This feature requires you to be using a Microsoft Exchange Server e-mail account.

1. On the Tools menu, click E-mail accounts, select View or change existing e-mail accounts, click Next, click Microsoft Exchange Server, and then click Change.
2. Click More Settings, then click the General tab.
3. Under When starting, select one of the following:
   • Automatically detect connection state    When Microsoft Outlook starts, if a connection to the Exchange server is not available, Outlook will start in offline mode.
   • Manually control connection state    When Outlook starts, you will be prompted whether you want to work online or offline. This provides you with the ability to work offline, even if a connection to the Exchange server is available.

Note  If you have not set up Outlook to work offline and are not using Cached Exchange Mode, Outlook will be unable to show you any of your data if the server is not available.