setting up gmail in outlook 2016 for mac

Here’s the settings that Microsoft has chosen for a new Gmail account in Outlook.

There are differences between Gmail and Outlook’s way of handling messages but they don’t explain the limitations or defaults in Outlook for Windows. But it’s hard to explain default choices like keeping all mail offline, something they don’t do for their own mailboxes. They seem intended to make Gmail run slowly compared to their own mail services. The default settings for a Gmail account in Outlook for Windows is a typically Microsoft passive-aggressive move. No direct support for Contacts or Calendar means Gmail users are shortchanged if trying to integrate their cloud storage with Outlook for Windows.

So, Microsoft offers a sub-standard ‘tick box’ feature with the minimum service and poor default settings. Microsoft supports Gmail in Outlook but would prefer customers use a Microsoft hosted mailbox like or Microsoft 365. This article explains the important Outlook settings for Gmail accounts, where they are, what they mean and which ones to change for a better Outlook with Gmail. Once you’re add Gmail to Outlook for Windows, there are settings to fix or check. The default Gmail settings in Outlook need some attention because, frankly, they aren’t very good.

Setting up gmail in outlook 2016 for mac