Lightning for Outlook is the legacy name for the Outlook Integration. You enable it from Setup on the Salesforce side, then coordinate the Microsoft 365 approval. Here is the modern path for a current org.
- Open the Outlook Integration setup
In Setup, enter Outlook in the Quick Find box and select Outlook Integration and Sync. This is the node that replaced the old Lightning for Outlook page.
- Turn on the integration
Switch Let users access Salesforce records from Outlook to on. This enables the add-in and exposes the email application pane settings for your org.
- Choose your sync engine
Set up Einstein Activity Capture so email and event sync happens automatically. Assign users through a configuration, using user-level authentication or a Microsoft 365 service account.
- Coordinate the Microsoft 365 approval
Ask your Microsoft administrator to approve the Salesforce add-in for the organization. Without this, users see a security warning when they try to add it in Outlook.
- Deploy and verify with users
Have a pilot user add the add-in in Outlook on Windows, Mac, or the web, open an email, and confirm the Salesforce panel loads and logs to a record.
Einstein Activity Capture is the modern default. Lightning Sync still works but is closed to new customers and retires in April 2027.
User-level authentication has each rep connect their own mailbox. A service account lets an admin onboard a whole group at once.
Enable Salesforce Inbox to add send later, email tracking, and insert availability inside the Outlook panel. This needs a separate license.
Customize which Salesforce components and quick actions appear in the Outlook panel so reps see the most relevant records first.
- The add-in works only in Lightning Experience. Salesforce Classic users cannot use it, so finish any Lightning migration first.
- The Microsoft 365 admin approval is the most common rollout blocker, and it lives outside Salesforce. Line it up before the user launch.
- Do not confuse this add-in with Salesforce for Outlook, the retiring desktop client. They are different products that share the Outlook name.
- Record matching is by email address, so contacts and leads need accurate email values or the panel will not find them.