How to Enable Add-ins and Connectors in Outlook
Add-ins and connectors are methods for connecting Outlook to 3rd-party applications. Their purpose is to allow you to interact with other applications from within Outlook.
The main difference between add-ins and connectors is that an add-in enables Outlook to send information to another application but a connector enables the other application to send information or data to Outlook.
Add-ins are only enabled for email account which uses Exchange such as Outlook, Live, Hotmail, or Microsoft account and if you’re using non-Exchange accounts like Gmail or Yahoo, the option of “Get Add-ins” will not be available.
It is recommended that you only install add-ins from the Microsoft Store.
The process for adding an add-in or connector to Outlook is simple, whether you will be using the Outlook Client or the Outlook web app. When you install an add-in in the Outlook web app, it will automatically be available in the Outlook Client app, and vice versa.
The process of adding an add-in is the same in the client and the web app, only the method for getting there is a bit different.
Process for Outlook Client Application (MS Outlook)
Open the client application (MS Outlook). Make sure you have logged in to your Exchange account because the add-ins are only available for the exchange accounts (Hotmail/Outlook etc). Click on the File Menu.
Scroll down and click on the Manage Add-ins button.
The browser window will open and you will be redirected to the add-ins for the outlook window. Here you can find your desired/required add-in and click on the Add button.
Once you click on the Add button, on the next window click on the Continue option and the Add-in will be added to your outlook.
Close the next prompt by clicking on the “x” on the top right corner.
To Delete/remove any Add-in from outlook, click on the “My Add-ins” option
Click on the three dots below any Add-in and click on Remove and the Add-in will be removed from the outlook.
Now we will discuss the above process using the outlook web app.
Open any web browser and log in to your outlook account. Click on the settings icon in the top right side of your browser window.
From the settings drop-down menu, click on the “view all outlook settings” link.
Click on the “Mail” tab in settings.
Click on the “Customize Actions” option.
Check / Enable the “Get Add-Ins” option and close the settings window.
Now click on any of your email conversations from the Inbox to open it.
Click on the Get Add-Ins icon or click on the more action option and click on the Get Add-Ins option.
Now you are at step 3. The rest of the process is the same and you are all set to go and use Add-Ins.
