Overview
Outlook's Polls add-in lets you instantly add a brief one-question poll to an email. For instance, you can ask recipients to select preferred options from a list of proposed meeting times.
You'll need Outlook to create your poll, as it is powered by Microsoft Forms, but your recipients do not need Outlook to answer your poll.
Microsoft Polls vs other polling options
The Polls add-in has the following limitations:
- You can only add one question per poll/email
- The total character count of the question and answer choices cannot exceed 330 characters
- The poll's visual design cannot be customized
If you need to create a longer poll or survey, you can consider these alternatives:
Adding a poll in Outlook for Windows PC
The Polls add-in is not currently available for New Outlook for Windows. Our instructions below are for Outlook for Windows:
Quick guide
- Open Outlook and create a new email.
- In the top toolbar, click the Insert tab. Click Poll.
- The Polls add-in loads. If this is your first time, you may be prompted to sign in. Use your @usc.edu email address, and then complete Shibboleth login and Duo authentication.
- Fill out your question and answer choices, and click Next.
- To allow more than one selection, click the Multiple answers toggle.
- Click Add to email.
- Once you send the email, here's what recipients will see:
- Outlook recipients: The poll is embedded in the email, and recipients can answer within the email.
- Non-Outlook recipients: The poll is linked in the email, and recipients can answer by clicking the link.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- Open Outlook and create a new email.
- In the top toolbar, click the Insert tab. Click Poll.
- The Polls add-in loads. If this is your first time, you may be prompted to sign in. Use your @usc.edu email address, and then complete Shibboleth login and Duo authentication.
- Fill out your question and answer choices, and click Next.
- To allow more than one selection, click the Multiple answers toggle.
- Click Add to email.
- Once you send the email, here's what recipients will see:
- Outlook recipients: The poll is embedded in the email, and recipients can answer within the email.
- Non-Outlook recipients: The poll is linked in the email, and recipients can answer by clicking the link.
Adding a poll in Outlook for Mac
The Polls add-in is available for both New Outlook for Mac as well as Legacy Outlook:
Quick guide
- Open Outlook and create a new email.
- In the top toolbar, click the … button and select Polls from the dropdown.
- If you are using Legacy Outlook for Mac, scroll to the right end of the top toolbar and click Polls.
- The Polls add-in loads. If this is your first time, you may be prompted to sign in. Use your @usc.edu email address, and then complete Shibboleth login and Duo authentication.
- Fill out your question and answer choices, and click Next.
- To allow more than one selection, click the Multiple answers toggle.
- Click Add to email.
- Once you send the email, here's what recipients will see:
- Outlook recipients: The poll is embedded in the email, and recipients can answer within the email.
- Non-Outlook recipients: The poll is linked in the email, and recipients can answer by clicking the link.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- Open Outlook and create a new email.
- In the top toolbar, click the … button and select Polls from the dropdown.
- If you are using Legacy Outlook for Mac, scroll to the right end of the top toolbar and click Polls.
- The Polls add-in loads. If this is your first time, you may be prompted to sign in. Use your @usc.edu email address, and then complete Shibboleth login and Duo authentication.
- Fill out your question and answer choices, and click Next.
- To allow more than one selection, click the Multiple answers toggle.
- Click Add to email.
- Once you send the email, here's what recipients will see:
- Outlook recipients: The poll is embedded in the email, and recipients can answer within the email.
- Non-Outlook recipients: The poll is linked in the email, and recipients can answer by clicking the link.
Adding a poll in Outlook 365 (online)
Quick guide
- Go to https://usc.edu/office365.
- Create a new email.
- In the top toolbar, click Apps and select Polls from the dropdown.
- The Polls add-in loads. If this is your first time, you may be prompted to sign in. Use your @usc.edu email address, and then complete Shibboleth login and Duo authentication.
- Fill out your question and answer choices, and click Next.
- To allow more than one selection, click the Multiple answers toggle.
- Click Add to email.
- Once you send the email, here's what recipients will see:
- Outlook recipients: The poll is embedded in the email, and recipients can answer within the email.
- Non-Outlook recipients: The poll is linked in the email, and recipients can answer by clicking the link.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- Go to https://usc.edu/office365.
- Create a new email.
- In the top toolbar, click Apps and select Polls from the dropdown.
- The Polls add-in loads. If this is your first time, you may be prompted to sign in. Use your @usc.edu email address, and then complete Shibboleth login and Duo authentication.
- Fill out your question and answer choices, and click Next.
- To allow more than one selection, click the Multiple answers toggle.
- Click Add to email.
- Once you send the email, here's what recipients will see:
- Outlook recipients: The poll is embedded in the email, and recipients can answer within the email.
- Non-Outlook recipients: The poll is linked in the email, and recipients can answer by clicking the link.
Troubleshooting
Some people report seeing the following error in Outlook for Windows PC:
You aren't able to add a poll using this account. Either switch to an authorized account or contact your administrator for access.
To resolve this error:
Quick guide
- At the bottom of the Polls pane, click Powered by Microsoft Forms.
- A browser window opens and prompts you to sign in. Use your @usc.edu email address. Then, use your USC NetID to complete Shibboleth login and Duo authentication.
- If you encounter the error message stating, "Your account is not enabled for Microsoft Forms," click Sign in with a different account. Then, use your @usc.edu email address to sign in. (This error can occur if you are signed in with @dts.usc.edu.)
- If the browser window closes before allowing you to sign in:
- Close Outlook.
- Open a new window in your default browser.
- Go to https://forms.microsoft.com.
- Click Sign in.
- Use your @usc.edu email address. Then, use your USC NetID to complete Shibboleth login and Duo authentication.
- If you encounter the error message stating, "Your account is not enabled for Microsoft Forms," click Sign in with a different account. Then, use your @usc.edu email address to sign in. (This error can occur if you are signed in with @dts.usc.edu.)
- Re-open Outlook and try to add a poll again.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- At the bottom of the Polls pane, click Powered by Microsoft Forms.
- A browser window opens and prompts you to sign in. Use your @usc.edu email address. Then, use your USC NetID to complete Shibboleth login and Duo authentication.
- If you encounter the error message stating, "Your account is not enabled for Microsoft Forms," click Sign in with a different account. Then, use your @usc.edu email address to sign in. (This error can occur if you are signed in with @dts.usc.edu.)
- If the browser window closes before allowing you to sign in:
- Close Outlook.
- Open a new window in your default browser.
- Go to https://forms.microsoft.com.
- Click Sign in.
- Use your @usc.edu email address. Then, use your USC NetID to complete Shibboleth login and Duo authentication.
- If you encounter the error message stating, "Your account is not enabled for Microsoft Forms," click Sign in with a different account. Then, use your @usc.edu email address to sign in. (This error can occur if you are signed in with @dts.usc.edu.)
- Re-open Outlook and try to add a poll again.
Contributor: Albert Rodriguez.