SuperTekBoy

Practical Help for Exchange & Office 365

Dark Mode Compilation

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I have always been a big fan of dark mode for any application as I spend more hours than I care to admit at my computer, so eye strain is always a concern.

Dark mode lets us protect our eyeballs from the harsh glare of a white screen, and it may just conserve a little more battery life on our mobile devices.

The articles below are a compilation of tutorials with easy to follow steps on setting a dark theme in your favorite app.

Outlook Mobile Inbox in Dark Mode Thumbnail 2

Outlook Mobile

In this article, we explore how to enable dark mode in Outlook Mobile. Read more…

Outlook on Windows Black Theme Thumbnail

Outlook Desktop

In this article, we explore the dark theme in Outlook Desktop. We also explore how to turn the lights on and off temporarily and permanently in the reading and composition panes. Read more…

Outlook on the Web Dark Theme Thumbnail

Outlook on the Web

In this article, we explore dark mode in Outlook on the Web (OWA). We also explore how to turn the lights on and off in the reading and composition panes. Read more…

Teams Dark Mode Thumbnail

Teams Mobile

In this article, we explore how to enable dark mode in Microsoft Teams mobile. Read more…

Microsoft Teams Dark Theme Thumbnail

Teams Desktop

In this article, we explore setting Microsoft Teams to a dark theme. Read more…

Windows 10 1809 Dark Mode Thumbnail

Windows 10

In this article, we explore how to set Windows 10 to a dark theme. This includes changing Windows Explorer to dark mode. Read more…

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Which app do you prefer in dark mode? Is there an app I should add to the list? Drop a comment below or join the conversation on Twitter @SuperTekBoy.

Enabling Dark Mode in Outlook Mobile

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If you are like me and like to work on a mobile device at night, or, just work with the lights off, then dark mode is for you. I find a dark theme helps with eye strain. In addition, many sources also report that a dark color scheme helps conserve battery power on mobile devices.

The mobile client of Outlook has such a mode.

Let’s get started!

Enabling Dark Theme in Outlook Mobile

To enable dark theme in Outlook Mobile, click the Menu button in the top-left and then Settings (represented by a gear icon).

  • Outlook Mobile Menu
  • Outlook Mobile Settings

From the Settings page scroll down to the Preferences section. Click Theme. From the Theme pop-up select Dark.

Note: The Set by Battery Saver mode adjusts between the light and dark themes based on your device’s battery conservation settings. Microsoft states switching to dark mode consumes less device power.

  • Outlook Mobile Setting Dark Theme
  • Outlook Mobile Setting Dark Theme

The Preferences section now identifies your theme as Dark. To change to another theme, click Theme again and make a new selection. To revert to the default theme click Light.

Once satisfied, click the back arrow in the top left of the screen. Your inbox will now reflect your current theme. In our screenshot below, our inbox has updated to the dark theme.

  • Outlook Mobile Settings in Dark Mode
  • Outlook Mobile Inbox in Dark Mode
[Read more…] about Enabling Dark Mode in Outlook Mobile

Enabling Dark Mode in Teams Mobile

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If you are like me and like to work on a mobile device at night, or, just work with the lights off, then dark mode is for you. I find dark mode helps with eye strain. In addition, many sources also report that a dark color scheme helps conserve battery power on mobile devices.

The mobile client of Microsoft Teams has such a mode.

Let’s get started!

Enabling Dark Theme in Teams Mobile

To enable dark theme in Microsoft Teams Mobile, click the Menu button in the top-left and then Settings.

  • Accessing Microsoft Teams Mobile Menu
  • Accessing Microsoft Teams Mobile Settings Page

From the Settings page click the toggle to the right of Dark theme to on. When you do this, you will be prompted to restart the application. Click Restart. The Teams app will now restart.

  • Switching Microsoft Teams Mobile to Dark Mode C
  • Restarting Microsoft Teams Mobile app

When the Microsoft Teams client restarts it will now be in dark mode.

  • Microsoft Teams app in Dark Mode
  • Microsoft Teams app in Dark Theme

To revert simply repeat the above steps, but toggle the Dark theme to the off position.

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What do you think about this feature? Drop a comment below or join the conversation on Twitter @SuperTekBoy.

Duplicating Meetings & Appointments in Outlook

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One of the best-kept secrets in Outlook is the hotkey that allows you to quickly and easily duplicate meetings and appointments on your Outlook calendar.

One particular use case is if you have a meeting and need to quickly schedule a follow-up meeting. This meeting may have all the same participants and agenda. If the meeting was not previously set up as a recurring meeting, only needs a single follow-up and, you want to maintain the original meeting on the calendar, then copying the meeting is the best way to go.

To copy a meeting, select the meeting, hold the CTRL button on your keyboard and drag the meeting to a new spot. Once in the new spot, release both your mouse button and the CTRL-key.

A duplicate meeting appears in that new spot and the existing meeting is preserved for historical purposes. The new meeting will contain all the same attendees and content from the old meeting.

You will then need to open the new meeting and click the Send button so all attendees get the new meeting invite.

If you want to duplicate appointments the process is identical.

Copying Meetings and Appointments in Outlook

You are all set!

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So, what do you think about this option to quickly duplicate meetings and appointments in Outlook? Drop a comment below or join the conversation on Twitter @SuperTekBoy.

Improved Dark Mode in Outlook for Windows

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The black theme has been around in Outlook for Windows for some time. However, unlike Outlook Web App, or, Microsoft Teams, the black theme was not a true dark mode. Some aspects of the black theme were still fully illuminated, such as when you read or composed a message.

The screenshot below is an example of how the black theme changes certain aspects such as the folder view and toolbars to black but leaves the email preview pane in white.

Outlook on Windows Black Theme Read Email

Similarly, when you compose an email the message body is also in white.

Outlook on Windows Black Theme Compose Email

The new Black Theme for Outlook

Starting with version 1907 (build 11815.20002) the Outlook team has extended the black theme so it now incorporates the message body and the composition panes.

Note: At the time of writing version 1907 has only released to the Office Insiders. Anyone can enroll in the Office Insider program. However, Office Insiders receive weekly updates, which could be subject to bugs. For those on the Monthly Channel, I suspect 1907 will ship before the end of July.

With version 1907 the message preview pane defaults to black.

Outlook on Windows Black Theme Read Email Version 1907

Similarly, when you compose an email the message body is now black.

Outlook on Windows Black Theme Compose Email 1907
[Read more…] about Improved Dark Mode in Outlook for Windows

Awarded for a 4th year as a Microsoft MVP (Thank you!)

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On July 1st I had the great pleasure of being awarded for a fourth year as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP). It is truly a great honor to be awarded for another year.

Microsoft MVP Logo Vertical

I want to give a special shout-out to everyone who supports this blog. Your comments, your follows, your likes and your shares–they have all got me to this point. Thank you.

I would like to offer special thanks to my family, friends, colleagues, and employer. Thank you for your continued support and for challenging me to the best I can be.

I want to congratulate all MVPs who were awarded and renewed today. Your contributions and commitment to helping others are inspirational.

If you were not awarded or renewed then keep trying. MVPs are now being awarded on a monthly basis. So, there are twelve opportunities to become an MVP versus four.

[Read more…] about Awarded for a 4th year as a Microsoft MVP (Thank you!)

Using Exchange Cmdlets in Azure Cloud Shell

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The Exchange Team has announced the general availability of the Exchange Online PowerShell Module in Azure Cloud Shell.

Azure Cloud Shell is a web-based version of PowerShell that can be launched from within any web browser by navigating to shell.azure.com, or, clicking the PowerShell icon in the Azure portal (portal.azure.com).

In this article, we will explore how to initially configure Azure Cloud Shell, cover the basics of the interface, connect to Exchange Online, and perform some basic Cloud Shell tasks, such as managing files and running some Exchange cmdlets.

Let’s get started!

Running the Azure Cloud Shell for the first time

To get started with Azure Cloud Shell you can either navigate to shell.azure.com or, click the PowerShell icon in the Azure Portal. The icon is at the top of the screen, to the right of the search box (pictured in the screenshot below)

Access Azure Cloud Shell

The first time you open Cloud Shell you will be asked if you want to connect to PowerShell or Bash. Click PowerShell.

Cloud Shell PowerShell or Bash

You will then be prompted to create storage for use with Cloud Shell. You will be given a drop down of all your available Azure subscriptions. Pick an Azure subscription with active credit and click Create Storage.

[Read more…] about Using Exchange Cmdlets in Azure Cloud Shell

Exchange June 2019 Updates

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Exchange 2019 CU1

This week was a big week for Exchange. Microsoft released its second cumulative update for Exchange 2019 as well as cumulative updates for Exchange 2016 and 2013.

As always, test these updates in a lab first! I recommend checking out this 7-part guide on configuring Exchange in your lab. It doesn’t take much to get one going.

The updates are as follows:

Exchange 2013 Cumulative Update 9

Exchange 2019 Cumulative Update 2 (VLSC)| KB4488401

Exchange 2016 Mini

Exchange 2016 Cumulative Update 13 | KB4488406 | UM Language Pack

Exchange 2013 Cumulative Update 9

Exchange 2013 Cumulative Update 23 | KB4489622 | UM Language Pack

Exchange 2010 Mini

Exchange 2010 SP3 Rollup 27 | KB4491413

The final countdown – 208 days left for Exchange 2010

Here is a quick reminder that extended support for Exchange 2010 is coming to an end. After January 14th, 2020, no further technical support or updates will be available. This includes security, bug and time zone updates.

Unfortunately, there is no direct path to Exchange 2019 from 2010. If you do plan to stay on-prem you will need to migrate to either 2013 or 2016 (I’d recommend 2016 as 2013 is now in extended support). From there you can migrate to 2019. Alternatively, you can migrate to Office 365.

For more information about the Exchange 2010 life-cycle check out the Exchange Team blog.

So, what’s new in these Cumulative Updates?

In the last set of cumulative updates, Microsoft reduced the number of permissions Exchange had in Active Directory. In an ongoing effort to further tighten the security posture of Exchange, Microsoft has further reduced Exchange’s permissions in Active Directory.

This includes two notable changes. The first is that Exchange can no longer assign service principal names (SPN). Second, a deny attribute has been added to the DNS Admins group. The Exchange Team determined neither of these rights was necessary for the operation of Exchange.

In the previous Exchange 2019 cumulative update, you could disable legacy protocols on a per-user basis. In cumulative update 2, you can now globally disable legacy authentication at the organization level.

This series of updates also introduces support for .NET Framework 4.8. While optional now, 4.8 will be mandatory as part of the December 2019 updates.

[Read more…] about Exchange June 2019 Updates