1. G Suite Sync For Microsoft Outlook Not Syncing
  2. G Suite Sync For Microsoft Outlook Mac
  3. G Suite Sync For Microsoft Outlook
  4. G Suite Sync For Microsoft Outlook Update
  5. G Suite Sync For Microsoft Outlook Gssmo
  6. Does G Suite Sync Work With Outlook 365
  7. How To Use G Suite Sync With Outlook
  • Sync Google Calendar with Outlook Using G-Suite Sync. Google offers a syncing tool for Microsoft Outlook for Windows, called G-Suite Sync for Microsoft Outlook. This tool makes it easy to sync Gmail, Google Contacts, and Google Calendar with Outlook. But there's a catch: It's only available for paid G Suite users. This means you can't use it to.
  • Some background- my company switched to G Suite a couple years back, but I highly prefer Outlook, so I have been using the G Suite Sync tool with no issues ever since. I do not work in IT, but I have an extensive background in that arena, so my company's IT department has basically allowed me to be my own equipment/IT manager for over a decade.

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.

What is G Suite Sync for Microsoft Outlook (GSSMO)?

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

3 Steps to Set Up G Suite Sync for Microsoft Outlook

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.

GSSMO Setup Requirements

These are the minimum requirements that you need to get GSSMO up and running.

1. G Suite requirements

You need a G Suite or G Suite for Education account, any tier.

2. OS requirements

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:

  • Windows 10 (32 and 64 bit)
  • Windows 8 (32 and 64 bit)
  • Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit)
  • Windows Vista SP1 (32 bitand 64 bit)

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.

G Suite Sync For Microsoft Outlook Not Syncing

3. Outlook requirements

GSSMO supports a range of Outlook versions, including:

  • Outlook 2019, 2016, and 2013 (32 and 64 bit)
  • Outlook 2010 (32 and 64 bit) — requires this Microsoft hotfix
  • Microsoft Outlook 2007 with Office SP1 — requires this Microsoft hotfix

4. Port 443

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.

Setup GSSMO in Google Admin Console

Here’s how to set up your Google Admin console to work with GSSMO.

G Suite Sync For Microsoft Outlook Mac

Gmail

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.

Calendar

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.

Global Address List (GAL)

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:

G Suite Sync For Microsoft Outlook

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.

Google Drive Service and Apps

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.

G Suite Sync For Microsoft Outlook Update

Now that you’ve set up G Suite to handle GSSMO, you need to install the tool itself.

Install GSSMO on Your Organization’s Computers

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.

Pushing an MSI file

Download the correct MSI file:

365
  • 32-bit enterprise_gsync.msi — this is the file for Outlook 32-bit editions
  • 64-bit enterprise_gsync.msi — this is the file for Outlook 64-bit editions

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.

Let users install GSSMO themselves

Your users can visit the GSSMO download page, then click Download. That should be all that’s required.

Importing your data

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.

Troubleshooting your G Suite Sync Setup

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.

Replacing your G Suite profile

G Suite Sync For Microsoft Outlook Gssmo

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.

Reinstalling Outlook and GSSMO

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.

The Downside to using G Suite Sync for Outlook

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:

  • GSSMO icon grayed out: with weak internet connection or Outlook running in offline mode, GSSMO isn’t available and synchronization stops.
  • Emails as attachments don’t open: unlike Outlook, GSSMO doesn’t let you send an email as an attachment, and it supports a very restricted range of file types.
  • Cannot import email between folders in Outlook: often, the folder you’re moving the emails to isn’t available in Gmail, causing GSSMO to fail to sync.

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.

Other options for using G Suite with Outlook: IMAP

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:

Enable IMAP in Gmail

Sign in to Gmail and go to Settings under the Gear icon. Select POP/IMAP:

Enable IMAP and save changes.

Set up Outlook for IMAP

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:

  • Your name
  • Your G Suite email address
  • Account type — choose IMAP
  • An incoming mail server — enter imap.gmail.com
  • An outgoing mail server — enter smtp.gmail.com
  • A Username. This should be your G Suite username, the same as your G Suite address.
  • Password. This is your G Suite password.

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.

What Is 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.

GSSMO: Requirements

Operating system requirements:

  • Windows Vista SP1 (32 and 64 bit)
  • Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit)
  • Windows 8 (32 and 64 bit)
  • Windows 10 (32 and 64 bit)

Outlook requirements:

  • Microsoft Outlook 2003 SP3
  • Microsoft Outlook 2007 SP2 (or SP1 with hotfix)
  • Microsoft Outlook 2010 (32 and 64 bit) with hotfix
  • Microsoft Outlook 2013 (32 and 64 bit)
  • Microsoft Outlook 2016 (32 and 64 bit)

Microsoft Outlook 2019 (32 and 64 bit)

Benefits of GSSMO

Apart from ease of setup and use, G Sync with Microsoft Outlook comes with a host of benefits:

Works for Every Windows User Type

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.

Real Cost Savings

GSSMO is a free tool that combines the power of two productivity suites (Office 365 and G Suite) in one. You do the math!

Autonomy at Its Best

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.

What Types of Data Will GSSMO Sync?

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

Does G Suite Sync Work With Outlook 365

EmailAll Outlook messages and sub-folders are pulled.
CalendarManage G Suite calendars from Outlook, including primary calendars, custom-created calendars and shared calendars.
Personal & Global ContactsManage G Suite contacts, both personal and global, using the same Outlook interface.
TasksUse Outlook Tasks to track and manage to-do lists in your G Suite from any device.
NotesOutlook Notes are synced with the Google Drive account in the cloud.

Get the detailed version here.

How Do I Set Up G Suite Sync?

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.

Troubleshooting G Suite Sync

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.

  • Reinstall Outlook. Initiate reinstallation from the original disk or install file, then download GSSMO and reinstall it.
  • Recreate the G Suite profile. First, remove the existing profile. Go to Windows Control Panel > Mail Settings > select Show Profiles to delete the profile. Then create a new profile. Start Menu > Find All Programs > GSSMO > Set up GSSMO User and create a new profile.

If neither works, try Google’s troubleshooting guide for admins here.

How To Use G Suite Sync With Outlook

Final Outlook (no pun intended!)

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.