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There are many ways to access your Microsoft 365 or other Exchange-based email. The most common ways are by using Outlook on the web, Microsoft Outlook, or Outlook for Mac. These programs provide email access and many other collaboration features. You can also connect to your email account by using your mobile phone.

This topic applies to Microsoft 365 and other Exchange-based email. For more information, see What is a Microsoft Exchange Server account?

In this article

Connecting to your email account

Some ways you can connect to your email account are:

  • Web browser   Use Outlook on the web and the light version of Outlook on the web with browsers like Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Apple Safari.

  • Internet email programs   Use any program that supports IMAP4 or POP3, like Mozilla Thunderbird, Windows 10 Mail, or Gmail.

  • Outlook    Connect using Outlook or Outlook for Mac using an Exchange account.

  • Mobile phones with an Internet connection   You can connect using your Android, BlackBerry®, iPhone, IPad, iPod Touch, Nokia (Symbian), Windows Phone, or other Internet-capable phones and tablets.

Comparison of features in supported programs

The following table summarizes some differences you might want to consider before you choose the email program you'll use to connect to your email account.

Email program

Edit and view contacts, calendar items, tasks, and email messages

Edit and view email folders in addition to the Inbox

Listen to your voice mail

Access your information offline

Automatic setup

Accessibility for users who are blind or have low vision

Outlook on the web

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Not applicable

No

Light version of Outlook on the web

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Not applicable

Yes

Outlook 2007, Outlook 2010, 2013, and 2016

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Outlook 2016 for Mac and Outlook for Mac 2011

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Programs that use POP

No

No

No

Yes

No

Some programs may support accessibility features.

Programs that use IMAP

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Some programs may support accessibility features.

Outlook on the web

With Outlook on the web you can access your Microsoft 365 or other Exchange-based email account through several different web browsers. You can use any computer that's connected to the Internet or to a local intranet, whether you're at home, in the office, or on the road. You can view and edit email messages, appointments and meetings, contacts, and tasks. You can also listen to your voice messages and read text messages.

The light version of Outlook on the web contains many of the same features as Outlook on the web. The light version provides a blind and low vision experience and will run with any web browser. For more information, see light version of Outlook on the web. Several features aren't available in the light version, including:

  • Reminders

  • Viewing your calendar one week at a time

  • Changing your voice mail options

  • Changing the color scheme

Supported browsers for Outlook on the web

For information about supported browsers, see our supported browsers.

For information about how to use Outlook on the web, see one of the following articles:

Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, Outlook 2016 for Mac and Outlook for Mac 2011

If you're using Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, Outlook 2016 for Mac or Outlook for Mac 2011, you can set up a connection to your email account through an Exchange server or by using IMAP or POP. Connecting through an Exchange account provides more features than IMAP or POP, including:

  • Access to your email, contacts, and calendar when you aren't connected to the Internet.

  • The ability to propose new times for meeting requests you receive.

  • The ability to import, export, and archive your contacts and other information stored in Outlook.

For information about how to set up and use Outlook with your account, see Outlook email setup.

Using your mobile phone or tablet to access your email account

Many mobile phones, tablets, and other devices can be set up to access your email account. If you have a device that supports Exchange ActiveSync, you can access email messages, your calendar, contacts, and tasks on that device. If your device does not support Exchange ActiveSync, you can connect to your account using IMAP or POP, which let you send and receive email messages on your phone. For more information, see Phone and tablet setup reference.

If you have a Microsoft 365work or school account, see Set up and use Microsoft 365 on your phone or tablet for detailed information about how to use Microsoft 365 on your phone or tablet.

Using other email programs to access your email account

If you have an email program that supports IMAP or POP, you can set it up to send and receive your email. You can't use IMAP or POP to access your contacts, tasks, or calendar. Some programs you can use to access your email account with IMAP or POP include:

  • Windows 10 Mail

  • Microsoft Entourage

  • Mozilla Thunderbird

  • Mac Mail for Mac OS X

Note: If you're running Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard, you don't connect to your email account using IMAP or POP. For more information, see Set up email in Mac OS X Mail.

What else do I need to know?

  • Using Outlook on the web on a mobile phone isn't supported.

  • If you try to open Outlook on the web on a computer or web browser that isn't supported, the light version of Outlook on the web will open instead.

What if I want to know more?

Outlook Help

Phone and tablet setup reference

Migrate email and contacts into your account

Connect email accounts in Outlook on the web

POP and IMAP account settings

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