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How-to — task-oriented recipe.
With the Affinity for Outlook add-in, Microsoft users can now take Affinity-related actions straight from their Outlook web and desktop apps. Check out this article to ensure you have the prerequisites and understand how to troubleshoot common issues in case you cannot access the add-in.

Who can access Affinity’s Outlook Add-in?

Interested in upgrading to Scale, Advanced, or Enterprise? Please reach out to your Affinity point of contact or support@affinity.co.

Prerequisites

  • Affinity’s Outlook add-in is only available for Office 365 and Exchange (On-Prem) accounts.
  • Affinity’s Outlook add-in is only compatible for Outlook versions after Outlook 2016.
  • Affinity’s Outlook add-in is only supported on the following browsers: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Safari.

How to install the Affinity for Outlook add-in

Microsoft updates where add-ins live in Outlook from time to time. The steps below match Microsoft’s current menus; if yours look different, see Microsoft’s article on using add-ins in Outlook for the latest. Before you start:
  • Affinity CRM users can go straight to the steps for your version of Outlook.
  • Affinity for Salesforce users: make sure your Salesforce Admin has given you access to the Affinity for Outlook add-in (see “How to assign the Affinity permission set to users” in How to install/update Affinity’s Managed Package in Salesforce).
  • Sign in to the Outlook account that has access to your Affinity instance.

Outlook on the web and new Outlook for Windows

  1. In the app bar on the left, or on the ribbon, select More apps, then Add apps.
  2. Search for Affinity for Outlook and select it.
  3. Select Add.
  4. To open the add-in, open an email and select Apps on the message’s action bar (or More apps on the ribbon), then select Affinity for Outlook.

Classic Outlook for Windows

  1. On the Home tab, select All Apps. If you use the simplified ribbon, select the ellipsis (…) first. (Older versions of Outlook show Get Add-ins here instead.)
  2. Select Add Apps (or Get Add-ins, depending on your version).
  3. Search for Affinity for Outlook, then select Add.
  4. To open the add-in, open an email and select All Apps (or the Affinity icon) on the ribbon.

Outlook for Mac

  1. On the ribbon, select Get Add-ins. If you don’t see it, select the ellipsis (…) on the ribbon first. In some versions, it’s also under Tools → Get Add-ins in the menu bar. Tools menu in Outlook for Mac with Get Add-ins
  2. Search for Affinity for Outlook, then select Add (and Continue if asked).
  3. To open the add-in, open an email and select its button on the ribbon (it may be under the ellipsis (…)). Your reading pane needs to be set to Right or Below.
Don’t see these options, or can’t add the add-in? Your IT admin may have restricted add-ins, or already deployed Affinity for Outlook for your organization — check your installed apps, or ask IT. You can also find the add-in on Microsoft AppSource.
Next: once the add-in is installed, see the guide for your Affinity product:

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem: Blank Screen? Clear your cache

If met with a blank screen (see example below), you will need to empty your cache and perform a hard reload of the application. The reload will help to retrieve the latest version of the Outlook add-in. Outlookdl 7 To reload, please follow steps below based on which browser/app you’re using.

Web App — Clearing your cache

Google Chrome
  1. Windows users — Press Ctrl + F5 on your keyboard.
  2. Mac users — Press Cmd + Shift + R on your keyboard.
Firefox
  1. Windows users — Press Ctrl + F5 on your keyboard.
  2. Mac users — Press Cmd + Shift + R on your keyboard.
Safari
  1. Click Safari on the top navigation bar, then click Empty Cache, or press Opt + Cmd + E.
  2. To refresh, click the Refresh button on the address bar or press Cmd + R.
Microsoft Edge
  1. Press Ctrl + F5 on your keyboard.

Desktop App — Clearing your cache

Outlook Desktop for Mac
  1. Open Affinity for Outlook add-in.
  2. Right click the side panel.
  3. Select Reload.
Outlookdl 8 Outlook Desktop for Windows
  1. Open the Affinity for Outlook add-in.
  2. Right click the side panel.
  3. Select Refresh.
Outlookdl 9

Problem: Missing or Disabled add-in icon?

  1. On the top-right corner of your web browser, click the ellipsis (3-dotted icon), then click Settings. Outlookdl 10
  1. Click Privacy and security, then click Cookies and other site data. Outlookdl 11
  1. Make sure your cookie settings are either Allow all cookies or Block third-party cookies in Incognito. If they are set to Block third-party cookies or Block all cookies (not recommended), then Affinity’s Outlook add-in will not work. Outlookdl 12

Desktop App — Missing or Disabled Add-in icon (for Windows/PC)

  1. Click File to open additional options. Outlookdl 13
  1. Select Office Account, and select Manage Settings. Outlookdl 14
  1. Check the box for Enable optional connected experiences, then click OK and restart Outlook. Outlookdl 15
  1. If you still do not see the add-in appear after restarting, open your Office Options menu and go to File > Options. Outlookdl 16
  1. Select Customize Ribbon (1), then select All Commands (2). Then, click Add-ins (3) and click Add>> (4) to add the Add-ins icon to your Ribbon (menu bar). Outlookdl 17
  1. Click OK to save your changes.

Desktop App — Missing or Disabled Add-in icon (for Mac)

  1. Click Outlook on the top left corner, then click Preferences. Outlookdl 18
  1. Click on Privacy. Outlookdl 19
  1. Click Manage Connected Experiences. Outlookdl 20
  1. Ensure all checkboxes are enabled, then click OK. You may need to restart Outlook to apply these changes. Outlookdl 21
Note: Some users may have to ask their IT team for permission to use Affinity’s Outlook Add-in. See Specify the administrators and users who can install and manage add-ins for Outlook to learn more.