A G Suite Sync for Microsoft Outlook (also known as GSSMO) enables people to create a community that allows users to make use of Microsoft Outlook via PCs. T here’s a catch: users can only connect with data in G Suite but not on Microsoft Exchange. You should note that you do not need to be part of a community before you can use GSSMO. Microsoft Outlook is a personal information manager software system from Microsoft, available as a part of the Microsoft Office suite. Though primarily an email client, Outlook also includes such functions as calendaring, task managing, contact managing, note-taking, journal logging, and web browsing. Individuals can use Outlook as a stand-alone application; organizations can. Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook is a plug-in for Microsoft Outlook 2007- 2016 that lets you import your current data from your NJIT Google account into Microsoft Outlook and keep using Outlook to access your Webmail by Google mail, contacts, and calendar.
Using G Suite and want to use Outlook at the same time?
It’s possible.
You’ll have to jump through a few hurdles and there are requirements. But it is possible.
So if you’re tired of being locked into G Suite or Office 365, we’ve got you covered.
There’s a tool for using Outlook with G Suite, it’s called G Suite Sync for Microsoft Outlook.
GSSMO lets you use Microsoft Outlook and G Suite together. It’s a tool supplied by Google, free to G Suite admins, that lets you avoid using POP, IMAP, and other ‘under the hood’ methods that would require some technical know-how. Instead, you just install GSSMO and run it.
Here’s the data it synchronizes:
Outlook Data | G Suite Import | Use From Outlook | Syncs with G Suite | Notes |
Email messages | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Email state (Read and Unread) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Deleted items | Yes | Yes | Yes | Import optional |
Folders and subfolders | Yes | Yes | Yes | Folders become G Suite labels |
Subfolders nested under Inbox (and other system folders) | Yes | Yes | See notes | No nested labels under Inbox, sent, etc. Gmail shows these as Inbox/Folder_Name |
Junk email | Yes | Yes | Yes | Import optional. Junk is Spam in Gmail |
Drafts | Yes | Yes | No | |
Attachments | Yes | Yes | Yes | Only attachments under 20MB will sync |
Executable attachments | No | No | No | Not allowed in Gmail |
Posts in mailbox folders | Yes | Yes | No | |
Importance levels | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Message flags | Yes | Yes | Yes | Appear as stars in Gmail |
Follow-up dates and reminders (used with flags) | No | Yes | No | Not imported or synched with Gmail, but can be used in Outlook after importing |
Arrow icons with replies and forwarded messages | Yes | Yes | No | Appear for messages you reply to or forward in Outlook, but won’t sync with Gmail or other Outlook clients |
Rules | No | Yes | No | Not imported or synced but can be recreated in Outlook; can create Gail filters that apply for both interfaces |
Signatures | No | Yes | No | Not imported or synched, can be replicated in outlook and Gmail |
POP messages | See notes | Yes | No | POP protocol messages are synched when you import. Messages that arrive after you import are not synched. |
POP or IMAP account | No | Yes | No | Account settings don’t import, but account can be recreated in G Suite profile |
Category assignments | No | Yes | No | Not imported, but you can categorize messages in Outlook after importing |
GSSMO doesn’t work for everyone. There are system, G Suite, and other requirements.
The main requirement is that you have to be a G Suite Admin to set up GSSMO. If you’re not an admin, you’ll need to ask the G Suite Admin in your organization to set it up for you.
These are the minimum requirements that you need to get GSSMO up and running.
You need a G Suite or G Suite for Education account, any tier.
GSSMO only works on Windows machines because it’s reliant on the MAPI (Messaging Application Program Interface) protocol which Mac OS doesn’t support.
These operating systems support GSSMO:
Microsoft has withdrawn support for Windows XP and 2003 Server so GSSMO no longer supports them either. To use GSSMO, you must be the local administrator for your computer.
GSSMO supports a range of Outlook versions, including:
GSSMO uses port 443 on your domain, which is the standard TCP port for websites that use SSL. Any site whose URL starts with “https” is being accessed via port 443 so yours is almost certainly already open if you already have an HTTPS site. If you don’t, you may have to set this up.
Here’s how to set up your Google Admin console to work with GSSMO.
First, set up Gmail to sync with Outlook.
Head over to the Admin Console, and go to Apps -> G Suite -> Gmail.
Then go to End User Access (just above Advanced Settings) and switch Enable G Suite Sync for Microsoft Outlook for your users to ON:
Click Save to save the settings. Gmail is now ready to go.
Now we need to do the same thing for Google Calendar. You’ll need to turn on the Calendar service so users can create profiles.
Go to Apps -> G Suite ->Calendar in the Google Admin dashboard, and click Edit Service:
Switch Calendar to ON for everyone.
The Global Address List is an address book that lists everyone in the organization.
Here’s how to use the GAL generator, so everyone’s contact details go into the GAL:
Go to Security -> API reference in the Dashboard.
Check the Enable API box:
Click Save to save the setting.
Then turn on contact sharing, so the GAL is dynamically updated for everyone.
In the Dashboard, go to the Menu, then to Directory ->Directory settings -> Sharing settings.
Select Enable contact sharing:
Click Save.
Make sure Drive is turned on for your users. It almost certainly is but if you want to check, or if for some reason it’s not, go to Apps -> G Suite -> Drive and Docs and click Edit Service. Like in Calendar, this will be in the top right-hand corner of the gray box a the top.
Make sure Service Status is set to ON for everyone:
You also need to allow your users to install Drive apps so they can access GSSMO.
Go to Apps -> G Suite -> Drive and Docs -> Features and Applications, and go to the Drive SDK section and switch it to ON.
Click Save.
Now that you’ve set up G Suite to handle GSSMO, you need to install the tool itself.
Even Google can’t handle this one in the cloud. If you want to sync Outlook with G Suite, you have to install GSSMO on your computers. Again, they have to be Windows machines, GSSMO doesn’t work at all on Macs. There are two ways to do this. You can push an MSI (Microsoft’s default installer file extension) file to your organization’s members or you can let your users download and install GSSMO for themselves.
Download the correct MSI file:
Send your users the right link, depending on your Outlook version, and give them the link to the Install GSSMO page for reference.
They should be able to simply run the MSI file, then from the Windows Start menu, click All Programs -> GSSMO > Set up a GSSMO user.
Your users can visit the GSSMO download page, then click Download. That should be all that’s required.
GSSMO users can import data from an Exchange account or from an Outlook PST file. GSSMO uses G Suite Migration for Microsoft Outlook (GSMMO).
GSSMO usually launches the migration tool automatically when the user imports data to create another user profile or imports data after they create their profile.
GSMMO is also available as a standalone migration tool, accessible from the Windows Start menu by searching for G Suite Migration for Microsoft Outlook.
When you use GSMMO as a standalone tool. it’s less effective since it doesn’t import Outlook notes, tasks, or journal entries. To import these, it’s best to use GSSMO right from the start.
Most issues with GSSMO can be resolved by two variations of the classic ‘turn-it-off-and-on-again’ fix. Either reinstall Outlook, or recreate your G Suite profile.
To recreate your original G Suite profile in Outlook you’ll need to first remove the existing profile. This doesn’t delete the data from your G Suite account, but it does delete your Outlook settings: signature, custom category definitions, and all your other changes from the default.
Go to your Windows Control Panel -> mail settings, select Show Profiles, then select the profile you want to remove and delete it.
The go to your Start menu, find All Programs -> GSMMO -> Set up a GSMMO User and recreate your profile.
If replacing your G Suite profile didn’t fix things, you might want to reinstall Outlook and GSSMO.
Uninstall GSSMO from your machine the same way you would uninstall any other program, then uninstall Microsoft Outlook.
Reinstall Outlook from the original disk or install file, then download GSSMO and reinstall it. You’ll have to set up your profile all over again from scratch. Remember not to import data from your old Outlook profile, it’s already in your G Suite account!
Restart your computer.
If that doesn’t work, Google has troubleshooting advice for Admins here.
GSSO doesn’t always work correctly. And getting GSSMO set up isn’t the end of your synchronization story. For instance, sometimes the GSSMO doesn’t sync Calendar invitations properly. This happens when the person sending the invite uses a winmail.dat attachment instead of sending the invite in iCal format.
Other common problems include:
In other words, despite Google’s best efforts the synchronization between the two suites isn’t perfect. You can find Google’s troubleshooting guide to common GSSMO problems here.
Any two email tools can be linked with IMAP. The big selling point for GSMMO — apart from integrating calendars and other apps — is that it doesn’t require you to use IMAP, but if you want to, here’s how to do it:
Sign in to Gmail and go to Settings under the Gear icon. Select POP/IMAP:
Enable IMAP and save changes.
Go to File -> Info -> Account Settings in your Outlook menu and choose New in the Email tab.
Select Email Account, then click Next, choose Manual Setup and select POP/IMAP. You’ll need to enter the following details:
Messages sent to and from Outlook should now show up in your Gmail inbox, but this method doesn’t give you synchronized calendars or other apps.
It’s a real challenge to have G Suite and Office 365 users, who are part of the same organization, work in harmony.
The need to foster productivity and collaboration between G Suite and Office 365 users, led to the birth of G Suite Sync for Microsoft Outlook.
G Suite Sync for Microsoft Outlook (GSSMO) lets you use Microsoft Outlook and G Suite together.
GSSMO syncs your Google account with Outlook, allowing you to access emails, calendars, contacts and more. You can essentially keep using Outlook on Windows OS; you’ll have to connect the data in G Suite in addition to Microsoft Exchange.
You probably noticed there was no mention of MacOS. Well, that’s because GSSMO is exclusive to the Microsoft ecosystem.
Operating system requirements:
Outlook requirements:
Microsoft Outlook 2019 (32 and 64 bit)
Apart from ease of setup and use, G Sync with Microsoft Outlook comes with a host of benefits:
Solve the puzzle.
What works for both old-time and new Windows users?
GSSMO! Continue using your preferred interface for emails, contacts and calendars that range from any version of Microsoft 2003 to Microsoft 2013.
GSSMO is a free tool that combines the power of two productivity suites (Office 365 and G Suite) in one. You do the math!
Work with your existing Outlook account while managing Google Apps stored in the cloud. This gives you the freedom to work from anywhere, at anytime, on any device.
Some Outlook data types do not sync with Google accounts and then there are Outlook data types that do sync with Google Apps. Here’s a list of the data types that GSSMO syncs with.
Data Type GSSMO Synchronization
All Outlook messages and sub-folders are pulled. | |
Calendar | Manage G Suite calendars from Outlook, including primary calendars, custom-created calendars and shared calendars. |
Personal & Global Contacts | Manage G Suite contacts, both personal and global, using the same Outlook interface. |
Tasks | Use Outlook Tasks to track and manage to-do lists in your G Suite from any device. |
Notes | Outlook Notes are synced with the Google Drive account in the cloud. |
Get the detailed version here.
Simplicity is what Google does best – whether it is features or the G Suite Sync setup. All you need to keep in mind is only a G Suite admin can set up a GSSMO. If you’re not an admin, ask your G Suite admin to set it up on your behalf or watch this video to learn how to set it up yourself.
Like most things, G Suite Sync is not perfect. There will be times when GSSMO will run into problems. Most of the issues can be resolved with two variations of the all-time classic fix: turn-it-off-and-on-again.
In other words, you will either have to reinstall Outlook or recreate the G Suite profile.
If neither works, try Google’s troubleshooting guide for admins here.
G Suite Sync is a great feature for those who are married to Microsoft but still love Google. They can’t choose between the two, but with GSSMO, they don’t have to.
However, there is a downside to this love affair.
GSSMO doesn’t always work as it should. Due to sync errors, synchronization between Google and Microsoft tends to fall short of perfection every now and then. Things go bad when sync errors lead to corruption in the Outlook personal folder files, aka PST files. This could result in a huge loss for users since neither Microsoft nor Google take responsibility for data loss caused by sync errors. In such scenarios, a third-party backup solution is needed to mitigate the impact of data loss.