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Microsoft Outlook Webmail

Public Groups

In Outlook Web App, you can send emails to a number of people at once by using a distribution list, known as a public group. Individuals can choose to join and leave these groups as long as the settings allow them to do so. This document covers joining and leaving existing groups you do not own. Refer to Public Groups You Own for information about changing the settings for groups you own.

return to topSeeing Details

Before you decide to join or leave a public group, you probably want to know something about it.

Groups You Belong To

  1. Log on to Outlook Web App

  2. In the upper right corner, click OPTIONS
    A pull-down menu appears.

  3. Click SEE ALL OPTIONS
    Your options appear.

  4. Click GROUPS
    The Public Groups information appears.

  5. In the Public Groups I Belong To section, select a group
    HINT: A group is selected when it is highlighted in pale blue.
    Public Groups I Belong To section: selected group

  6. Click DETAILS
    The Group dialog box appears.
    Group dialog box

  7. View the information

  8. When finished, click CLOSE
    The dialog box closes.

Learning About Groups You Do Not Belong To

  1. Log on to Outlook Web App

  2. In the upper right corner, click OPTIONS
    A pull-down menu appears.

  3. Click SEE ALL OPTIONS
    Your options appear.

  4. Click GROUPS
    The Public Groups information appears.

  5. Click JOIN...
    The All Groups dialog box appears.

  6. Select a group that interests you
    HINT: A group is selected when it is highlighted in pale blue.

  7. Click DETAILS
    The Group dialog box appears.

  8. View the details

  9. When finished, click CLOSE

return to topJoining a Group

If a group's description interests you, and you wish to receive the messages sent to the group, you can try to join the group.

  1. Log on to Outlook Web App

  2. In the upper right corner, click OPTIONS
    A pull-down menu appears.

  3. Click SEE ALL OPTIONS
    Your options appear.

  4. Click GROUPS
    The Public Groups information appears.

  5. Click JOIN...
    The All Groups dialog box appears.

  6. Select the group you wish to join
    HINT: A group is selected when it is highlighted in pale blue.

  7. To make sure that you can join the group, click DETAILS
    The Group dialog box appears.

  8. Look at the Membership requests section
    NOTE: If it says "Requests to join are automatically rejected," you cannot join the group through Outlook Web App.

  9. To join the group, click JOIN

return to topLeaving a Group

You may decide you no longer wish to receive messages sent to a group. To do this, you can leave the group.

  1. Log on to Outlook Web App

  2. In the upper right corner, click OPTIONS
    A pull-down menu appears.

  3. Click SEE ALL OPTIONS
    Your options appear.

  4. Click GROUPS
    The Public Groups information appears.

  5. In the Public Groups I Belong To section, select the group you wish to leave
    HINT: A groups is selected when it is highlighted in pale blue.

  6. Click LEAVE
    A confirmation dialog box appears.
    Leaving a Public Group dialog box

  7. Click YES
    The dialog box closes.
    NOTE: An Error dialog box may appear. If it does, you cannot leave the group through Outlook Web App. You will have to contact an owner of the group to do so.
    Error dialog box
    HINT: Click DETAILSDetails button to discover the group owner.

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