Introduction of Outlook Add-Ins
MS Outlook is an advance email clients that has all required functions to make emailing and data storage experience optimal for user. However, for more enhanced experience with Outlook there are multiple Add –Ins out of which some are beneficial and some might not. Add-ins are those features that acceptance is primarily depended on user’s choice. Some add-ins are offered at the time MS Outlook installation. You can run these extra features or can deactivate them. These are third-party applications that you can install.
How to search the add-ins in MS Outlook
To locate the already installed add-ins of your Outlook, launch the application and visit “Tool” menu and then drag the cursor to “Trust Center”.
A new window will open as you click on “Trust Center”. Now, you can activate and deactivate add-in applications. The list shows:
Active Application Add-ins- It displays those extensions that are registered and running.
Inactive Application Add-ins- It displays extensions that are available but inactive at present or is not loaded.
Disabling the Unwanted Add-Ins
Many a times, you don’t require an add-in and want to disable it. An add-in tool can make your Outlook slow. If it is unnecessary, it is better to remove it to enhance the speed of the Outlook.
In the same “Trust Centre” window the option is available. Go to the “Manage” option featuring at the bottom of the page and press “Go”
A small window will open carry all the third applications. The window shows “Add” and “Remove” application tabs. Select the add-in applications and then click ‘Remove’ to remove them and “add” to activate the selected applications.
Default Add-Ins
When you launch an MS Outlook application, some add-ins are preinstalled. You can inactive the add that you don’t want. The default add-ins are varied from version to version of MS Outlook. It is also depended on the additional utilities of MS Office suite you are running.
Some Top Outlook Add-Ins
MS Exchange Add-in
If you are looking to use Exchange features, the add-in will be beneficial for you.
MS SharePoint Server Colleague Import
The SharePoint based feature is capable to scan sent items folder to tack names of colleagues who have been offered on a user’s SharePoint My Site’s Add Colleague page.
MS SMS
This is a useful add-in that brings Outlook messages to your mobile phone. It enables you to send text from your Outlook email via mobile, easily send messages and save messages as email drafts. The add-in works with Outlook 2010 and older versions.
Outlook Social Connector
The add-in helps establishing better connection with social media sites. It allows you to pull images of your friends from Facebook and add them to your Outlook email address in your contacts. The feature works with Outlook 2003, 2007 and 2010.
There are multiple MS Outlook add-ins. Before you install any add-in, carefully go through their features. Some add-ins are suitable for particular versions of Outlook which is necessary to check. Some add-ins are paid and some are free. Keep these important things in your mind.