Email: How to Make a Combined Inbox (Outlook)


A few quick points about mail apps/clients

Accessing BlueM@il

Information Services strongly recommends using the Outlook mobile, desktop (click Install Apps), or web apps to access your BlueM@il (username@depaul.edu). Outlook clients will offer the most reliable experience. It's very important that you regularly check your BlueM@il. All major university communications go to this email address.

User options for accessing or combining email accounts

There are multiple ways to access your email accounts. There are also options for combining emails into one email client or app. A combined inbox allows you to centralize email accounts from multiple providers. Sometimes this will add convenience, but combining emails may limit the user experience. For instance, email users may have more success searching their Gmail messages in the Gmail app, rather then the iPhone Mail app. The user experience is also better with BlueM@il in the Outlook app.

  1. Keep BlueM@il in Outlook: Ideally, you would just use the Outlook apps for your BlueM@il, and keep other email accounts separate.
  2. Using Microsoft Outlook is strongly recommended, especially with BlueM@il. DePaul email functions best in Outlook and integrates easily with other Microsoft 365 apps. Outlook also offers very strong security and privacy protections
  3. Combining emails with general Mail apps (clients): You can always add your BlueM@il and other email accounts to a general iPhone, Mac, Windows, or Android (such as Samsung Email) mail client. This is not recommended for the best BlueM@il experience, but users have this option.
  4. Best to keep emails connected to their own apps: It's ideal to use the same client with the same email (i.e. Gmail app with Gmail, Apple Mail with iCloud, etc.)
  5. Monitor your user experience: If the BlueM@il experience with another Mail app isn't going well, please consider using Outlook with BlueM@il. Outlook is most likely going to be the best experience, but it isn't ideal for combining emails
  6. Adding multiple emails to Outlook: See instructions below for adding other emails to the Outlook client (not recommended)

Make a Combined Inbox on a PC in the Outlook app (Windows 10)

The following are directions for using the Outlook desktop app on Windows and Mac. If you wish to instead use the default Mail app on your computer (Windows or Mac), please see the instructions found here.

Link DePaul Account to Outlook

Follow the directions for using the Outlook Desktop App to Access your DePaul Email.

Link an Additional Account to Outlook

  1. Select File.
  2. Select Add Account.
  3. Enter the email address to add.
  4. Select Connect.
  5. If prompted, select the account provider and allow access.
  6. Select Done.

Add Inboxes to Favorites

  1. Inboxes added to Favorites will appear together at the top of the inbox list.
  2. Right click on the inbox for an account.
  3. Select Add to Favorites.

Remove an Account

  1. Select File.
  2. Select Account Settings.
  3. Select the account to remove.
  4. Select Remove.
  5. When finished, select Close.

Make a Combined Inbox in the Outlook App on a Mac

Link DePaul Account to Outlook

Follow the directions for using the Outlook Desktop App to Access your DePaul Email.

Link an Additional Account to Outlook

  1. Select Outlook from the application menu bar.
  2. Select Preferences.
  3. Select Accounts.
  4. Select the plus sign to add an account.
  5. Select New Account.
  6. Enter the email address on the page that opens.
  7. Select Continue.
  8. Log in to link the account.
  9. Set permissions and finalize setup.

View All Inboxes at Once

  1. Select All Accounts from the navigation panel.
  2. Select Inbox.

Remove an Account

  1. Select Outlook from the application menu bar.
  2. Select Preferences.
  3. Select Accounts.
  4. Select the account to remove.
  5. Select the minus sign.
  6. Select Sign out on this device.