Getting started using Microsoft Outlook to access email

Overview
Initial Outlook setup and login
Outlook and email retention at USC
Using Outlook features
Delegate access and individual accounts
Delegate access and shared org accounts
Additional resources

Overview

Dornsife faculty, staff, and affiliates (iVIPs) are provided with an "@usc.edu" email account which can be accessed through Outlook. This guide compiles available DTS guides for logging into and using Microsoft Outlook, and applies to both individual Outlook accounts as well as shared organizational Outlook accounts.

Initial Outlook setup and login

The initial process for logging into your USC Outlook account depends on the type of device you're using:

Log into Outlook on a Dornsife-managed computer

Outlook is already installed on Dornsife-managed computers. To log in:

Log into Outlook on a personal computer

You can download up to five (5) copies of Microsoft Office for free from ITS's software page. Once you download and install Office/Outlook, you can follow the same steps as those for using a Dornsife-managed computer to log into your Outlook account.

Note that affiliates (iVIPs) do not have access to free copies of Microsoft Office. If you are an affiliate, you can log into your Outlook account via a web browser.

Log into Outlook on an iPad/iPhone

You can use either the Mail app or the Outlook app on an iOS device:

Logging into your Outlook account using Apple's native Mail app (pre-installed on all iOS devices)
Logging into your Outlook account using the Outlook app (already installed on Dornsife-managed iOS devices)

Logging into Outlook through a web browser

You can also log into your Outlook account by opening a web browser (e.g. Firefox, Chrome, Safari) and going to https://usc.edu/office365. This may come in handy if you want to quickly check your email but are away from your usual work device (for example, if you're checking email in a Dornsife-managed computer lab):

Logging into Outlook 365/OWA (online)

Outlook and email retention at USC

Be aware that under the University's email policy, emails are automatically deleted after 16 months. To learn how to retain emails indefinitely, please refer to our guide:

Retaining emails under the USC employee email policy

Using Outlook features

The maximum number of recipients you can send a single email to is 500. Note however if you are sending out bulk email, you may want to use mailing lists instead, as some email providers may see the high recipient number and mark your email as spam.

Delegate access and individual accounts

Granting delegate access to your own Outlook account

To grant someone else the ability to send emails on your behalf and/or manage your calendar:

Granting delegate access to your Outlook account

Receiving delegate access to someone else's Outlook account

To manage or view someone else's Outlook inbox and/or calendar on their behalf:

Getting delegate access to individual Outlook accounts

Delegate access and shared org accounts

Departments and units within USC can use shared org accounts to manage general mailboxes and calendars which aren't tied to any one individual's Outlook account: