Some features in Outlook require you to use a Microsoft Exchange account. Exchange is an e-mail-based collaborative communications server for businesses. Licenses for Exchange can be purchased from Microsoft and its resellers.

If your organization uses Exchange, but you do not know whether you have an account or how to use it, you must contact your organization's Help desk or network administrator for assistance.

Home users typically do not have an Exchange account; instead they use a POP3 e-mail account with an Internet service provider (ISP) (ISP: A business that provides access to the Internet for such things as electronic mail, chat rooms, or use of the World Wide Web. Some ISPs are multinational, offering access in many locations, while others are limited to a specific region.) or use a Web-based e-mail service, such as Windows Live Mail. If you use a POP3 (POP3: A common protocol that is used to retrieve e-mail messages from an Internet e-mail server.) e-mail account, your ISP can provide you with your specific account information. People without Exchange accounts cannot use the features in Outlook that require Exchange.

The Help for features that require an Exchange account includes one of the following notations:

• This feature requires you to use a Microsoft Exchange account. Most home and personal accounts do not use Exchange.
• This feature requires you to use a Microsoft Exchange account in Cached Exchange Mode. Most home and personal accounts do not use Exchange.
• This feature requires you to use a Microsoft Exchange Server 2000, Exchange Server 2003, or Exchange Server 2007 account. Most home and personal accounts do not use Microsoft Exchange.
• This feature requires you to use a Microsoft Exchange Server 2000, Exchange Server 2003, or Exchange Server 2007 account in Cached Exchange Mode. Most home and personal accounts do not use Microsoft Exchange.
• This feature requires you to use a Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 or Exchange Server 2007 account. Most home and personal accounts do not use Microsoft Exchange.
• This feature requires you to use a Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 or Exchange Server 2007 account in Cached Exchange Mode. Most home and personal accounts do not use Microsoft Exchange.
• This feature requires you to use a Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 account. Most home and personal accounts do not use Microsoft Exchange.
• This feature requires you to use a Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 account in Cached Exchange Mode. Most home and personal accounts do not use Microsoft Exchange.

To determine which version of Exchange your account connects to, see Determine the version of Microsoft Exchange my account connects to.

If you are not using an Exchange account, you may not see the menus, commands, or options mentioned in the Help for the features.

What types of e-mail accounts does your Outlook profile have?

You can check the Account Settings dialog box in Outlook for the types of e-mail accounts in your Outlook profile.

1. On the Tools menu, click Account Settings.
2. On the E-mail tab, the Type column lists the type of account for each entry.

Note Some features may require specific versions of Exchange. To determine which version of Exchange your account connects to, see Determine the version of Microsoft Exchange my account connects to.