How to Stop Office Outlook Synchronization
By Nick Peers
If you add a Microsoft Exchange account to Microsoft Office Outlook, Outlook synchronizes the data on the Exchange server with the data on your computer. Contacts, emails and calendars are automatically synchronized by default. Outlook saves the data on your computer so it can be accessed by other people. To keep the data on the Exchange server, you must stop the synchronization. The data will reside only on the Exchange server as soon as you configure Outlook to stop the automatic sync.
Step 1
Launch Microsoft Office Outlook. Click "File," click the "Account Settings" button and choose "Account Settings" from the menu. The Account Settings window opens.
Step 2
Select the Exchange email account and then click the "Change" button. The Change Account window opens.
Step 3
Uncheck the "Use Cached Exchange Mode" box in the Offline Settings section to prevent Outlook from synchronizing the data and storing it in the offline data file on your hard disk.
Step 4
Click "Next" and then click "Finish." Close the Account Settings window and restart Microsoft Outlook.
References
Tips
- You can view your data on the Exchange server using Outlook, but the data is no longer synchronized with your offline data file after you disable the "Use Cached Exchange Mode" option.
- Data is only stored on the Exchange server, so only you can access it. Eliminating the offline data file frees disk space, especially if you have a very large mailbox.
- Data from POP3 and IMAP accounts is always synchronized with your personal data file.
Warnings
- Information in this article applies to Microsoft Office Outlook 2013. It may vary slightly or significantly with other versions or products.
- You can't access any data on the Exchange servers at times when you don't have an Internet connection.
Writer Bio
Nick Peers has been writing technology-related articles since 2003. His articles have appeared in dozens of technical publications, including MSN UK, CNET, BBC Who Do You Think You Are, LifeHacker UK and TechRadar. He holds a Masters in information technology degree from the University of East London.