Set preferences for Outlook for Mac
Applies to: Outlook for Mac, Outlook Long Term Service Channel (LTSC) for Mac 2024, Outlook LTSC for Mac 2021
The following preferences can be used to simplify account setup for Microsoft 365 mailboxes, help protect company data, and support a streamlined user experience.
As an IT admin, you can provide Mac users in your organization with a standard set of preferences for Outlook in either of the following ways:
- Set a default preference, which users can change.
- Force a particular preference, which users can’t change.
Most preferences can be changed using the Terminal, or via a script. For example:
defaults write com.microsoft.Outlook DefaultWeatherLocation -string 'Paris, France'
When you change preferences in Terminal, users can override the value in the Outlook app. To change the value and enforce it so that users can't override it, use a Configuration Profile.
All of these keys are CFPreferences-compatible, which means that they can be set by using enterprise management (MDM) software for Mac, such as Microsoft Intune and Jamf Pro.
Important
Preferences that are marked as Yes to 'Requires Configuration Profile' in the consecutive tables can only be set via a Configuration Profile. In these case, use of the defaults command is ineffective.
The following list shows the preferences that are covered in this article:
- Allow only corporate mailboxes to be added
- Allow S/MIME certificates without a matching email address
- Automatically configure Microsoft 365 mailbox on first launch
- Block access to mailboxes from unauthorized domains
- Disable automatic updating of weather location
- Disable calendar sharing permissions
- Disable "Do Not Forward"
- Disable "Do not send a response"
- Disable "Encrypt-Only"
- Disable export
- Disable Focused Inbox
- Disable import
- Disable Junk settings
- Disable Pride theme
- Disable retention messages
- Disable setting someone as a delegate
- Prevent users from sharing any mail folder with other users
- Disable signatures
- Disable Skype for Business online meetings
- Disable S/MIME
- Disable Teams online meetings
- Enable new Outlook
- Hide local folders
- Hide text about adding noncorporate mailboxes
- Set the order in which S/MIME certificates are considered
- Specify calendar first day of week
- Specify default weather location
- Specify Microsoft 365 mailbox to be added on first launch
- Specify when pictures are downloaded for email
- Trust AutoDiscover redirects
Mailbox settings
Automatically configure Microsoft 365 mailbox on first launch
The email address used for Office activation is added during the first launch.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.office |
| Key | OfficeAutoSignIn |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.17 |
| Comments | This key also suppresses first run dialogs for other Office apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. |
Specify Microsoft 365 mailbox to be added on first launch
Set the domain or full email address of Microsoft 365 mailbox to be added on first launch.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DefaultEmailAddressOrDomain |
| Data Type | String |
| Possible values | Various (example: "contoso.com") |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.18 |
| Comments | The full email address or domain specified are added in Outlook instead of the Office activation email address. |
Allow only corporate mailboxes to be added
Specify one or more domains users are allowed to add in Outlook.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | AllowedEmailDomains |
| Data Type | Array of Strings |
| Possible values | Various (example: "contoso.com") |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.18 |
| Comments | Doesn't remove or disconnect accounts already added in Outlook. |
Block access to mailboxes from unauthorized domains
Specify one or more domains where mailbox access is blocked.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DisallowedEmailDomains |
| Data Type | Array of Strings |
| Possible values | Various (example: "yahoo.com") |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.75 |
| Comments | Doesn't remove or disconnect accounts already added in Outlook. |
Hide text about adding noncorporate mailboxes
Hide the “Did you know? Outlook supports…” text in the Set Up Your Email success dialog box.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | HideCanAddOtherAccountTypesTipText |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.18 |
| Comments | Only hides text. Doesn't affect the ability to add noncorporate mailboxes. |
Import/export settings
Disable import
Prevent users from being able to import archive files (.olm and .pst) and Outlook for Mac 2011 data.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DisableImport |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | Yes |
| Availability | 16.18 |
Disable export
Prevent users from being able to export archive files (.olm).
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DisableExport |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | Yes |
| Availability | 16.18 |
Disable sharing of mail folders
Prevent users from sharing any mail folder with other users.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DisableFolderPermissionsSetup |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | Yes |
| Availability | 16.89 |
| Comments | Only applies to the new Outlook. |
Meetings settings
Disable "Do not send a response"
Prevent users from selecting "Do not send response" when replying to a meeting request.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DisableRespondToMeetingWithoutResponse |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.56 |
Disable Skype for Business online meetings
Prevent users from adding Skype for Business online meeting details to events.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DisableSkypeMeeting |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | Yes |
| Availability | 16.19 |
Disable Teams online meetings
Prevent users from adding Teams online meeting details to events.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DisableTeamsMeeting |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | Yes |
| Availability | 16.20 |
Disable calendar sharing permissions
Prevent users from sharing their calendar.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DisableCalendarSharingPermissionsSetup |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | Yes |
| Availability | 16.48 |
| Comments | Only applies to the new Outlook. |
Disable setting someone as a Delegate
Prevent a user from adding another user as their delegate.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DisableDelegationPermissionsSetup |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | Yes |
| Availability | 16.48 |
| Comments | Only applies to the new Outlook. |
Security settings
Disable "Encrypt-Only"
Prevent users from applying the Encrypt-Only option to emails when using Microsoft Purview Message Encryption.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DisableEncryptOnly |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.40 |
| Comments | Only applies to the new Outlook. |
Disable "Do Not Forward"
Prevent users from applying the Do Not Forward option to emails when using Microsoft Purview Message Encryption.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DisableDoNotForward |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.40 |
| Comments | Only applies to the new Outlook. |
Allow S/MIME certificates without a matching email address
Allow users to decrypt and encrypt S/MIME messages when the S/MIME certificate doesn't match the email address.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | AllowCertsWithoutMatchingEmailAddress |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.45 |
| Comments | Only applies to the new Outlook. |
Set the order in which S/MIME certificates are considered
Set the order in which certificates are used to decrypt and encrypt S/MIME messages.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | SMIMECertificatesLookupOrder |
| Data Type | Array of unsigned integer |
| Possible values | 0 (Contacts), 1 (GAL), 2 (Device), 3 (LDAP) Default is [0, 1, 2, 3] |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.45 |
| Comments | Only applies to the new Outlook. |
Disable S/MIME
Prevent users from applying S/MIME option to email messages.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DisableSMIMECompose |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.57 |
| Comments | Only applies to the new Outlook. |
Trust AutoDiscover redirects
Automatically trust server redirects through AutoDiscover.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | TrustO365AutodiscoverRedirect |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 15.29 |
| Comments | When set to 'true' users aren't prompted to Allow or Deny redirects from AutoDiscover. They're automatically allowed. |
Weather location settings
Specify default weather location
Set default location for weather in calendar view.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DefaultWeatherLocation |
| Data Type | String |
| Possible values | Various (example: "Paris, France") |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.18 |
| Comments | Use the format returned by the weather location search within Outlook. |
Disable automatic updating of weather location
Prevent users from choosing Update Location Automatically for weather location.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | Weather_update_automatically |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.19 |
Other settings
Hide local folders
Prevent users from viewing local On My Computer folders in the sidebar.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | HideFoldersOnMyComputerRootInFolderList |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.17 |
| Comments | Found under Outlook > Preferences > General > Sidebar. |
Specify when pictures are downloaded for email
Set when pictures are automatically downloaded from the internet for email.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | AutomaticallyDownloadExternalContent |
| Data Type | Integer |
| Possible values | 0 = Never 1 = In messages from my contacts 2 = In all messages (default) |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.17 |
| Comments | Found under Outlook > Settings > Email > Reading > Download external images. |
Disable signatures
Prevent users from being able to create, edit, and add client-side signatures.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DisableSignatures |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | Yes |
| Availability | 16.18 |
Specify calendar first day of week
Set the first day of week in calendar view.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | CalendarFirstDayOfWeek |
| Data Type | Integer |
| Possible values | 1 = Sunday (default) 2 = Monday 3 = Tuesday 4 = Wednesday 5 = Thursday 6 = Friday 7 = Saturday |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.19 |
Enable new Outlook
Set the availability and default position of the New Outlook switch.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | EnableNewOutlook |
| Data Type | Integer |
| Possible values | 0 = Switch hidden 1 = Switch displayed, default off 2 = Switch displayed, default on (default) 3 = New Outlook enabled with switch hidden |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.38 |
Disable Junk settings
Prevent users from applying Junk options to emails.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DisableJunkOptionsPrefKey |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.55 |
| Comments | Only applies to the new Outlook. |
Disable Pride theme
Prevent users from applying Pride themes to Outlook.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DisablePrideTheming |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | Yes |
| Availability | 16.73 |
| Comments | Only applies to the new Outlook. |
Disable retention messages
Hide information about message retention settings when viewing message contents.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | HideRetentionPolicyInfobar |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | No |
| Availability | 16.78 |
| Comments | Only applies to the new Outlook. |
Disable Focused Inbox
Prevent users from viewing Focused Inbox.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
| Key | DisableFocusedInbox |
| Data Type | Boolean |
| Possible values | false (default) true |
| Requires Configuration Profile | Yes |
| Availability | 16.66 |