Nowadays, people rarely stop working once they get out of the office, and many need to check their email from home or on the go. If your business allows it, you may be able to connect to the office server through Outlook Web App (which used to be called Outlook Web Access). You can use the traditional Outlook client or your smartphone. To connect to it, you will need to contact your company's IT department.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Use Outlook Web App
Step 1. Contact the IT department
Before trying to access your work emails from home, you should contact your company's IT department to make sure you are eligible. Large companies prohibit access to emails from the outside for security reasons. The IT department can also tell you how to check your emails outside of office hours.
Step 2. Learn about the software being used
Your company must use Office 365 or an Exchange server that supports Outlook Web App (Access). Depending on the Microsoft products your company uses, there are different ways to access email messages from your Internet browser. If your company uses Office 365 for Business or has an Exchange server configured to access it from the Internet, you can use Outlook Web App to check your work email.
Step 3. Go to the login page
If your company uses Outlook Web App, you may have access to the login page depending on the configuration of the email access service:
- for Office 365, go to portal.office.com
- for the Exchange server, go to the server login page (if the company is called "Interslice", the home page could be mail.interslice.com)
Step 4. Log in with the email address and password
Enter the email address and password linked to your Office 365 or Exchange account. If you do not know them, you should contact the IT department.
Step 5. Open your mailbox
After logging in, you can open your email box. The steps to follow will be a little different if you are using Office 365 for Business or an Exchange server:
- for Office 365 for Business: click on the launch button of the application (in the form of a grid) and select Mail
- for the Exchange server: click on the option Mail in the navigation bar
Step 6. Read and reply to emails
Once you have opened your mailbox, you can view, reply to and write messages as you would from the mail client or the browser. Folders will appear on the left of the screen and your messages in the middle. Select a message to make it appear on the right.
Method 2 of 5: Use the Outlook client
Step 1. Contact the IT department
Different companies have different regulations regarding access to work emails outside of office hours. The IT department will give you specific instructions that you will need to follow to connect to your mailbox.
Step 2. Open Outlook on your computer
If your business uses Exchange or Office 365 for Business, you can add the account to Outlook on Windows or Mac.
Step 3. Click File
Select Information. This will display the account information.
Step 4. Click the Add Account button
This allows you to add a new account to Outlook.
Step 5. Enter the email address and password
Outlook will automatically detect the type of server you are connecting to. You will probably need to reset your password during the setup process.
Note that Outlook 2016 only supports setting up Exchange accounts using an automated system and the Exchange administrator will need to configure the server to allow it. Outlook 2016 does not support Exchange 2007 servers
Step 6. Access your work emails
Once you are logged into your account, you will be able to send and receive emails through the Outlook email client. Choose the job mailbox from the left menu.
Method 3 of 5: Use your iPhone
Step 1. Contact the IT department
Many companies do not allow their employees to have access to email outside of working hours for security reasons. Check with the IT department to see if you can access it from home. They can also tell you how to log into your account.
Step 2. Open iPhone settings
If you have an Office 365 for Business or Exchange email account, you could add it to the iPhone's email client if IT allows you to do so.
Step 3. Select Emails, Contacts, Calendars
This opens the settings for all connected email accounts.
Step 4. Tap Add Account
Select Exchange. This allows you to add an Exchange or Office 365 for Business account.
Step 5. Enter your email address and password
Remember to include the domain name at the end of the email address (eg [email protected]).
Step 6. Activate Email and tap on Save.
This adds your Exchange or Office 365 for Business account to your email client.
If you cannot connect to the server, contact IT, as connections from mobile devices may be limited
Step 7. Create a password if necessary
Some Exchange servers will ask you to create a password to add to your account. You will need to fill it in each time you check your business emails.
Method 4 of 5: Use Android
Step 1. Contact the IT department
Depending on house rules, you may not be able to access your work emails outside of office hours. Contact the IT department to find out if you can connect to the Exchange server from Android and if there are any special instructions to follow.
Step 2. Open Android settings
If you have the green light from IT, you can add Exchange or Office 365 for Business to your email client through settings.
Step 3. Select the Accounts option
This will allow you to see the accounts that are already logged in on your Android device.
Step 4. Tap Add Account
Select Exchange. This will allow you to add an Exchange or Office 365 for Business account to your Android.
Step 5. Enter your full email address
Type the one you use at work to log in and tap Following.
Step 6. Enter the password
Use the same as in the office. If it doesn't work, contact the IT department.
Step 7. Read the account and server information
You will see your email address and password, as well as the server name, port and security type. You can usually leave them as they appear, but you may have to change them if the IT department has instructed you to do so.
If you cannot connect to the server, contact the technicians to make sure you have the necessary permissions to open the mailbox from your mobile device. They could then give you specific instructions to follow
Step 8. Adjust the account settings
After logging into your account, you will be able to choose the data you want to sync with Android. Make sure that the box Synchronize emails is checked to receive messages on your mobile device.
Step 9. Access emails from the email client
Once you have added your account, you will be able to access your emails from the email client on Android.
Method 5 of 5: Use a BlackBerry
Step 1. Contact the IT department
Not all companies allow their employees to access their work emails outside of office hours, and many have requirements in place to access servers. By contacting the IT department, you will ensure that you have the right to access emails and know the exact procedure to follow.
If your company uses BlackBerry Enterprise Cloud Services, you will need to activate your phone and obtain the necessary permissions
Step 2. Open BlackBerry Settings
You will find the icon on the home screen.
Step 3. Select System Settings
Then tap Accounts. There you will see a list of accounts connected to your BlackBerry.
Step 4. Tap the Add Account button
This allows you to add a new account to the BlackBerry.
Step 5. Select Emails, Calendars and Contacts from the list
You can use it for Exchange or Office 365 for Business servers.
Step 6. Enter the email address and password
Your BlackBerry will try to automatically connect to the Exchange or Office 365 for Business server.