From your personal computer
If you’re going to be away from the office and using a company laptop then you’re good to go! All you need to continue working as normal is an internet connection.
If you’re using a desktop computer or laptop which you don’t usually use for work, then the best place to start is a web browser. You can access all of your Microsoft 365 services (email, files, shared company files, Teams) from anywhere in the world!
Simply visit microsoft365.com and click Sign in. Enter your company email address and click Next, then your Microsoft 365 password. Click Sign in and complete the additional authentication step.
You’ll be presented with the Microsoft 365 home screen, and shortcuts on the left to the most-used apps.
Below that, you’ll find your most recently accessed documents so that you can quickly pick up where you left off.
You can also click on Install Office then Premium Office apps to install the full, current version of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint onto your computer at no extra charge!
See here for more details.
Outlook
This is where you’ll find your email, contacts and calendars. Although not as feature-complete as the desktop version of Outlook you’re used to, this online version is pretty good!
If you need to, you can add any shared mailboxes and mailboxes you have delegate access to by right-clicking on Folders in Outlook, then Add shared folder.
Teams
The web version of Teams allows you to use instant chat, audio/video calls with your colleagues, access files, video conference and collaborate from your browser. Teams can be your main method of communicating with your colleagues while you’re out of the office. Chat is more immediate than email, and with one button you can quickly switch to an audio call or video call. Several people can collaborate on a document, spreadsheet or presentation at the same time, wherever they happen to be.
For the full experience, you can download Teams for free from here to a desktop computer or laptop.
See our separate guide for getting started with Teams.
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote
These are online versions of the applications you’re familiar with. They’re scaled-down, but they’re not bad.
If you’re using a computer with a current version of Office installed, you’ll see an Open in Desktop App button which will switch you to the traditional desktop version of that app.
As a Skyscape IT managed service client, you’re entitled to install the full desktop Microsoft Office suite on up to five computers (even your home PC) at no additional cost! See this separate guide for instructions on how to install Office on your computer.
SharePoint
This is where you’ll find your shared company files, if they’re not available in Teams. You may know this service as Team Sites, Communication Sites or simply, ‘shared files’.
You’ll see all the sites you have access to, and you’ll be able to browse and access files shared within the company. You and a colleague can even edit documents at the same time.
OneDrive
The contents of your Desktop, Documents and Pictures folders are synchronised from your work PC to OneDrive, and this is where you’ll find your personal work files. Any changes you make to documents here will automatically sync back to your work PC, and any other device you use.
When you open a file it will launch the online version of Word, Excel or PowerPoint.
From your mobile device
If you’re going to be working with mobile devices, then there are four apps you’ll find invaluable.
Outlook
The Outlook app is the best way to access your work email, contacts and calendars, and we have a separate guide for setting up email on your phone or iPad here.
Microsoft 365 Copilot (Office)
Teams
With chat and audio/video calls, Teams is a great way to stay in touch with your colleagues. Install the app for your iPhone or iPad or your Android phone, and see our separate guide for more info on Teams.
To Do
To Do is a simple task management app. Most usefully, it pulls your flagged emails and Tasks from Outlook and displays them in a clear list on your mobile device, and can be really useful for keeping track of outstanding tasks.
Install the app for your iPhone or iPad or your Android phone.
