For classic Outlook, the prompt lives on the Home ribbon and File > Info; in the new app and web, open Help to get the mobile link.
If you keep seeing hints to “get the app on your phone” but can’t spot the button, you’re not alone. Microsoft places the mobile prompt in a few different spots depending on which Outlook you’re running, with practical differences across builds. This guide walks you clearly through the exact places to look in Windows, the new app, and the browser version, with quick fixes if the ribbon or side panel is hidden. You’ll also see how admins can remove the prompt entirely.
Mobile App Button Location On Desktop Outlook
There are three common interfaces today. The long-standing Windows desktop app, the new app that ships with Windows 11, and Outlook in a browser. The mobile prompt appears in each, but not in a single identical place. Use the sections below to jump to your setup.
Find It In The Classic Windows App
Home Ribbon Banner
When you select your Inbox, a banner can show above the folder list that reads something like “Take your Outlook on the go.” That banner contains the button that opens the install page for the phone app. If you don’t see it, scroll the folder list to the top and click Inbox again to refresh that left pane. Microsoft documents this placement for Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2019, and Outlook 2016.
File > Info Link
You can also open File > Info. In the Account Information area sits a link that says “Get the Outlook app for iPhone, iPad, Android.” Click that and you’ll land on the same install path. This link appears whether or not the Inbox banner shows, since it lives in the Info page rather than the mail view.
Add Account Wizard Checkbox
When you finish adding a mailbox in the classic app, the final page of the wizard includes a checkbox labeled “Set up Outlook Mobile on my phone, too.” Leave it checked to receive the app link or uncheck if you don’t want it.
Drafts Pane Callout
Select the Drafts folder and look at the right reading pane. You may see a callout that says you can “get to your drafts on the go with the Outlook mobile app.” It opens the same download link. The banner can come and go based on view width and account type.
If The Ribbon Or Pane Is Missing
If the ribbon collapsed, press Ctrl + F1 or click the tiny arrow in the upper-right and choose “Show Tabs and Commands.” If you switched to the simplified ribbon, you can still reach File > Info. Microsoft’s support article on the simplified ribbon has screenshots if you need a visual reference.
Spot It In The New Outlook For Windows
The new app matches the web layout. The mobile link sits under the Help menu and in some accounts appears as a subtle banner in the message list or the right pane. Click the gear icon to open Settings if you prefer search; type “mobile” to surface links that send you to the app stores. If you built a minimal navigation bar, open the three-dot menu and check for a “Get the app” entry.
Why It Can Be Hidden In The New App
Enterprises can turn off the mobile education prompts. If your work account never shows a banner and Help lacks any “Get the app” link, your admin may have disabled it.
Use It From Outlook On The Web
Open the gear icon, choose View all Outlook settings > General > Mobile devices. That page manages phones tied to your mailbox and includes direct links to install the app. In some inboxes, a message appears above folders with a link. You can also install the web version as a progressive web app if you want a desktop icon without switching to the new app.
Troubleshooting: The Button Still Isn’t There
1) Make Sure You’re In Mail
The banner shows when Mail is selected. If you’re in Calendar or People, switch back to Mail and select Inbox.
2) Restore The Ribbon
Press Ctrl + F1. Or click the arrow in the upper-right and choose “Show Tabs and Commands.” In classic builds, right-click the ribbon, pick “Customize the Ribbon,” and confirm the Home tab items are enabled.
3) Widen Or Undock The Reading Pane
The callout in Drafts can hide on narrow layouts. Drag the pane border wider or switch to a larger window and check again.
4) Check Account Type
Some banners appear only with Microsoft 365 or Exchange mailboxes. If you’re using IMAP or POP, go to File > Info to find the link instead.
5) Use Help Search
In the new app and web, open Help and search “mobile.” You’ll see a “Get the mobile app” action that jumps to the install page.
6) Admins Might Have Hidden It
In organizations, admins can remove the mobile prompts through policy. If you never see the banner or links on managed devices, ask IT whether the policy is enabled.
Power Users: Remove The Prompt On Personal PCs
Don’t want the banner at all in the classic app? You can disable it with a registry value or a local policy. The setting name is DisableOutlookMobileHyperlink. Set the DWORD to 1 under the current user hive to hide the education links. Group Policy includes the same toggle under Outlook Options > Other.
Table: Where To Click Based On Your Outlook
| Version | Where You’ll See It | Path To Open |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Windows App | Inbox banner; File > Info link; Drafts pane callout; Add Account checkbox | Select Inbox; or File > Info; or open Drafts; or finish Add Account wizard |
| New App For Windows | Help menu link; occasional subtle banner in list or reading pane | Open Help; or Settings > search “mobile”; or three-dot menu |
| Outlook On The Web | Settings > General > Mobile devices page; periodic folder-pane banner | Gear icon > View all Outlook settings > General > Mobile devices |
Step-By-Step: Classic Windows App
Show The Full Ribbon
- Open Outlook.
- Press Ctrl + F1 to expand the ribbon.
- If you prefer menus, click the arrow near the window’s top-right and choose “Show Tabs and Commands.”
Trigger The Inbox Banner
- Click Mail in the bottom bar.
- Select Inbox for your Microsoft 365 or Exchange account.
- Look above the folder list for a blue banner labeled “Take your Outlook on the go.”
- Click the button on that banner to open the install page.
Use The File > Info Link
- Click File.
- On the Info page, find the link that mentions iPhone, iPad, and Android.
- Click it to reach Microsoft’s official download page.
Try The Drafts Pane Callout
- Open the Drafts folder.
- Look to the right reading pane for the link about getting to drafts on the go.
- Click to open the same download page.
Step-By-Step: New App And Web
Use The Help Menu
- Click the question-mark icon in the top bar.
- Type mobile in the search box.
- Pick the result that says “Get the mobile app.”
Open Mobile Devices Settings
- Click the gear icon.
- Choose View all Outlook settings.
- Go to General > Mobile devices.
- Use the store links on that page to install the app on iOS or Android.
Fast Fixes Without The Fluff
The Button Used To Be There, Then Disappeared
Tabs can collapse. Use the ribbon toggle or switch from simplified to classic. If you’re in the new app, the banner is subtle; check Help search instead.
I Clicked The Link And Nothing Happened
Mail clients can block store URLs. Copy the link target and paste it into a browser. You can also visit Microsoft’s mobile app page directly.
My Work PC Shows No Mobile Hints At All
That usually means policy removed them. The registry key and Group Policy switch can hide every education link in the classic app, and tenant settings can disable them in the web and new app.
Why Microsoft Put The Link In Multiple Places
People arrive through different flows. Some just added an account, some live in Drafts, others work in File > Info. Placing the prompt in several UI surfaces raises the chance you’ll see it at a helpful moment. If you prefer a quiet screen, you can turn it off with the policy switch mentioned earlier.
Safety Tip: Use Only Official Download Paths
Stick to the official links baked into Outlook or Microsoft’s site. That avoids fake store pages and ad landers. If you want to confirm placement details, Microsoft has a page that lists every spot the prompt can appear in classic builds. If your ribbon is collapsed and you need a refresher on layout controls, Microsoft’s simplified ribbon guide walks through the toggles. If you prefer a desktop icon for the browser version, Microsoft explains how to install Outlook on the web as a progressive web app.
Final Take
In the classic app, look to the Inbox banner, File > Info, Drafts, and the account wizard. In the new app and the web, open Help or the Mobile devices settings. If nothing appears, you’re likely on a managed tenant that hides the education prompt, or your ribbon is collapsed. Either way, the steps above put the install link a click away.
Sources: Microsoft’s configuration note that lists every place the prompt appears, guidance on the simplified ribbon, and the page that explains using the web version as a desktop app.