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 cases, 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
- Block access to mailbox if there is a security certificate error
- Block access to mailbox if user is trying to use basic authentication
- Disable automatic updating of weather location
- Disable calendar sharing permissions
- Disable Copy or Move emails between accounts
- 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
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. |
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. |
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. |
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 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. |
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 |
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 |
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. |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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. |
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. |
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 | Yes |
Availability | 16.40 |
Comments | Only applies to the new Outlook. |
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 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 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. |
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. |
Prevent users from connecting to mailbox if there is a security certificate error.
Category | Details |
---|---|
Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
Key | FailAllCertificateErrors |
Data Type | Boolean |
Possible values | false (default) true |
Requires Configuration Profile | No |
Availability | 16.94 |
Comments | This key suppresses all certificate alerts and block connections if there is a security certificate error. |
Prevent users from connecting to mailbox if basic authentication is used.
Category | Details |
---|---|
Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
Key | DisableBasic |
Data Type | Boolean |
Possible values | false (default) true |
Requires Configuration Profile | No |
Availability | 16.93 |
Comments | This key disables basic authentication for Exchange accounts in Outlook. |
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. |
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. |
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 |
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. |
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, safe senders and GAL 2 = In all messages (default) |
Requires Configuration Profile | No |
Availability | 16.91 |
Comments | Found under Outlook > Settings > Email > Reading > Download external images. |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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 |
Prevent users from copying or moving emails between accounts.
Category | Details |
---|---|
Domain | com.microsoft.Outlook |
Key | ItemsToOtherAccountsEnabled |
Data Type | Integer |
Possible values | 0 = Disable move/copy between accounts 1 = Allow move/copy between accounts (Default) |
Requires Configuration Profile | No |
Availability | 16.87 |