Outlook on the Web (OWA) is the browser-based version of Outlook - your full work email, calendar, and contacts accessible at outlook.office.com without installing anything. The PWA (Progressive Web App) takes OWA one step further: it installs Outlook as an app-like experience on your computer, with its own window, taskbar icon, and desktop notifications - without needing a Microsoft 365 desktop license!

 

💡  Why this matters for E1 users: E1 licenses do not include the Outlook desktop app (the installed .exe). The PWA gives you the next best thing - an Outlook window that launches from your Start menu, stays in your taskbar, and sends desktop notifications, just like a native app. It is free, takes 30 seconds to set up, and is the recommended daily email experience for all PFM users.

 

Part 1: OWA vs. PWA - What Is the Difference?

Both OWA and the PWA use the exact same Outlook interface and features. The difference is entirely in how you access and experience it:

 

Feature	🌐  OWA (Browser tab)	🖥️  PWA (Installed app)
How you access it	Open browser → go to outlook.office.com	✅  Click an icon in Start menu or taskbar - no browser needed
Has its own window	No - lives in a browser tab	✅  Yes - opens in its own clean app window
Shows in taskbar	Only as your browser	✅  Yes - as its own Outlook icon
Desktop notifications	⚠️  Only when browser is open	✅  Yes - even when the window is closed
Accidentally closeable	Yes - closing the browser tab closes Outlook	✅  Closing Outlook doesn't close your browser
Works offline	⚠️  Limited - needs internet for most tasks	⚠️  Limited - same as OWA, but caches recent mail
All the same features	Yes - full OWA feature set	✅  Yes - identical features to OWA
Requires installation	No - just open the URL	Yes - one-time 30-second install
Best for	Quick access, occasional use	✅  Daily driver - recommended for E1 users

 

✅  Our recommendation: Install the PWA. It takes 30 seconds, costs nothing, and turns your browser-based Outlook into something that feels and behaves like a proper app. You still get every OWA feature - just with a better day-to-day experience.

 

Part 2: Installing the Outlook PWA

The PWA is installed from your browser while you are signed into Outlook on the web. The steps differ slightly depending on which browser you use.

 

🖥️  Microsoft Edge (Recommended - Windows) 1.  Open Edge and go to outlook.office.com. Sign in with your work account if prompted. 2.  Look for the install icon in the address bar - it looks like a small computer screen with a download arrow. Click it. 3.  A prompt will appear: "Install Outlook?" Click Install. 4.  Outlook will open in its own window immediately. You can also choose to pin it to the taskbar or add a Start menu shortcut from the options shown. If you don't see the install icon: click the three dots menu (⋯) → Apps → Install this site as an app.

 

🌐  Google Chrome (Windows or Mac) 1.  Open Chrome and go to outlook.office.com. Sign in with your work account. 2.  Look for the install icon in the address bar on the right side - a monitor with a download arrow. Click it. 3.  Click Install in the confirmation prompt. 4.  Outlook opens in its own window. On Windows it will be added to the Start menu; on Mac it appears in the Applications folder and Dock. Alternative: click the three dots menu → Save and share → Install page as app.

 

🍎  Safari on Mac 1.  Open Safari and go to outlook.office.com. Sign in. 2.  Click File in the menu bar → Add to Dock. 3.  Give it a name (e.g. "Outlook") and click Add. 4.  An Outlook icon will appear in your Dock. Click it to open Outlook in a standalone app window. Note: Safari's PWA support is more limited than Edge or Chrome - notifications may require additional permissions in System Settings → Notifications.

 

Part 3: Installing Outlook PWA on Your Phone or Tablet

On mobile devices, the PWA installs as a home screen shortcut that launches Outlook in a full-screen app-like view, separate from your browser.

 

💡  Mobile users: the Outlook app is usually better. If you are on iPhone or Android, the dedicated Outlook mobile app (from the App Store or Play Store) is generally a better experience than the mobile PWA. The PWA is most valuable on desktop and laptop computers. Use the mobile Outlook app for day-to-day email on your phone - see the M365 on Your Phone article for setup steps.

 

iPhone / iPad - Add to Home Screen

1. Open Safari and go to outlook.office.com. Sign in with your work account.
2. Tap the Share icon at the bottom of the screen (the box with an arrow pointing up).
3. Scroll down in the share sheet and tap Add to Home Screen.
4. Give it a name - "Outlook" - and tap Add.
5. An Outlook icon will appear on your home screen. Tap it to open Outlook in a full-screen view without the Safari navigation bar.

 

Android - Add to Home Screen

1. Open Chrome and go to outlook.office.com. Sign in.
2. Tap the three dots menu in the top right.
3. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app if the option appears.
4. Tap Add or Install in the confirmation. An Outlook icon appears on your home screen.

 

Part 4: Setting Up Notifications

One of the main advantages of the PWA over a plain browser tab is desktop notifications - you get alerted to new emails and calendar reminders even when the Outlook window is minimised or closed.

 

Enabling notifications in the PWA (Windows)

1. Open the Outlook PWA (from the taskbar or Start menu).
2. Click the Settings gear icon in the top right corner of Outlook.
3. Go to General → Notifications.
4. Turn on Desktop notifications and choose what you want to be notified about - new email, calendar reminders, or both.
5. If Windows prompts you to allow notifications from Outlook, click Allow.

 

💡  If notifications are not arriving: Check Windows notification settings. Go to Start → Settings → System → Notifications and make sure Outlook (the PWA) is in the list and notifications are turned on. The PWA may appear as "Outlook" or as "outlook.office.com" depending on how it was installed.

 

Part 5: Using OWA - Key Features and Tips

Whether you use the PWA or the plain browser tab, the Outlook on the Web interface is identical. Here are the most useful features to know:

 

Navigation

• The left sidebar switches between Mail, Calendar, People (contacts), and To Do - the icons at the very left edge of the window.
• Your folder list (Inbox, Sent, Drafts, etc.) lives in the left panel. Click any folder to open it.
• The top search bar searches across all your mail, contacts, and calendar events.

 

Email tips

• Focused Inbox: OWA separates your inbox into Focused (important) and Other (everything else). Check both tabs - mail from people you don't normally interact with goes to Other.
• Keyboard shortcut: Press N to compose a new email from anywhere in OWA without clicking.
• Right-click for options: Right-click any email for quick actions - flag, mark as read, move, pin, and more.
• Undo send: OWA has a brief undo window after you send an email. Look for the Undo option that flashes at the bottom of the screen immediately after sending. You can extend this delay in Settings → Mail → Compose and reply → Undo send.
• Rules: Set up automatic rules to move, flag, or delete emails that match conditions. Settings gear → View all Outlook settings → Mail → Rules.

 

Calendar tips

• New event shortcut: In the Calendar view, click any time slot directly to create a new event at that time.
• View options: Switch between Day, Work week, Week, and Month views using the buttons in the top right of the calendar.
• Share your calendar: Right-click your calendar in the left panel → Sharing and permissions to control who can see your availability and event details.
• Open other calendars: Click Add calendar to view a colleague's calendar, add a holiday calendar, or subscribe to an external calendar.

 

Settings worth configuring on first use

• Signature: Settings → Mail → Compose and reply → Email signature. Set up your work signature here - it will appear automatically on every new email and reply.
• Automatic replies (Out of office): Settings → Mail → Automatic replies. Set up your out-of-office message before you go on leave.
• Display density: Settings → General → Appearance → Density. Switch between Full, Medium, and Compact to control how many emails fit on screen at once.
• Dark mode: Settings → General → Appearance → Dark mode. Easier on the eyes for long sessions.

Part 6: Browser Support for the PWA

The PWA install option is available in most modern browsers. Here is a quick compatibility reference:

 

Browser	Windows	Mac	Notes
Microsoft Edge	✅  Yes	✅  Yes	Recommended - best integration with Windows and M365
Google Chrome	✅  Yes	✅  Yes	Fully supported - install prompt appears in address bar
Firefox	⚠️  Partial	⚠️  Partial	PWA support added in Firefox 143 (Sept 2025) - update to latest version
Safari	❌  No	⚠️  Partial	Mac: Add to Dock option available but limited notification support
Brave / Opera	✅  Yes	✅  Yes	Chromium-based - same PWA support as Chrome

 

✅  Best experience: Use Microsoft Edge on Windows - it has the deepest PWA integration of any browser and is already installed on all Windows 10 and 11 computers. Edge gives you the most reliable notifications, the cleanest install experience, and the best performance with M365 apps.

 

Part 7: Uninstalling or Reinstalling the PWA

If you need to remove the Outlook PWA or reinstall it fresh, it is a quick process.

 

Uninstall on Windows (Edge or Chrome)

1. Open the Outlook PWA window.
2. Click the three dots menu in the top right corner of the app window.
3. Select Uninstall Outlook or Remove from Chrome/Edge.
4. Confirm when prompted. The app icon is removed from the taskbar and Start menu.
5. To reinstall, simply go back to outlook.office.com in your browser and follow the install steps in Part 2.

 

💡  Reinstalling does not affect your email or data. The PWA is just a shortcut to the web app - all your email, calendar events, and settings live in the cloud. Uninstalling and reinstalling has no effect on any of that.

 

Part 8: Troubleshooting

 

• I don't see the install icon in the address bar: Make sure you are signed into outlook.office.com with your work account before looking for the icon. It only appears on that URL when you are signed in. Try refreshing the page if it still doesn't appear.

 

• The PWA opened but closed my browser: This is normal - the PWA detaches from the browser into its own window. Your browser is still running in the background.

 

• Notifications are not working: Check Windows Settings → System → Notifications → find Outlook in the list and make sure it is turned on. Also check inside OWA: Settings gear → General → Notifications.

 

• The PWA shows a white screen or won't load: Close the PWA, open your browser, clear the cache (Ctrl+Shift+Delete → All time → clear), then reopen the PWA. If that doesn't work, uninstall and reinstall following Part 7.

 

• I installed it on the wrong browser and want to switch: Uninstall from the current browser (Part 7) and reinstall from your preferred browser (Part 2). Both will work - it is a personal preference.

 

• The OWA session keeps expiring and asking me to sign in: This is a session timeout set by IT policy. Signing into the PWA behaves the same as the browser tab - completing MFA re-establishes your session. If it happens very frequently, contact IT to check your conditional access session settings.

 

🛟  Still stuck? Contact the IT Help Desk. Have your browser name and version, and a description of what you see ready.