Native apps are available on popular platforms as part of Microsoft’s new “mobile first, cloud first” strategy. Among them, Outlook stands out when it comes to handling email on the go. The good thing is that it works flawlessly with other email providers like Yahoo, iCloud, and Gmail. And if you’re just getting started, here’s how you can integrate Gmail with Outlook on the web and mobile.
Outlook mobile and desktop apps come with a handy Focus Inbox functionality. Organizes your email inbox and keeps irrelevant emails in the Other inbox. Let’s integrate Gmail into Outlook web first.
Why Integrate Gmail with Outlook?
- Outlook has excellent native apps compared to Gmail’s desktop web solution.
- The handy Focused Inbox feature also works with a Gmail account.
- You can seamlessly switch between two email inboxes.
- There is also the ability to integrate the Gmail calendar into Outlook.
1. Outlook Web
Microsoft recently posted the same excellent Focus inbox on the web. And the good news is you can use it with Gmail too. Here’s how.
Stage 1: Visit Outlook on the web and sign in with your account credentials.
Step 2: You will see a + icon next to the Outlook account, as shown in the screenshot below.
Stage 3: Click on it and Outlook will open a window to choose an email provider. Click on Gmail.
Step 4: Sign in using your account credentials.
Step 5: After a successful connection, you will see the Gmail icon appearing below Outlook in the left sidebar.
You can click on it and Outlook will take you to the Gmail inbox to check the emails. Focus inbox is here to manage your emails.
2. Outlook Mac App
The Outlook for Mac app has received a nice change on the Mac. Microsoft is expected to replace this with a single Outlook app on Mac and Windows, but it’s not over yet and from now on we’ll be using the existing Outlook Mac app for demonstration.
Stage 1: Download the Microsoft Outlook app from the Mac App Store.
Step 2: Sign in with your Outlook account and click Outlook from the menu bar.
Stage 3: Open Preferences and go to Accounts.
Step 4: Click the + icon at the bottom and select New account.
Step 5: Enter the address of the email provider and add a password and in a few minutes Outlook will sync emails from Gmail and show a separate account in the app.
From the same Accounts menu, you can rename Gmail to Work or Home or any other label. Another advantage of using Gmail in Outlook is the OneNote integration. You can send important emails directly from Gmail to OneNote with one click.
3. Outlook Windows App
Microsoft has recently revamped all of its Office apps on Windows to be compatible with the design changes in Windows 11. In the screenshots below, we will use the redesigned Outlook application on Windows to add Gmail.
Stage 1: Open the Outlook application on Windows.
Step 2: Click on File at the top.
Stage 3: Select Add Account from the Info menu.
Step 4: Add your Gmail email id and password from the menu below.
Step 5: If you’ve enabled two-factor authentication for a Google account, Gmail may ask you to verify the account with another code.
Step 6: Verify yourself and you’ll soon see Outlook importing emails from your Gmail account.
Unfortunately, there is no way to integrate Gmail emails into your Outlook account. However, Google offers a handy tool to integrate all incoming Outlook emails into the Gmail inbox and treat them as regular Gmail emails. It also counts against your Google Drive storage.
All you can do is go to All Email/All Inbox and view all emails in one place.
4. Outlook Mobile Apps
Many GT team members prefer the Outlook iOS/Android app over the Gmail app. Google has mixed the Gmail app with Chat, Rooms, and Meet add-ons and it still looks outdated compared to its competitors.
Outlook offers a new look (thanks to the Sunrise Calendar acquisition) with multiple theme/highlight options and great calendar functionality.
Both Outlook iOS and Android carry the same user interface. The screenshots below are taken from the Outlook iOS app.
Stage 1: Open Outlook on iPhone.
Step 2: Tap the Home button at the top and go to Settings.
Stage 3: Select Add Email Account and sign in using your Gmail ID/Password.
Get Started with Gmail in Outlook Apps
If you’re someone who constantly switches between Gmail and Outlook, it makes sense to add the Gmail account to one of the Outlook apps or the web to manage email like a pro. Outlook also supports Google calendar, so you take care of your Gmail events as well.
