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Outlook 2013 - Automating first time setup of user profile

Anonymous
2015-12-04T10:34:22+00:00

hello,

we currently have office 2010 with a profile (.prf) file to configure the users' outlook profile to point to our on premise exchange servers so that when users open outlook for the first time it just launches.

we are moving to office 2013 (office 365 proplus 2013 - click to run) and moving mailboxes to office 365 (exchange online) so i want us to move away from a prf file and use the autodiscover setup wizard, however i am being pushed by senior managers to automate this setup process so that our users don't have to do anything.

i have attached some screenshots to show the outlook 2013 setup wizard that i mean that i am being asked to automate.

![](http://fud.community.services.support.microsoft.com/Fud/FileDownloadHandler.ashx?fid=c789b088-bcaa-4834-95b6-faa72c70cea7)

  1. is it possible to automate the first time setup for office 365 proplus 2013 even though the users mailbox is on office 365? (using a script or prf file)
  2. is the best practice to use the autodiscover wizard instead and advise our users to click next, next, finish rather than automating the process using a prf file or script?

thank you for your time.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-12-04T13:33:56+00:00
    1. Yes, to a certain degree. Deploy the O2013 administrative templates, then use the "Automatically configure profile based on Active Directory Primary SMTP address" policy, located under User configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Outlook 2013 -> Account settings -> Exchange. The user will still have to click once on the Next button, and provide credentials.
    2. It's not just best practice, it's the *only* supported way to configure O365 mailboxes
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  1. Anonymous
    2015-12-05T04:07:00+00:00

    Hi Chris,

    Q1: Is it possible to automate the first time setup for Office 365 ProPlus 2013 even though the users mailbox is on Office 365? (using a script or prf file)

    A1: Based on my research, there aren’t any official articles about automating the first time setup. In other words, if automating it via 3rd party articles or tools , limited official assistance will be provided.

    Q2: Is the best practice to use the autodiscover wizard instead and advise our users to click Next, Next, Finish rather than automating the process using a prf file or script?

    A2: Given this scenario, the best way is to create a new Outlook profileby using auto discover.

    Thanks,

    Zoey

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