# Microsoft Exchange FAQ

<details>

<summary>What's the difference between Exchange and Office 365?</summary>

**Office 365** (now Microsoft 365) is Microsoft's cloud-based email service with OAuth authentication. It's the simpler option with more features like contact sync and calendar.

**Microsoft Exchange** in Missive refers to connecting via IMAP to on-premises Exchange servers or hosted Exchange that doesn't support OAuth. Use this when Office 365 OAuth isn't available.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Why doesn't Missive support the Exchange protocol directly?</summary>

Exchange is a proprietary protocol that requires licensing from Microsoft. Missive uses IMAP instead, which most Exchange servers support and provides the same email sync functionality.

</details>

<details>

<summary>How do I know if my Exchange server supports IMAP?</summary>

Ask your IT administrator. Most modern Exchange deployments have IMAP enabled. They can provide the correct hostname, ports, and encryption settings.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Which option should I choose for my company's Exchange?</summary>

* **Office 365/Outlook.com accounts:** Use the [Office 365](/docs/core-features/connected-accounts/email-accounts/outlook-office-365.md) connection
* **On-premises Exchange server:** Use Microsoft Exchange (IMAP)
* **Hosted Exchange (not Microsoft 365):** Use Microsoft Exchange (IMAP)

</details>

<details>

<summary>Can I sync contacts and calendar from Exchange IMAP?</summary>

No. Contact and calendar sync require OAuth integration, which is only available through the [Office 365 / Outlook](/docs/core-features/connected-accounts/email-accounts/outlook-office-365.md) connection.

</details>

<details>

<summary>What port and encryption should I use?</summary>

Common configurations:

**IMAP:**

* Port 993 with SSL/TLS (most common)
* Port 143 with STARTTLS

**SMTP:**

* Port 587 with STARTTLS (most common)
* Port 465 with SSL/TLS

</details>

<details>

<summary>My username format isn't working</summary>

Some Exchange servers require specific username formats:

* Email address: `user@company.com`
* Domain format: `DOMAIN\username`
* UPN format: `user@domain.local`

Check with your IT team for the correct format.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Can I use Exchange with shared mailboxes?</summary>

Shared mailbox access via IMAP depends on your Exchange server configuration. Some setups allow it, others don't. For reliable shared mailbox support, use [Office 365 / Outlook](/docs/core-features/connected-accounts/email-accounts/outlook-office-365.md) with OAuth.

</details>


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