University Computer Help Desk

How to use offline mode in Outlook 2003

You can use offline mode in Outlook 2003 when your computer is not connected to the Internet.

Before You Begin

You can perform the following actions to IMAP email while Outlook 2003 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 2003 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 Mode in Outlook 2003

To use offline mode in Outlook 2003, do the following:

  1. If you are off campus, you need a VPN connection (see below).
  2. Log in to Outlook.
  3. Click File > Work Offline. A check mark will appear in front of Work Offline.
  4. You are now in offline mode. You may disconnect from the Internet.

When you are offline, messages you send are stored in your Outbox. The next time you use Outlook in online mode, Exchange emails waiting to be sent will send automatically; IMAP emails waiting to be sent will send the next time you click the Send/Receive button.

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

Online Mode in Outlook 2003

To use online mode in Microsoft Outlook 2003, do the following:

  1. If you are off campus, you need a VPN connection (see below).
  2. Log in to Outlook.
  3. Click File > Work Offline. There will no longer be a check mark in front of Work Offline.
  4. You are now working online. 

If any Exchange messages were waiting to be sent, Outlook will automatically send them now. If any IMAP messages were waiting to be sent, click Send/Receive to 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.