Salesforce + Outlook Integration

Complete Guide to Salesforce Outlook Integration

Sync emails, calendar events, and contacts seamlessly between Salesforce and Microsoft Outlook. Save hours daily with automated workflows and unified data management.

Email Sync

Bidirectional sync

Calendar Integration

Real-time events

Contact Sync

Unified database

Why Integrate Salesforce with Outlook?

Save 5-10 hours per week per user by eliminating manual data entry and keeping your team's communication in sync

Save Time Daily

Eliminate duplicate data entry. Emails and events automatically sync to Salesforce records.

Better Visibility

See all email communications in Salesforce alongside opportunities, leads, and accounts.

Work Your Way

Stay in Outlook while accessing Salesforce data. No need to switch between applications.

Data Accuracy

Reduce errors with automatic syncing. Keep contact information up-to-date across both platforms.

Salesforce Outlook Integration Options

Choose the integration method that best fits your team's needs

Salesforce Inbox

RECOMMENDED

Modern cloud-based integration that works as an Outlook add-in. Best for teams looking for the latest features and mobile support.

Works in Outlook desktop, web, and mobile
AI-powered email insights and recommendations
Real-time sync with Einstein Activity Capture
No software installation required
Sidebar in Outlook with Salesforce records

Best for: Sales teams, Lightning Experience users, Office 365 environments

Lightning Sync

ALTERNATIVE

Server-side sync that automatically captures emails and events. Better for organizations needing behind-the-scenes synchronization.

Automatic email and event logging
Contact sync with rules-based mapping
Works with Exchange Server or Office 365
Admin-controlled sync settings
Limited to specific Salesforce editions

Best for: Enterprise organizations, background syncing, controlled deployments

How to Set Up Salesforce Inbox for Outlook

Follow these steps to connect Salesforce with Outlook in under 15 minutes

1

Prerequisites Check

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

  • Salesforce Lightning Experience (Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, or higher)
  • Microsoft Outlook desktop, web, or mobile app
  • Salesforce Inbox license assigned to your user
  • System Administrator access for initial setup
2

Enable Salesforce Inbox in Salesforce

Your Salesforce admin needs to enable and configure Inbox:

  • Navigate to Setup → Search for 'Inbox' → Click 'Inbox Settings'
  • Click 'Enable Salesforce Inbox' toggle
  • Configure Einstein Activity Capture for automatic email tracking
  • Set sync preferences (emails, events, contacts)
  • Assign Inbox permission sets to users
3

Install Outlook Add-in

Users install the Salesforce Inbox add-in from Microsoft AppSource:

  • Open Outlook (desktop, web, or mobile)
  • Go to Get Add-ins or visit AppSource
  • Search for 'Salesforce' or 'Salesforce Inbox'
  • Click 'Add' to install the add-in
  • The Salesforce icon will appear in your Outlook ribbon
4

Connect Your Accounts

Link Salesforce and Outlook accounts for the first time:

  • Click the Salesforce icon in Outlook
  • Sign in with your Salesforce credentials
  • Authorize the connection when prompted
  • Choose sync preferences (what to sync and how often)
  • Complete the setup wizard
5

Configure Sync Settings

Customize what data syncs between Salesforce and Outlook:

  • Email Sync: Choose which emails to log to Salesforce automatically
  • Calendar Sync: Sync Salesforce events to Outlook calendar
  • Contact Sync: Sync Salesforce contacts to Outlook
  • Set up filters to sync only relevant records
  • Configure email templates and tracking preferences
6

Test the Integration

Verify everything works correctly:

  • Send a test email to a Salesforce contact and check if it appears in Salesforce
  • Create a calendar event and verify it syncs to both systems
  • Update a contact in Outlook and ensure it updates in Salesforce
  • Test the sidebar: Open an email and view related Salesforce records

Need Help with Setup?

Setting up Salesforce Outlook integration can be complex, especially for larger teams with specific requirements. Our certified Salesforce consultants can handle the entire setup, configuration, and training process for you.

Schedule a Consultation

What You Can Do with Salesforce Outlook Integration

Real-world use cases that save time and improve productivity

📧 Automatic Email Logging

Every email you send or receive is automatically saved to the related Salesforce record—no manual logging required.

📅 Two-Way Calendar Sync

Create events in Salesforce that appear in Outlook, or schedule meetings in Outlook that update Salesforce automatically.

👤 Unified Contact Management

Keep contact information synchronized. Update once, and changes reflect in both Salesforce and Outlook.

🎯 Contextual Insights

View related Salesforce records (opportunities, cases, accounts) directly in Outlook while reading emails.

⚡ Quick Actions

Create leads, log calls, add tasks, or update opportunities without leaving your inbox.

📊 Email Analytics

Track email opens, link clicks, and engagement metrics. See which prospects are most interested.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Quick solutions to frequent Salesforce Outlook integration problems

Emails are not syncing to Salesforce

Possible causes:

  • Einstein Activity Capture is not enabled or configured
  • Email filters are too restrictive
  • Sync is paused or disabled for the user
  • Email address doesn't match any Salesforce contact/lead

Solutions:

  • Verify Einstein Activity Capture is active in Setup
  • Check email sync settings in Salesforce Inbox
  • Ensure the recipient email exists in a Salesforce record
  • Review sync error logs in Salesforce
Salesforce Inbox add-in not appearing in Outlook

Solutions:

  • Verify the add-in is installed: File → Manage Add-ins in Outlook
  • Check if your organization allows add-ins (IT policy restriction)
  • Clear Outlook cache and restart the application
  • Re-install the add-in from Microsoft AppSource
  • Ensure you're using a supported Outlook version
Contacts are duplicating between Salesforce and Outlook

Causes:

  • Contact sync rules are not properly configured
  • Duplicate detection is not enabled
  • Multiple sync sources are active

Solutions:

  • Review contact sync direction (one-way vs two-way)
  • Enable duplicate detection rules in Salesforce
  • Set up contact matching rules based on email address
  • Disable other sync tools if running multiple integrations
Calendar events are not syncing properly

Solutions:

  • Verify calendar sync is enabled in Lightning Sync settings
  • Check event sync filters and date range settings
  • Ensure the Outlook calendar is set as the default calendar
  • Review event field mapping between Salesforce and Outlook
  • Check for conflicting calendar sync tools
Performance issues or slow sync

Solutions:

  • Reduce sync frequency for non-critical data
  • Limit the number of records being synced with filters
  • Archive old emails and events to reduce data volume
  • Check Salesforce and Exchange server performance
  • Optimize Salesforce automation rules and workflows

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Salesforce Inbox included in my Salesforce license?+
Salesforce Inbox requires a separate license. It's available with Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and other Salesforce editions. Check with your Salesforce account executive or contact us for licensing guidance.
Can I use Salesforce Inbox with Outlook on mobile?+
Yes! Salesforce Inbox works on Outlook for iOS and Android. The mobile experience includes viewing Salesforce records, logging emails, and creating tasks directly from your phone.
Does this work with Outlook.com (personal Outlook accounts)?+
Salesforce Inbox is designed for business use and works with Office 365 / Microsoft 365 business accounts and on-premise Exchange Server. Personal Outlook.com accounts are not officially supported.
What's the difference between Salesforce Inbox and Lightning Sync?+
Salesforce Inbox is a user-facing Outlook add-in that provides a sidebar with Salesforce data and AI insights. Lightning Sync is a server-side background sync engine. They work together—Lightning Sync handles the syncing, while Inbox provides the user interface.
How secure is the integration?+
Very secure. Salesforce uses OAuth 2.0 for authentication, and all data is encrypted in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest. You control what data syncs and who has access through Salesforce permission sets and sharing rules.
Can I customize which emails get logged to Salesforce?+
Yes! You can set up filters based on sender, recipient, subject line, or domain. You can also manually select which emails to log. Einstein Activity Capture learns from your behavior to automatically log relevant emails.

Need Expert Help with Salesforce Outlook Integration?

Our certified Salesforce consultants can set up, configure, and optimize your Salesforce Outlook integration. From initial setup to advanced customizations, we handle it all so your team can focus on selling.