Removing and re-adding an Outlook account on your computer

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Overview
Outlook for Windows PC
Outlook for Mac: Outlook app
Outlook for Mac: Mail app

Overview

If you are repeatedly running into syncing issues, and restarting Outlook/your computer doesn't correct the issues, you may find it helpful to follow the steps below. We provide instructions for removing and re-adding your account for the three most common setups:

Outlook Client on a Windows PC
Outlook Client on a Mac
Mail app on a Mac

If you are looking for instructions for removing and re-adding your Outlook account on a mobile device, please see:

Setting up your Outlook inbox on an iPad/iPhone

Outlook for Windows PC

Step 1: Create a new Mail profile

Quick guide

Open the Control Panel by typing Control Panel into the Windows Start menu search bar.
Click on Mail (Microsoft Outlook).
Click on Show Profiles…
Click on Add…
Type in a profile name (for example, "New Outlook Profile") and click on OK.
Email Account should be selected. If "Your Name" and "Email Address" are correctly filled out, click on Next.
- Otherwise, type the correct email address into the "Email Address" field. Ignore the "Password" fields and click on Next.
If a Microsoft Sign In window appears, type your @usc.edu email address (even if you are trying to add a shared org email account) and click on Next.
Once the configuration completes, click on Finish.
- If a Microsoft Sign in window opens, input your @usc.edu login credentials. Once you sign in and the configuration completes, click on Finish.
Under "Always use this profile," click on the dropdown menu and select the new Outlook profile you just created.
Click on OK.
Quit and reopen Outlook.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Open the Control Panel by typing Control Panel into the Windows Start menu search bar.
Click on Mail (Microsoft Outlook).
Click on Show Profiles…
Click on Add…
Type in a profile name (for example, "New Outlook Profile") and click on OK.
Email Account should be selected. If "Your Name" and "Email Address" are correctly filled out, click on Next.
- Otherwise, type the correct email address into the "Email Address" field. Ignore the "Password" fields and click on Next.
If a Microsoft Sign In window appears, type your @usc.edu email address (even if you are trying to add a shared org email account) and click on Next.
Once the configuration completes, click on Finish.
Under "Always use this profile," click on the dropdown menu and select the new Outlook profile you just created.
Click on OK.
Quit and reopen Outlook.

Step 2: Delete the old Mail profile

Once you confirm that the newly created Mail profile works, you can delete the old/corrupted Mail profile:

Quick guide

Open the Control Panel by typing Control Panel into the Windows Start menu search bar.
Click on Mail (Microsoft Outlook).
Click on Show Profiles…
Click on the name of the profile you want to delete.
Click on Remove (you may need to close Outlook first if Mail does not allow you to perform this step).
Click on Yes.
Mail deletes the profile you selected. Click on OK.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Open the Control Panel by typing Control Panel into the Windows Start menu search bar.
Click on Mail (Microsoft Outlook).
Click on Show Profiles…
Click on the name of the profile you want to delete.
Click on Remove (you may need to close Outlook first if Mail does not allow you to perform this step).
Click on Yes.
Mail deletes the profile you selected. Click on OK.

Outlook for Mac: Outlook app

DTS recommends using the Outlook app on your Mac to access your mail, as we do not support Apple's native Mail app on Dornsife-managed Macs.

Step 1: Remove the account from Outlook for Mac

Quick guide

Open Microsoft Outlook.
In the top menu bar, click on Outlook and select Preferences… from the dropdown menu.
Click on Accounts.
Click on the account you want to remove.
Click on the [-] icon.
Click on Delete.
Close the "Accounts" window, and quit and restart Outlook.
Outlook should no longer show the account folders and emails.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Open Microsoft Outlook.
- Open Finder. Navigate to the Applications folder, and double-click on Microsoft Outlook.
In the top menu bar, click on Outlook and select Preferences… from the dropdown menu.
Click on Accounts.
Click on the account you want to remove.
Click on the [-] icon.
Click on Delete.
Close the "Accounts" window, and quit and restart Outlook.
Outlook should no longer show the account folders and emails.

Step 2: Re-add the account in Outlook for Mac

Below, we provide the steps for re-adding a shared org account as well as re-adding your own @usc.edu account. The difference between the two is that if you are re-adding your own @usc.edu account, you'll need to follow the additional steps we include for re-activating your Office license.

Re-adding a shared org account

Quick guide

Open Microsoft Outlook.
In the top menu bar, click on Outlook and select Preferences… from the dropdown menu.
Click on Accounts.
Click on the [+] icon.
Select New Account… from the dropdown menu.
Input your @usc.edu email address and click on Continue.
The Shibboleth login page displays. Log in using your USC credentials.
The Duo screen displays. Follow the on-screen prompt to complete authentication.
Click on Done.
Close the "Accounts" window and return to your inbox.
Outlook should begin loading your account folders and emails (may take a moment to update).

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Open Microsoft Outlook.
- Open Finder. Navigate to the Applications folder, and double-click on Microsoft Outlook.
In the top menu bar, click on Outlook and select Preferences… from the dropdown menu.
Click on Accounts.
Click on the [+] icon.
Select New Account… from the dropdown menu.
Input your @usc.edu email address and click on Continue.
The Shibboleth login page displays. Log in using your USC credentials.
The Duo screen displays. Follow the on-screen prompt to complete authentication.
Click on Done.
Close the "Accounts" window and return to your inbox.
Outlook should begin loading your account folders and emails (may take a moment to update).

Re-adding your individual @usc.edu account

Quick guide

Open Microsoft Outlook.
In the top menu bar, click on Outlook and select Preferences… from the dropdown menu (note that Outlook is set to "Work offline").
Click on Accounts.
Click on the [+] icon.
Select New Account… from the dropdown menu.
Click on Go Online.
Click on Activate.
If a message pops up saying that "The application 'Microsoft Update Assistant' can't be opened," click on OK.
Click on Already bought Office? Sign in.
Input your @usc.edu email address and click on Continue.
The Shibboleth login page displays. Log in using your USC credentials.
The Duo screen displays. Follow the on-screen prompt to complete authentication.
Click on Start Using Outlook.
Click on Go Online again.
Input your @usc.edu email address and click on Continue.
Outlook should automatically begin signing you in using the USC credentials you previously entered. Click on Done.
Close the "Accounts" window and return to your inbox.
Outlook should begin loading your account folders and emails (may take a moment to update).

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Open Microsoft Outlook.
- Open Finder. Navigate to the Applications folder, and double-click on Microsoft Outlook.
In the top menu bar, click on Outlook and select Preferences… from the dropdown menu (note that Outlook is set to "Work offline").
Click on Accounts.
Click on the [+] icon.
Select New Account… from the dropdown menu.
Click on Go Online.
Click on Activate.
If a message pops up saying that "The application 'Microsoft Update Assistant' can't be opened," click on OK.
Click on Already bought Office? Sign in.
Input your @usc.edu email address and click on Next.
The Shibboleth login page displays. Log in using your USC credentials.
The Duo screen displays. Follow the on-screen prompt to complete authentication.
Click on Start Using Outlook.
Click on Go Online again.
Input your @usc.edu email address and click on Continue.
Outlook should automatically begin signing you in using the USC credentials you previously entered. Click on Done.
Close the "Accounts" window and return to your inbox.
Outlook should begin loading your account folders and emails (may take a moment to update).

Outlook for Mac: Mail app

DTS recommends using the Outlook app on your Mac to access your mail, as we do not support Apple's native Mail app on Dornsife-managed Macs. However, if you are using Mail, the following steps should fix most Outlook syncing issues:

Step 1: Remove the Outlook account from Mail

Quick guide

Open the Mail app.
In the top menu bar, click on Mail and select Accounts… from the dropdown menu.
Click on the account you want to remove.
Click on the [-] icon.
Click on OK.
Quit and restart Mail. The account no longer appears.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Open the Mail app.
- Open Finder. Navigate to the Applications folder, and double-click on Mail.
In the top menu bar, click on Mail and select Accounts… from the dropdown menu.
Click on the account you want to remove.
Click on the [-] icon.
Click on OK.
Quit and restart Mail. The account no longer appears.

Step 2: Re-add the Outlook account to Mail

Quick guide

Open the Mail app.
In the top menu bar, click on Mail and select Accounts… from the dropdown menu.
Click on Microsoft Exchange.
Fill out your name and @usc.edu email address and click on Sign In.
Click on Sign In.
The Shibboleth login page displays. Log in using your USC credentials.
The Duo screen displays. Follow the on-screen prompt to complete authentication.
Deselect all apps except Mail.
Click on Done.
Mail should begin loading your account folders and emails (may take a moment to update).

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Open the Mail app.
- Open Finder. Navigate to the Applications folder, and double-click on Mail.
In the top menu bar, click on Mail and select Accounts… from the dropdown menu.
Click on Microsoft Exchange.
Fill out your name and @usc.edu email address and click on Sign In.
Click on Sign In.
The Shibboleth login page displays. Log in using your USC credentials.
The Duo screen displays. Follow the on-screen prompt to complete authentication.
Deselect all apps except Mail.
Click on Done.
Mail should begin loading your account folders and emails (may take a moment to update).