How to manually create additional Outlook 2016 profiles with ZeroConfigExchange in place

Original KB number:   4046818

Background information of ZeroConfigExchange

The concept of Reliable Profiles was introduced in Microsoft Outlook 2016. As a result, we don't recommend using Outlook profile (.prf) files to create profiles in Outlook 2016. Instead, we recommend enabling automatic profile creation by using the ZeroConfigExchange registry key or the Automatically configure profile based on Active Directory Primary SMTP address policy.

ZeroConfigExchange controls profile creation

ZeroConfigExchange works well for the first profile to be automatically created, with no user action. But you might want to create another profile that connects to a different Exchange account. You're unable to do that because you can't bypass ZeroConfigExchange to manually configure the profile.

This behavior is by-design, as ZeroConfigExchange controls the creation of any Outlook profile.

How to create additional profiles

This method applies to Outlook 2016 Click-to-Run Version 1708 (Build 8431.2079) and later versions. For Outlook 2016 MSI-based versions, the method applies to the November Public Update (PU) for Outlook 2016 and later versions.

Warning

Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft can't guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

To create other profiles without the intervention of ZeroConfigExchange, add the ZeroConfigExchangeOnce registry subkey. To do so, follow these steps:

1. In Registry Editor, browse to the following registry subkey:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\AutoDiscover

2. Create a DWORD value that has the following name and value:

   Name: ZeroConfigExchangeOnce
   Value: 1

After you add ZeroConfigExchangeOnce, ZeroConfigExchange still controls the automatic creation of the first profile. After the first profile is automatically created, you can manually create additional profiles that connect to different Exchange accounts.

If ZeroConfigExchange and ZeroConfigExchangeOnce at the previous registry path both have a value of "1", ZeroConfigExchange always takes precedence.