Set up Exchange Online (Microsoft 365) on iPhone using the Outlook app

Set up Exchange Online (Microsoft 365) on iPhone using the Outlook app

What you need

  • Your work email address and password

  • Internet connection on the iPhone

  • If your company uses MFA, have your second factor ready (Authenticator app, text code, or call)


Install Outlook

  1. Open App Store.

  2. Search for Microsoft Outlook and tap Get.

  3. When it finishes installing, tap Open.


Add your Microsoft 365 account in Outlook

  1. In Outlook, tap Add Account.

  2. Enter your full work email address and tap Add Account.

  3. When the Microsoft sign-in screen appears, enter your password and tap Sign in.

  4. Approve any multi-factor authentication prompt.

  5. If prompted to protect work data, follow the on-screen steps to allow device or app protection.

  6. Choose whether to allow Notifications.

  7. Your Inbox will start syncing. You’re done when messages appear.


Make Outlook the default email app (iOS 18 and newer)

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps.

  2. Tap Email and choose Outlook.


Remove old Mail profiles to avoid duplicates (iOS 18 and newer)

If you previously used Apple’s Mail app for work email:

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts.

  2. Tap the old Exchange or Microsoft Exchange account.

  3. Tap Delete Account or Sign Out.


Optional prompts you may see

  • Add another account: tap Maybe later if you only need your work account.

  • Save Contacts: choose Allow if you want work contacts in the iPhone Contacts app, or Not Now to keep them inside Outlook only.


Troubleshooting

  • Keeps asking for a password

    • Check Settings > General > Date & Time and ensure Set Automatically is on.

    • Force-quit and reopen Outlook. If needed, remove and re-add the account in Outlook settings.

  • MFA prompt does not show

    • Open the Microsoft Authenticator app and approve the pending request, or choose Use a different verification option on the sign-in screen.

  • No mail or calendar syncing

    • Verify network access and that Outlook can use cellular data in Settings.

    • Update iOS and the Outlook app, then restart the iPhone.


Note for older iOS versions (iOS 17 and earlier)

  • Default mail app was set per app: Settings > Outlook > Default Mail App.

  • Mail accounts were managed at Settings > Mail > Accounts.

    • Related Articles

    • Outlook Error "5objp" when setting up email on Outlook App

      Try the following: First try signing in using the @myorg.onmicrosoft.com format email address. Example: joe@myorg.onmicrosoft.com Use the same password as your email address. This will fail, do not worry. This will open a fresh authentication session ...