Outlook is one of the most popular email services available today. With its ease of use and feature-rich interface, it’s no wonder why so many people use it. However, if you’re like most Outlook users and don’t know much about add-ins or extensions. You might find yourself struggling when trying to figure out what add-in will be right for you and your company. This article will help you discover more about Outlook add-ins and how they work with other applications. In this article, you will learn:

What is Outlook Add-ins?

Outlook add-ins are small programs that can be installed to Office applications like Outlook to extend their functionality. They are not considered part of the Outlook application itself and do not replace Outlook features, but rather add to them. For example, if you need to manage meetings that take place in Google Calendar, you can use an Outlook add-in that integrates with Google Calendar. With the add-in, you can send meeting requests, view upcoming meetings, and more. Outlook add-in partners include a wide variety of companies, from online educational services to job boards. Some of the most popular add-ins include Salesforce CRM, Yammer, Act-On, Google Calendar, and others.

How to Install an Outlook Add-in

The first thing you need to do to install an Outlook add-in is to find the add-in that you want to install. Once you’ve found the add-in you’re looking for, open the add-in’s website on your computer and click Sign up. Enter your email address and password then click Sign In. On the next screen, click Install. To complete the installation process, Outlook will prompt you to restart Outlook. Outlook will automatically reopen after the restart, and you’ll have access to the new add-in.

Important Things You Should Know Before Installing an Add-In

– Add-ins are not created equal. While there are a large number of add-ins available, most are not suitable for business. Before you install an add-in, make sure you know what it does and whether it can do what you need it to do. – If you don’t have a specific need for an add-in, then you’re better off without it. While some add-ins provide helpful features, a lot of them are only useful to a specific audience and will only add to your workload. – Carefully choose the add-in that you want to install. Make sure you understand how it works and what it can do. Look at similar add-ins to see what their strengths and weaknesses are. – Always keep in mind that add-ins are not part of the core Outlook application. They will never be supported by Microsoft and the support for add-ins ends when the add-in maker does. – Outlook add-ins are not only useful for managing contacts and calendars. They can be used for managing tasks and projects as well. – Outlook add-ins are only available for Outlook 2016, 2017, and 2019. – If you’re installing an add-in for a client, double-check with them to make sure it will meet their needs and help them get work done. – If you notice any unusual or unwanted behavior from your computer while it’s running an add-in, try stopping it, removing it, and then restarting your computer.

Tips for Using an Add-In in Outlook

– Make sure you read the documentation that comes with the add-in to learn how it works. If you have questions, search online or contact the add-in’s support team. – Before using a new tool or feature in Outlook, make sure to check out the Office 365 Admin Center to make sure it’s been activated. – Try to avoid opening too many different tabs in Outlook. This will take longer for Outlook to process data and use more memory. If you have a lot of add-ins open, then this could have a significant impact on your computer’s performance. To help manage the number of open Outlook add-ins, you can create Outlook shortcuts. – Use the Outlook snapping feature to place selected items on a single tab in Outlook. This will help to center the focus of your screen and make it easier to manage multiple tasks and projects. – If you have any questions about using an add-in, check in with the people managing the add-in. They might be able to provide insights into how the add-in works and help solve any problems that you come across. – If you notice any performance issues with Outlook while it’s running an add-in, try stopping it, removing it, and then restarting your computer.

Conclusion

Outlook add-ins are a great way to get more functionality out of your email software, but they are not without risk. They are not part of Outlook’s core application and will eventually stop receiving support from their developer. They can also be affected by performance issues and have a limited feature set. However, some great add-ins are suitable for business use. To choose the right one for you, make sure you understand what it does and whether it can do what you need it to do. If it’s not perfect for your needs, consider removing it.