I wanted to show customers how quickly they can set up the new Microsoft Dynamics 365 App for Outlook, and so decided to write a very quick 5 step guide to show how you can get started in minutes.

The new Microsoft Dynamics 365 App for Outlook replaces the outgoing Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Outlook client. Yes, this might be confusing having two very similarly named outlook connectors but this won’t be an issue going forward as the client is deprecated.

I’ll write a separate blog about the benefits of the new Dynamics 365 App for Outlook, for which there are many, but the intention of this blog is to show how streamlined the new installation experience is and also to get you started immediately.

Step 1: (Open Dynamics)

Navigate to your Dynamics 365 instance. Goto Settings > Apps for Dynamics 365

Step 2 (Check you are able to use the app)

Check if your email account is configured to use the outlook app. If it isn’t the following message will be shown.

Screen Clipping

  • If you see above message, you will need a Global Administrator to log into Dynamics 365 and then Approve your mailbox and also perform a Test & Enable Mailbox before you can use the app.

Step 3 (Install the App)

Once we have confirmed that our mailbox is enabled then we should be able to see the following option on the “Apps for Dynamics 365” screen. Click on the Microsoft Dynamics 365 App for Outlook link and it will show:

Screen Clipping

Step 4 (Verify Outlook Desktop and Outlook Web Client)

Open Outlook for desktop to verify the app is present in your taskbar.

Open Outlook online to verify the app is present in your taskbar.

Step 5 (Test Create a Record, Verify it was Created)

Verify it is correctly connected to your Dynamics 365 instance by creating a record. E.g. Any record will do, in my case I created a case record:

Screen Clipping

Then navigate to your Dynamics 365 instance and check it was created.

That all there is to it. The installation process for the new Dynamics 365 Outlook App is very simple this time around. There is no need to specify your organisation URL, it already knows. There is no need to install a separate client for desktop and web, as it is all using the same framework and will roll out to all your clients.

In the next series, I will be talking in depth about the new user interface and features of the Dynamics 365 App for Outlook. Please stay tuned and please let me know what you think of this blog, did installation go as planned for you?