Microsoft Exchange FAQ
What's the difference between Exchange and Office 365?
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.
Why doesn't Missive support the Exchange protocol directly?
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.
How do I know if my Exchange server supports IMAP?
Ask your IT administrator. Most modern Exchange deployments have IMAP enabled. They can provide the correct hostname, ports, and encryption settings.
Which option should I choose for my company's Exchange?
Office 365/Outlook.com accounts: Use the Office 365 connection
On-premises Exchange server: Use Microsoft Exchange (IMAP)
Hosted Exchange (not Microsoft 365): Use Microsoft Exchange (IMAP)
Can I sync contacts and calendar from Exchange IMAP?
No. Contact and calendar sync require OAuth integration, which is only available through the Office 365 / Outlook connection.
What port and encryption should I use?
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
My username format isn't working
Some Exchange servers require specific username formats:
Email address:
user@company.comDomain format:
DOMAIN\usernameUPN format:
user@domain.local
Check with your IT team for the correct format.
Can I use Exchange with shared mailboxes?
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 with OAuth.
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