Setting Up Department Shared Mailboxes in Microsoft Outlook
Creating shared mailboxes for departments in Microsoft Outlook can significantly enhance collaboration and communication within organisations. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of setting up shared mailboxes for different departments, along with best practices, benefits, and troubleshooting tips.
Step 1: Accessing Exchange Admin Center
To begin, log in to your Exchange Admin Center using your administrator credentials. Navigate to the ‘Shared mailboxes’ section to create a new shared mailbox.
Step 2: Creating a Shared Mailbox
Click on ‘New’ to create a new shared mailbox. Enter the details for the shared mailbox, including display name and email address. Assign permissions to department members who need access to the shared mailbox.
Step 3: Configuring Mailbox Permissions
Set permissions for the shared mailbox to define who can send emails on behalf of the shared mailbox, who can access the mailbox, and other relevant permissions based on department requirements.
Step 4: Adding the Shared Mailbox to Outlook
Once the shared mailbox is created, users can add it to their Outlook account by going to ‘File’ > ‘Account Settings’ > ‘Account Settings’. Click on ‘New’ and enter the shared mailbox email address to add it to Outlook.
Best Practices for Managing Shared Mailboxes:
- Regularly review and update permissions to ensure only relevant department members have access.
- Use clear naming conventions for shared mailboxes to easily identify department-specific mailboxes.
- Train department members on how to effectively use shared mailboxes for efficient communication.
Benefits of Using Shared Mailboxes:
- Enhanced collaboration within departments.
- Streamlined communication and centralised email management.
- Improved efficiency in handling department-specific emails.
Troubleshooting Common Issues:
- If users are unable to access the shared mailbox, verify permissions and ensure proper configuration.
- If emails are not syncing to the shared mailbox, check Outlook settings and internet connectivity.
- For any technical issues, consult your IT support team for assistance.
By following these steps and best practices, you can create shared mailboxes for departments in Microsoft Outlook effectively, improving communication and collaboration within your organisation.

DrayTek Vigor 2962 2.5Gb Ethernet Dual-WAN Broadband Firewall Router, 200 VPN Tunnels, 20 VLANS, QOS, Remote Management, Load Balancing
High Performance Multi-WAN Router - The Vigor 2962 makes full use of FTTP Fibre Broadband at up to 2.2Gbps throughput for single or multi-WAN configurations. With Quality of Service, Firewall and Content Filtering.
Buy Now on Amazon
NETGEAR Orbi Mesh WiFi 6 System (RBK763S) , Mesh Router & 2 Extenders , Cover Every Room, Up To 6,000 Sq Ft , Improve WiFi Speeds up to 5.4 Gbps & 75 devices , Simple App Set Up
WiFI mesh coverage of up to 6,000 sq ft and up to 75 devices, With each satellite (sold separately) you can extend the range by up to 2,000 sq ft
Buy Now on Amazon
DrayTek Vigor 2865Lax-5G Ethernet Router, WiFi 6 AX3000 Wireless and 5G Failover, Integrated 5G Modem, 5+1 GbE LAN Ports with VLANs, VDSL
VDSL and Ethernet Load Balancer - Connect the Vigor 2865 to Superfast Fibre with the integrated VDSL modem. Use the Ethernet WAN with Cable and Ultrafast FTTP. Load Balance multiple connections to boost performance.
Buy Now on Amazon
TP-Link Archer BE550 Router WiFi 7 BE9300Mbps, Tri-Band WiFi Router, 2.5G Ports,USB Port,Maximized Coverage,VPN Router, Parental Control, HomeShield Security, Private IoT Network,Easy Setup,EasyMesh
Wi-Fi 7 Routers: With powerful Wi-Fi 7 performance, lightning-fast wired connections, and brand-new design
Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-253A-4G 2 Bay NAS Enclosure with 4GB RAM - Black (GDPR Compliant)
NAS and iSCSI-SAN unified storage solution for server virtualization
Buy Now on Amazon
WD 16TB My Cloud EX2 Ultra 2-bay NAS - Network Attached Storage RAID, file sync, streaming, media server, with WD Red drives
Centralised network storage: Organise your entire media collection, photos and files in one central, network location
Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DX517 5 Bay Desktop Network Attached Storage Expansion Enclosure, Black
Online volume expansion
Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-431XeU-8G 4 Bay Short-depth Rackmount NAS Enclosure with 10GbE SFP+ & 8GB RAM
The short depth design is suitable for installing in smaller racks or space-constrained locations
Buy Now on Amazon
Seagate 10 TB IronWolf NAS 3.5 Inch Hard Drive ST10000VN0008 (SATA 6 Gb/s/256 MB/7200 RPM)
Model Number: ST10000VN0008
Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-673A-8G 6 Bay Desktop NAS Enclosure - 8GB RAM, AMD Ryzen Quad-core 2.2 GHz Processor - with 2.5GbE connectivity & supporting PCIe expansion
8GB DDR4 RAM (2 x SODIMM slots, max. 64GB, optional ECC RAM support)
Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DS1621+ 48TB 6 Bay Desktop NAS Solution, installed with 6 x 8TB Western Digital Red Plus Drives
Accelerated Performance: 174% higher 4K random read IOPS and 76% faster sequential write speeds compared to its predecessor
Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DS1823xs+ 8 Bay NAS Desktop: High-Performance Storage Solution
Powerful Performance - Over 3,100/2,600 MB/s sequential read/write throughput and over 173,100/80,800 random read/write IOPS2 support heavier applications
Buy Now on Amazon