Install Secure Exchanges on Outlook Web

How do I install and activate Secure Exchanges on Outlook Web?

This article explains how to install the Secure Exchanges add-in in Outlook Web (outlook.office.com) and Outlook New (the new version of the Windows client).

Warning: this procedure does not apply to Outlook Classic (the old desktop client). To install Secure Exchanges on Outlook Classic, follow this procedure instead: How do I install and activate Secure Exchanges for Outlook?

Prerequisites

  • Who is it for? Outlook Web or Outlook New users with a Microsoft 365 work or school account.
  • What you need: an active M365 account, connected to Exchange Online, on a plan that allows add-ins.
  • Three possible paths depending on your role: administrator (situation A), authorized user (situation B), unauthorized user (situation C).
  • Duration: approximately 10 to 15 minutes. The add-in may take up to 24 hours to appear after deployment.

Step 1: Determine your situation

The installation depends on your role in Microsoft 365 and on your account permissions. Answer the two questions below, in order, to identify your situation.

Question 1: Do you manage your organization's Microsoft 365 account?

In practical terms, you are the one who adds or removes users, manages licences and receives the invoices from Microsoft.

  • Yes: you are in situation A. Go directly to step 2.
  • No, or I don't know: go to question 2.

Question 2: Can you install an add-in yourself? (visual test)

  1. Open Outlook Web or Outlook New.
  2. Click New message.
  3. Click the Applications icon (dot grid).
  4. Click "Get add-ins".
  5. In the left panel, click "My Add-ins".
  6. Scroll to the bottom of the page, to the "Custom Addins" section.
  7. Look at what is displayed:
  • The "+ Add a custom add-in" button is present: you are in situation B, follow step 3.
    • The section is missing, greyed out or displays an error: you are in situation C, see the Troubleshooting section.

Step 2: Deploy Secure Exchanges as an administrator (situation A)

Follow this step to deploy Secure Exchanges to all of your users or to a targeted group.

  1. Open a browser and go to the Microsoft 365 admin centre.
  2. Log in with your administrator credentials.
  3. Click "Load custom applications".
  1. Select "Office Add-in".
  1. In the "Provide a link to the manifest" field, paste the URL https://office365.secure-exchanges.com/SecureExchanges.xml, then validate.
  1. Click "Next" and choose who to deploy Secure Exchanges to.
  1. Click "Next", then "Accept Permissions" to accept the permissions requested by Secure Exchanges.
  1. Click "Complete deployment".
Note: the add-in may take up to 24 hours to appear in Outlook once the deployment is done.
Note: once the add-in is installed, you must activate your licence before you can use it. See step 4 below or the article How do I activate my licence in Outlook Web?

Step 3: Install Secure Exchanges as a user (situation B)

Follow this step to install Secure Exchanges on your own account. It requires that your account allows the installation of custom add-ins (situation B above).

  1. In your browser, go to the following address: https://office365.secure-exchanges.com/SecureExchanges.xml
  2. Right-click on the page, then select "Save As" to download the SecureExchanges.xml file to your computer.
  1. Open Outlook Web or Outlook New.
  2. Click "New message" to open the email composition window.
  3. In the composition window, click the "Applications" icon (dot grid).
  1. Click "Get add-ins".
  1. In the left panel, click "My Add-ins", scroll down to the "Custom Addins" section, then click "+ Add a custom add-in".
  1. Choose "Add from File", then select the SecureExchanges.xml file downloaded in the previous step.
  1. Confirm the installation when the system prompts you to do so.
Note: once the add-in is installed, you must activate your licence before you can use it. See step 4 below or the article How do I activate my licence in Outlook Web?

Step 4: Activate your licence

  1. Sign in to Outlook Web or Outlook New.
  2. Click New message.
  3. In the message toolbar, click the Applications icon (dot grid).
  1. In the list of applications, click Secure Exchanges.
  2. Click "Activate my license".

Your licence is now activated. You can send your first secure email: see the article Send a secure message with Secure Exchanges Outlook Web for the procedure.

Troubleshooting

The Secure Exchanges add-in does not appear after deployment

Possible causes: the 24-hour period has not yet elapsed, or your account is not included in the deployment group. Solution: wait 24 hours. If the add-in still does not appear, contact your administrator so they can check the composition of the deployment group.

The "Load custom applications" button is missing

Cause: your administrator privileges are insufficient to manage integrated applications. Solution: contact your organization's primary administrator, if your account allows it.

The add-in is visible to only some users

Cause: the deployment was limited to a specific group. Solution: the administrator must check the composition of the deployment group in the Microsoft 365 admin centre.

The "Custom Addins" section is missing or "+ Add a custom add-in" is greyed out

Possible causes:

  • Your Microsoft 365 plan does not support add-ins (Business Basic, Exchange Online only, personal account, etc.).
  • Your Microsoft 365 administrator has disabled add-in installation by users.

Solution: ask your Microsoft 365 administrator to deploy Secure Exchanges by following step 2.

Need help?

Our team is available to assist you. Write to us at support@secure-exchanges.com