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Getting Started with Microsoft Outlook

Kevin Speyer
Updated
Getting Started with Microsoft Outlook

Getting Started with Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook is your hub for La Sierra email, calendar, contacts, and tasks. This guide covers signing in and the everyday tasks you'll use most.

Sign in note: Use your full La Sierra email address (yourusername@lasierra.edu) and your La Sierra password when prompted.

1. Getting Started

Sign in to Outlook

You can use Outlook in three places:

  • Web: Go to outlook.office.com and sign in with your @lasierra.edu account.
  • Desktop app (Windows/Mac): Outlook is included with Microsoft 365. Launch it from your Start menu or Applications folder and sign in.
  • Mobile app: Search "Microsoft Outlook" in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android), install, and sign in.

Video: Get started in Outlook

Tour the interface

Outlook's main areas appear in the left sidebar:

Icon What it does
Mail Inbox, folders, and email
Calendar Appointments and meetings
People Contacts and address book
To Do / Tasks Personal task lists

The top toolbar handles New mail, Reply, Forward, Delete, and Search.

2. Common Tasks

Send a new email

  1. Click New mail (or New message) in the top left.
  2. Type a name or email in To: — Outlook will suggest matches from the La Sierra directory.
  3. Add a Subject and your message.
  4. (Optional) Click the paperclip to attach a file.
  5. Click Send.

Guide: Create and send email

Reply, Reply All, or Forward

  1. Open the email.
  2. Click Reply (just the sender), Reply all (everyone on the thread), or Forward (send to someone new).
  3. Type your message and click Send.

Tip: Use Reply by default. Only use Reply all when everyone on the thread truly needs your response.

Organize email with folders

  1. In the left sidebar, right-click your mailbox name and choose Create new folder.
  2. Name the folder (e.g., "Coursework," "Department").
  3. Drag emails into the folder, or right-click an email and choose Move.

Search your mailbox

  1. Click the Search bar at the top of Outlook.
  2. Type a name, subject, or keyword.
  3. Refine with filters like From, Has attachment, or This week.

Schedule a meeting

  1. Click Calendar in the left sidebar.
  2. Click New event (or New meeting) at the top.
  3. Add a title, attendees, location, date, and time.
  4. (Optional) Toggle Teams meeting on to add a Teams link automatically.
  5. Click Send.

Guide: Schedule a Teams meeting from Outlook

Accept, decline, or propose a new time

  1. Open the meeting invitation.
  2. Click Accept, Tentative, Decline, or Propose new time.
  3. Choose whether to send a response and click your choice.

Set up an Out-of-Office (automatic) reply

  1. Click the gear icon (top right) > View all Outlook settings (web) or File > Automatic Replies (desktop).
  2. Turn on Automatic replies.
  3. Set start/end times and write your message.
  4. (Optional) Use a different message for senders outside La Sierra.
  5. Click Save.

Guide: Send automatic replies

Add a signature

  1. Click the gear icon > View all Outlook settings.
  2. Go to Mail > Compose and reply.
  3. Type your signature (name, title, department, contact info).
  4. Choose whether to add it automatically to new messages or replies.
  5. Click Save.

Flag, pin, or archive emails

  • Flag: Click the flag icon to add a follow-up reminder.
  • Pin: Click the pin icon to keep important emails at the top of your inbox.
  • Archive: Click Archive to move email out of the inbox without deleting it.

3. Using Outlook with Microsoft Teams

Outlook and Teams share the same calendar and meeting system, so changes in one show up in the other.

See your Outlook calendar in Teams

  1. Open Teams and click the Calendar icon in the left sidebar.
  2. Your Outlook meetings appear here automatically. Joining, accepting, or declining works the same way as in Outlook.

Schedule a Teams meeting from Outlook

  1. In Outlook, open the Calendar and click New event or New meeting.
  2. Add a title, attendees, date, and time.
  3. Toggle Teams meeting on (in the meeting form) — a join link is added automatically.
  4. Click Send.

Share an email to Teams

  1. Open the email in Outlook (desktop or web).
  2. Click More actions (the three dots) > Share to Teams.
  3. Choose a person, group chat, or channel and add a note.
  4. Click Share.

Guide: Schedule a Teams meeting from Outlook

Video Tutorials

A consolidated list of helpful Microsoft training videos:

Need more help?

If you run into trouble or have questions, contact the La Sierra University A-Team:

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