What is the difference between Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Outlook Express?

Basics of Outlook Express

Outlook Express is a POP3- and IMAP-compatible mail client with a built-in newsreader. It is available with Internet Explorer for Windows or as a stand-alone client for Mac OS 8.1 to 9.x (but not Mac OS X). Outlook Express is much simpler to set up and use if you only need to read email and news. You can configure it to retrieve email from your account via POP or configure it as an IMAP client to access your mail on an IMAP mail server.

Note: At Indiana University, UITS has discontinued POP mail in favor of IMAP. For more information on the POP and IMAP protocols, see At IU, why doesn't UITS support POP mail?

To set up Outlook Express to read your email at IU, find the appropriate instructions for your desired configuration:

• At IU, how do I configure Outlook Express for Windows to read my mail on the Cyrus mail system?
• At IU, in Mac OS or Mac OS X, how do I configure Outlook Express 5.0.2 or later, Entourage 2001, or Entourage v.X to read my IU mail?
• At IU, in Outlook Express for Windows, how do I read my Exchange mail using IMAP?

Basics of Outlook

Outlook is also an email client, but unlike Outlook Express, it is also a personal information manager. You can use it for viewing and maintaining calendars, organizing contacts, and managing tasks. When you use it with an Exchange server account, you can use it for group scheduling and sharing your contacts and tasks with others.

To set up Outlook to read your email at IU, find the appropriate instructions for your desired configuration:

• At IU, using Outlook 2007, how do I access my Exchange mailbox?
• At IU, using Outlook 2002 or 2003, how do I access my Exchange mailbox?
• At IU, in Outlook 2007, how do I read my Cyrus or Exchange email using IMAP?
• At IU, in Outlook 2002 or 2003, how do I read my Cyrus or Exchange email using IMAP?
• At IU, in Outlook 2000, how do I read my Cyrus mail using IMAP?

Both Outlook and Outlook Express can receive email from multiple accounts.

Also see:

• In Microsoft Outlook 2000 and later for Windows, how do I automatically forward all of my mail to another address?
• What is Microsoft Outlook?
• In Microsoft Outlook for Windows, what are offline folders, and how do I enable and disable them?
• When using Outlook Express or Entourage as a POP client, how do I leave my mail on the server so I can read it from any computer?
• In Outlook Express or Entourage, how do I move or save multiple messages?
• What is Outlook Express?
• In Windows, how can I see what version of Microsoft Outlook I have?