How do I create a new mail profile in Outlook app?

Please note that this article refers to the desktop mail client Outlook 2010/2013/2016 and NOT the outlook.com web interface.

First off, what is a mail profile? This is not just your regular email account sign up. If you want to know more read below.

A profile is a set of emails and settings that Outlook app for Windows uses to remember where your email is stored. When Outlook is started for the first time a profile is automatically created. However, you can create a new profile. And here is how.

  1. Quit your Outlook app.
  2. Go to the Windows Control Panel.
  3. Open Mail. (Tip – the location depends on the OS, but it is usually in the Accounts or Internet section. If you still cannot find it, try the search bar.)Windows Control Panel
    Mail
  4. When the Mail window pops up, you will see the name of the current profile in the title bar.
  5. Click on ‘Show Profiles’. Here you will see all your profiles – the default one including.
    Mail window >> "Show Profiles"
  6. To add a profile, click on ‘Add’.
    Add a profile
  7. Select a name and click on ‘OK’.
    Select a name
  8. Setup an email account for that profile, from the pop-up window.Setup an email account for that profile
  9. When you have finished, click on ‘Finish’.
  10. Choose the option ‘Prompt for a profile to be used’ or change the profile you are using by default from the dropdown menu. Click on ‘OK’.Choose when to use the profile
  11. Start your Outlook app for Windows. You will now notice the difference, even though you have two email accounts setup in your Outlook, the default one and the one you just created, only the latter shows in your Outlook.
Updated on 27 February 2020

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