Outlook 2016: Enable or Disable Cached Exchange Mode?
Jessica Wilkins
Published May 04, 2026
Answer
Outlook 2016 allows you to enable or disable cached Exchange mode. This can be helpful if you are experiencing performance issues with your Exchange server.
Outlook 2016: Enable or Disable Cached Exchange Mode
Outlook 2013/2016 cache exchange mode offline
Is it OK to turn off cached Exchange Mode?Yes, you can turn off cached Exchange Mode. This will help improve performance.
Should I Use cached Exchange Mode Outlook 2016?Cached Exchange Mode is a feature of Outlook 2016 that can improve your email experience. However, it may not be necessary for all users. If you’re not sure whether cached Exchange Mode is right for you, we recommend checking out our blog post about the feature.
What is Outlook cached Exchange mode?Outlook cached Exchange mode is a feature that allows you to continue working with your email even if your computer is not connected to the internet. When you are in Outlook cached Exchange mode, your emails are stored on your computer and can be accessed even if you don’t have an internet connection.
Does turning off cached Exchange mode delete emails?No, turning off cached Exchange mode does not delete emails. Cached Exchange mode is a feature that stores copies of email messages on the local computer in order to reduce the amount of time it takes to send an email.
What is the difference between Outlook cached mode and online mode?Outlook cached mode saves your email messages on your computer in a local cache, so you can access them even if your computer is not connected to the internet. In contrast, online mode sends your email messages directly to Microsoft’s servers for processing. This means that your messages are available online and through other devices that have Microsoft Office installed, such as phones and tablets.
How do I know if Outlook is running in cached mode?To check if Outlook is running in cached mode, open the File menu and select Options. On the Outlook Options dialog box, under the General tab, click the Cached Mode button. If Outlook is running in cached mode, a checkmark will be displayed next to the button.
Does cached Exchange Mode speed up Outlook?Yes, cached Exchange Mode can speed up Outlook. By caching the data in the Exchange server, Outlook can access the data more quickly.
What is a cache and what does it do?A cache is a small, fast storage area on your computer that helps speed up your web browsing. By storing frequently-used pages and files in the cache, you can quickly access them without having to wait for the pages to load from the server.
Why is Outlook using so much data?Outlook is using a lot of data because it downloads and updates its data constantly.
How often does Outlook check for mail in cached mode?Outlook checks for mail in cached mode every 15 minutes.
How do I stop Outlook from connecting to Exchange?There are a few things you can try to stop Outlook from connecting to Exchange.
First, make sure that your settings in Outlook are correct. Try setting your “Outlook Connections” preference to “Never Ask” or “Only From This PC”.
If that doesn’t work, you can try disabling automatic updates for Exchange.
To clear your Outlook email cache: 1. Open Outlook. 2. Click the File tab and select Options. 3. In the Outlook Options dialog box, click the Mail submenu and then click the Caches button. 4. In the Caches dialog box, click the Delete Files button to clear your cache.
How do I change Outlook from cached to online mode?To change Outlook from cached to online mode:
In Outlook, open the File menu and select Options.
On the Options dialog box, under the General tab, click the Advanced button.
Under the Online Mode heading, select the Use Online Mode check box.
Click OK to close the Options dialog box.
To stop Outlook 2010 from updating cached messages:
Open Outlook 2010.
In the Navigation pane, click File > Options.
In the Options dialog box, on the General tab, under Update Cached Email Messages, select Do Not Check For Updates.
Click OK.
To disable cached mode in Group Policy in Outlook, open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) and navigate to the appropriate policy container. In the console tree, select the Local Computer policy node, and then double-click the Outlook Settings policy item. On the dialog box that appears, clear the Enable Cached Mode check box.
