these steps to install Microsoft Outlook from the Mac App Store, sign in with your Microsoft 365 account, and optionally add any shared mailboxes your organisation uses.

💡

Before you begin

You'll need your Microsoft 365 work email address, your password, and your phone nearby for two-factor authentication. You'll also need an Apple ID to download Outlook from the Mac App Store. If Microsoft 365 was set up for you by Hello Computer, Outlook may already be installed — check your Applications folder first.

1

Check if Outlook is already installed

Open Finder, then click Applications in the sidebar. Scroll through the list or use the search icon to look for Microsoft Outlook.

If it's already there, double-click to open it and skip ahead to Step 3. If not, continue to the next step to install it from the Mac App Store.

Microsoft 365 apps installed? If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you may already have Word, Excel, and Outlook installed via the Microsoft 365 setup package. Check your Applications folder for a "Microsoft" folder.
Finder File Edit View
Applications
Microsoft Outlook
Outlook
Word
Excel
PowerPoint
2

Download Outlook from the Mac App Store

Open the App Store on your Mac (it's in your Applications folder or Dock). Search for "Microsoft Outlook" and look for the app by Microsoft Corporation.

Click Get, then authenticate with your Apple ID to download and install it. Once installed, Outlook will appear in your Applications folder and Dock.

Alternative: If your organisation has a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can also sign in at microsoft365.com and download the full Microsoft 365 desktop suite, which includes Outlook.
App Store Store View
Mac App Store
Search Results: "Microsoft Outlook"
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Corporation · Productivity
★★★★★ 4.7 · Free
Get
3

Open Outlook and add your account

Open Microsoft Outlook from your Applications folder or Dock. The first time it opens, a welcome screen will appear. Click Add Account.

Enter your work email address — for example, jane.smith@yourcompany.com.au — and click Continue. Outlook will detect that this is a Microsoft 365 account.

Outlook File Edit
Add Account
Welcome to Outlook for Mac
Work email address
jane.smith@yourcompany.com.au
Cancel
Continue
4

Sign in with your Microsoft 365 password

A Microsoft sign-in window will open in Outlook. Enter your email address (it may already be pre-filled), click Next, then enter your password and click Sign in.

If your organisation has two-factor authentication enabled, you'll need to approve the sign-in via the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone, or enter a code sent by SMS. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete verification.

Seeing a "Stay signed in?" prompt? Tap Yes to avoid having to sign in again. This is safe on a personal or company-managed Mac. On a shared Mac, choose No.
Outlook
Sign in
Microsoft 365 Business
Email, phone or Skype
jane.smith@yourcompany.com.au
Password
••••••••
Sign in
5

Your inbox is ready

After signing in, Outlook will configure your account and sync your emails, calendar, and contacts. This initial sync may take a few minutes.

Your emails will appear in the Inbox in the centre panel. Use the left-hand sidebar to navigate between Mail, Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks.

All emails showing in one place? If you have multiple accounts, Outlook on Mac can show a unified "All Inboxes" view or display each account separately. Use the folder panel on the left to switch between them.
Outlook Message
Inbox — Outlook
Home
Send/Receive
View
+ New
📥 Inbox
📤 Sent
🗑 Trash
📁 Drafts
Inbox (2)
Optional — Shared Mailbox

Add a shared mailbox to Outlook on Mac

If your organisation has granted you access to a shared mailbox, you can add it to Outlook for Mac so it appears alongside your personal inbox. Your IT administrator must first grant you Full Access permission in Microsoft 365.

1

Open Tools → Accounts in Outlook

In Outlook for Mac, click Tools in the menu bar at the top of your screen, then click Accounts. The Accounts panel will open.

In the Accounts panel, click the + (plus) button in the bottom-left corner, then select Open Shared Mailbox… from the menu that appears.

Outlook File Tools Help
Accounts…
Out of Office…
Rules…
Organize (Junk E-Mail…)
2

Enter the shared mailbox email address

A dialog box will appear asking for the shared mailbox address. Type the full shared mailbox email — for example, reception@yourcompany.com.au — and click Open.

Because Full Access permission has already been granted by your IT administrator, Outlook will open the shared mailbox without asking for a password.

Getting an error or password prompt? This typically means Full Access permission hasn't been configured yet in Microsoft 365. Contact Hello Computer or your IT administrator to have this set up before trying again.
Outlook
Open Shared Mailbox
Enter the email address of the shared mailbox you have been granted Full Access to.
Shared mailbox email address
reception@yourcompany.com.au
Cancel
Open
3

The shared mailbox appears in the folder pane

The shared mailbox will appear in Outlook's left-hand folder pane, below your personal inbox, as a separate account with its own Inbox, Sent Items, and Drafts folders.

To send email from the shared mailbox, click New Message, then click the From field and select the shared mailbox address. The recipient will see the shared address as the sender.

Need to add another shared mailbox? Repeat these steps for each additional shared mailbox. There's no limit to how many you can add, as long as your IT administrator has granted you access to each one.
Outlook
Reception — Inbox
Home
Send/Receive
Jane Smith
📥 Inbox
Reception
📥 Inbox
📤 Sent
Reception Inbox (1)

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.

Get in Touch    ← All Devices