University Computer Help Desk

How to use offline mode in Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2010

You can use offline mode in Outlook 2007 or Outlook 2010 when your computer is not connected to the Internet.

Before You Begin

You can perform the following actions to IMAP email while Outlook 2007 or Outlook 2010 is in offline mode:

  • Compose new messages.
  • Read and reply to messages you have previously read.

You can perform the following actions to Exchange email and mailboxes while Outlook 2007 or Outlook 2010 is in offline mode:

  • Compose new messages.
  • Read and reply to messages you have already received, regardless of whether or not you've previously read them.
  • Make changes to your folders and mailboxes by renaming or moving them.

Offline/Online Mode in Outlook 2007 or Outlook 2010

To use offline mode in Outlook 2007, do the following:

  1. Open Outlook.
  2. Click File > Work Offline. A check mark will appear in front of Work Offline.
    • Click Work Offline again to change to working online. There will no longer be a check mark in front of Work Offline.
  3. You are now in offline mode. You may disconnect from the Internet.

To use offline mode in Outlook 2010, do the following:

  1. Open Outlook.
  2. On the Send/Receive tab, in the Preferences group, click Work Offline.
  3. Click Work Offline again to go to working online.

When you are offline, messages you send through Exchange are stored in your Outbox; messages you send through IMAP are stored in your designated send-mail folder.

Changes you make to your Exchange mailboxes and folders are applied the next time you use Outlook in online mode.

If any messages were waiting to be sent, Outlook will automatically send them now. If you made changes to your Exchange folders or mailboxes while in offline mode, they are applied now.

Off-campus users:To check and send email from off campus, you need a VPN connection. You do not need an independent VPN connection if Outlook is configured with MailVPN settings, as described in 1382: Configuring Outlook 2003 with MailVPN settings. Otherwise, you must establish a VPN connection using either the Cisco VPN Client or Network Connect in WebVPN.