Overview
If you are new to Microsoft Exchange or Outlook, these steps and documents should help you get your email set up and configured.
If your business unit is requiring you to switch to Exchange from Gmail, additional information can be found in our Exchange Required FAQ.
Step 1: Decide where you want to check your email.
Before you set up your Exchange email account, you need to decide where and how you want to check your email. You can check your Exchange email on any mobile device as well as a desktop or laptop computer. You can also check your email using web-based access (internet browser) or a dedicated email client (Outlook or Mac Mail).
Follow the instructions to set up access to your Exchange email for the device and method you prefer. Ask your college/division IT administrator for help if needed.
- Online
- Android
- iOS
- macOS
- Windows 10
Step 2: Import your email, contacts, and calendar from Gmail.
If you previously used Gmail for your work email, you may want to import your old email, contacts and calendar information into your new Exchange account. You will still be able to access old email, contacts and calendar appointments in the Gmail account. But moving your information to Exchange will keep you from having to check two email accounts.
Step 3: Create a signature.
Most business units on campus have a prescribed signature format they require their employees to use. After you have configured your email client to connect to your email account, you should set up your signature before sending messages.
Step 4: Set up your calendar.
Once you can send and receive your email, set up your calendar so co-workers can schedule meetings with you and view your free/busy information. If you need to collaborate with someone on Gmail, you can also configure your calendar to share your free/busy time with them.
Step 5: Organize your inbox.
Once you have set up your Exchange account, you can set up folders or rules to organize your mail. While Gmail used five broadly general categories (Primary, Social, Promotions, Updates, and Forums) and user-defined tags, Exchange allows users to create email folders, categories, and rules to manage incoming email.
Step 6: Add a Shared Mailbox. (optional)
If you use a shared mailbox to collaborate with your colleagues, or if you are a student employee whose employer requires you to use Exchange for your work email, you should add any required shared mailboxes to your email client.