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Get Outlook 2013 RT with Windows RT 8.1

  • Article

Windows RT 8.1 has been available in the Windows Store for a couple of weeks now. If your users are still running Windows RT 8.1 Preview, be sure to get the word out that they should install the final version of Windows RT 8.1 before January 2014, when the license for the preview expires. They should also review the information at https://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/update-from-preview.

The following is a refresh from a previous blog about what business users can and can’t do with the Outlook 2013 RT application, with some new info sprinkled in.

Outlook 2013 RT, in your enterprise

Windows RT 8.1 ships with Office 2013 RT. If your organization also purchased commercial use rights or has a commercial license to Office 2013 suites that include Outlook, your users can use Outlook 2013 RT to get to business on their RT devices too.

Because tablets have special needs for security and mobility, a few features are not available in Outlook 2013 RT. Here’s a breakdown:

Microsoft Exchange and Office 365 mailbox accounts

Outlook 2013 RT can connect to your organization’s Exchange Server 2007, 2010, or 2013 as long as the Autodiscover service is configured. However, Outlook 2013 RT doesn’t support these Microsoft Exchange features:

  • Online Archive or Personal Archive mailboxes
  • Applying Messaging Records Management (MRM) retention policies
  • Site Mailboxes
  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policy tips

VBA and COM Add-ins

Outlook 2013 RT doesn’t run macros, add-ins, or other custom programs or solutions developed within your organization or by third parties. This applies to all applications that are included with Microsoft Office 2013 RT (which is installed automatically with Windows RT 8.1).

Information Rights Management (IRM)

Outlook 2013 RT doesn’t allow you to set IRM on new email messages.

Microsoft Lync integration

There is no integration between Outlook 2013 RT and Lync. Microsoft Office 2013 RT applications do not integrate with Lync.

SharePoint integration

The Outlook Contact Card doesn’t display an active link to users’ SharePoint My Site pages. However, Outlook 2013 RT can connect to and synchronize with SharePoint lists.

Junk email filtering

You can open Junk email options and set safe and blocked senders when connected to a Microsoft Exchange Server or Office 365 mailbox account. However, Outlook 2013 RT disables the Junk settings when connected to POP3, IMAP, or Outlook.com email accounts. Outlook.com and other ISP users are still protected from junk email though since those services provide junk email filtering on the back end.

Fax providers

You cannot add a fax account to Outlook 2013 RT.

Group Policy

Outlook 2013 RT cannot be configured using Group Policy. This applies to all applications that are included with Microsoft Office 2013 RT.

There’s a great article here that explains in more detail exactly what application features and functionality are available in Office 2013 RT, and how reset and upgrade work.

Abdias Ruiz (Senior Support Escalation Engineer)
LeAnn Ashford (Senior Technical Writer)

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    thank you for the information

  • Anonymous
    November 08, 2013
    I update to 8.1 on a Surface Rt expecting Outlook to also download ... where is it?  How can I get it.  I have Office 365 on a Surface Pro but can't install my purchased version onto the Rt as I receive a message saying Office is already installed ... hence the Rt is still stuck with Mail.   If the download is not available ... can I delete Word, etc. on the Rt followed by a full installation of my purchased Office 365 ... or am I going to end up with no Office apps. Please help.

  • Anonymous
    November 09, 2013
    It's among your apps. From the Start screen, you can just start typing "Outlook" (no quotes) to search for it (and that's a super handy way to find any app, btw). Then once you find it, right-click and choose Pin to taskbar. That will pin it to your Start screen.

  • Anonymous
    November 11, 2013
    It's among your apps. From the Start screen, you can just start typing "Outlook" (no quotes) to search for it (and that's a super handy way to find any app, btw). Then once you find it, right-click and choose Pin to Start. That will pin it to your Start screen.

  • Anonymous
    December 30, 2013
    Interesting Finds: December 30, 2013

  • Anonymous
    July 24, 2015
    So how do you actually download Outlook RT? I have a windows 8.1 tablet and yet outlook rt is not in the windows store nor have i found it anywhere online.