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Regarding the "Always Connect to Outlook" Feature in Outlook on the Web

Description

When accessing Outlook on the Web in Microsoft 365 from a PC Browser, a screen like the one shown in the image below may appear, stating "Always connect to Outlook." By following the instructions on this screen, it is possible to start using the Outlook Mobile app on any Smartphone (iPhone / Android) without signing in to Microsoft 365. It has also been confirmed that this feature can be disabled in bulk by the administrator of the Microsoft 365 Tenant you are using.

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・Related Info
Sign in to the Outlook Mobile app using a QR code

Below, we will guide you on how to check if the relevant feature is enabled on your Microsoft 365 Tenant, how to disable the feature (hide the screen), and how to disconnect the Outlook app that is already connected.

Notes

  • This specification is based on information as of August 2024.
  • Screens and specifications are subject to change with updates to Microsoft 365.

Checking if the feature is Active

  1. Connect to Exchange Online using PowerShell.
    Connect to Exchange Online PowerShell

  2. Run the following command to check the current settings

    Get-OrganizationConfig | Format-Table Name,MobileApp* -Auto

    ・If Active (MobileAppEducationEnabled is displayed as True)

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    ・If Inactive (MobileAppEducationEnabled is displayed as False)

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  3. If Active, proceed to the following deactivation procedure

Procedure to Disable the feature (hide the screen)

  1. Connect to Exchange Online using PowerShell
    Connect to Exchange Online PowerShell

  2. Run the following command to disable the relevant feature

    Set-OrganizationConfig -MobileAppEducationEnabled $false

    ※ Even if you disable it with this procedure, the Outlook app that is already connected with this feature will not be disconnected.
    If you want to disconnect it separately, please refer to the "Modern Authentication App Disconnection Procedure" below and consider disconnecting the app.

Modern Authentication App Disconnection Procedure

It is possible to forcibly disconnect the Outlook app, including those already connected, using the procedure in the following HENNGE One Help Center article.
If there is a possibility that there are users using the Outlook app on unauthorized Smartphone devices with the "Always connect to Outlook" feature described in this article, please consider this response.
Disconnect Microsoft Entra ID Modern Authentication

[Reference 1] Behavior when setting up the Smartphone Outlook app with the Always connect to Outlook feature

Below, we provide the procedure and behavior screenshots as reference information when setting up the Smartphone Outlook app using the "Always connect to Outlook" feature.

  1. Sign in to Microsoft 365 with a PC Browser and open Outlook on the Web
    The "Always connect to Outlook" screen will be displayed on the Outlook on the Web screen

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  2. Follow the display, enter the phone number of the Smartphone, and click "Get the mobile app" to display a QR code on the screen as shown below
    ※ The email address of the logged-in user is displayed at the top of the screen, and once the setup is complete, the Microsoft Outlook app on the Smartphone will also start connecting with this user.

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  3. Install the Microsoft Outlook app on any Smartphone (this can also be done from the App Store (iPhone) / Google Play (Android))

  4. Launch the Microsoft Outlook app and tap "Sign in using a QR code on the computer" on the account addition screen

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  5. The sign-in screen with QR code will be displayed, tap "Scan QR code" and scan the QR code displayed on the PC Browser side (the QR code in step 3 above)

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  6. The setup of the Microsoft Outlook app on the Smartphone is completed, and the use of the Outlook app starts with the same account as the one logged in on the PC Browser
    ※ On the Smartphone side, the use of the Outlook app starts without logging in to Microsoft 365 or HENNGE.

[Reference 2] How to check the authenticated Outlook app on a Smartphone (iPhone/Android)

Although it is not possible to check the Outlook app and device connected using the "Always connect to Outlook" feature of Outlook on the Web described in this article, it is possible to check the currently authenticated Outlook mobile app and its users on a Smartphone (iPhone/Android) with the following procedure.

  1. Create a "Temp" folder directly under the C:\ drive 

  2. Connect to Exchange Online using PowerShell

    Connect to Exchange Online PowerShell

  3. Execute the following commands one line at a time

    $MobileDevice = Get-MobileDevice -Filter {(DeviceModel -eq "Outlook for iOS and Android")}
    $MobileDevice | Select *, @{n="UserDisplayNameNew";e={$_.Identity.Substring(0,$_.Identity.IndexOf("\"))}} | Export-Csv -Path C:\Temp\OutlookDevice.csv -Encoding UTF8 -NoTypeInformation
  4. An "OutlookDevice.csv" file will be created in the Temp folder directly under the C:\ drive
    ※ The target users are displayed in the [UserDisplayName] of column [O] or [UserDisplayNameNew] of column [AP] in the exported CSV file with the user's display name or Alias Info.

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