In today’s mobile-first world, accessing work emails, contacts, and calendars on your iPhone is practically a necessity. If your organization uses Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), you might find yourself asking: “What is the server name for Microsoft Exchange on iPhone?”
Whether you’re setting it up for the first time or troubleshooting a problem, understanding how Exchange works with iOS and knowing the correct server settings is essential.
In this post, we’ll cover:
- What Microsoft Exchange is
- The server name you need on iPhone
- Differences between Exchange, Outlook, and Microsoft 365
- How to set up Exchange manually on iPhone
- Common errors and how to fix them
- Alternative (and easier) ways to add Exchange
- Final tips
Let’s dive in.
What Is Microsoft Exchange?
Microsoft Exchange is a mail & calendar server developed by Microsoft. It allows businesses & individuals to manage emails, calendars, contacts, tasks, & more — all from a single platform. It’s widely used in professional environments, particularly those using Microsoft 365.
When you access your work email on your iPhone via Exchange, you’re connecting your device to that server — securely syncing all your email, calendars, and contacts.
Depending on your organization’s setup, your Exchange server may be:
- Hosted locally (on-premise Exchange server)
- Cloud-hosted (through Microsoft 365 / Office 365)
- Hybrid (a mix of both)
This affects what server name you’ll need when setting up Exchange on your iPhone.
So, What Is the Server Name for Microsoft Exchange on iPhone?
Here’s the short answer:
If you are a using Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), the server name is:
outlook.office365.com
That’s the default server address for Microsoft-hosted Exchange services (cloud-based).
However, if your organization runs its own Exchange server (on-premise), the server name can vary. You may need to ask your IT department or system administrator for the correct server address.
Let’s break it down further.
For Microsoft 365 / Office 365 Users
- Server name: outlook.office365.com
- Domain: Often left blank
- Username: Your full email address (e.g., [email protected])
- Password: Your Microsoft 365 password
For On-Premise Exchange Users (e.g., Exchange Server 2016, 2019)
- Server name: Usually something like mail.yourcompany.com or exchange.yourcompany.com
- Domain: Your company’s domain (check with IT)
- Username: Sometimes it’s just the part before @ (e.g., john.doe)
- Password: Your regular work login password
Pro Tip: If you’re not sure, log into your account via Outlook Web Access (OWA) or contact your system admin.
Understanding the Difference: Exchange vs Outlook vs Microsoft 365
Before we go further, let’s clear up a common source of confusion:
| Term | What it Means |
|---|---|
| Exchange | The backend mail server that stores your emails, contacts, and calendars. |
| Outlook | The email client you use to access Exchange. This could be the Outlook app on iPhone, desktop, or web. |
| Microsoft 365 | A subscription that includes Exchange (in the cloud), along with Word, Excel, Teams, and more. |
When you’re adding an account to your iPhone, you’re actually configuring an Exchange connection, even if you use Outlook as your app.
How to Manually Set Up Exchange on iPhone (Step-by-Step)
If you’re not using the Outlook app and want to add Exchange directly to your iPhone’s built-in Mail, Contacts, and Calendar apps, here’s how.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account
- Select Microsoft Exchange
- Enter your:
- Email address
- Description (e.g., “Work Email”)
- Tap Next, then select Sign In or Configure Manually
If you choose Configure Manually, you’ll need:- Email: Your work email
- Server:
- outlook.office365.com (for Microsoft 365)
- OR your company’s custom Exchange server (e.g., exchange.company.com)
- Domain: Often optional; check with IT if needed
- Username: Full email address or network login name
- Password: Your email password
- Choose which items to sync: Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Notes
- Tap Save
That’s it! Your iPhone will start syncing with the Exchange server.
Using the Outlook App (An Easier Way)
Not a fan of manual setup? Microsoft offers an Outlook app for iOS that takes care of everything for you.
Why Use the Outlook App?
- Auto-detects the server name
- Cleaner, feature-rich interface
- Supports Focused Inbox, swipe gestures, and more
- Built-in calendar and contact support
- More secure in corporate environments
How to Set Up:
- Download Microsoft Outlook from the App Store
- Open the app and tap Add Account
- Enter your work email
- Tap Continue and log in with your credentials
- Outlook auto-configures your account and syncs everything
This method completely bypasses the need to enter the server name manually.
Troubleshooting Common Exchange Setup Errors on iPhone
Let’s say something goes wrong. Here are the most common issues & how to fix them.
“Unable to verify account information”
Fix:
- Double-check your email and password
- If using a custom server, ensure server address is correct
- Try using outlook.office365.com if your organization uses Microsoft 365
Account not syncing or only syncing partially
Fix:
- Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > [Your Exchange Account] & toggle Mail/Contacts/Calendars off and on
- Check “Fetch New Data” is set to Push
- Try deleting and re-adding the account
MFA / 2-Factor Authentication problems
The manual setup might fail if your organization uses multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Fix: Use the Sign In option instead of manual setup OR use the Outlook app (recommended).
Exchange Server Name Cheat Sheet
| Use Case | Server Name | Notes |
|---|
| Microsoft 365 / Office 365 | outlook.office365.com | Works in 99% of cases |
| Exchange Server 2016/2019 (On-Prem) | mail.companyname.com or exchange.companyname.com | Check with IT |
| Hybrid Setup | May vary | Outlook auto-discovery helps |
| Using Outlook App | No need to know server name | Best for ease of use |
How to Find Your Exchange Server Name Yourself
If you’re tech-savvy or can’t get help from IT, here’s how to find your Exchange server address:
- Go to Outlook Web Access (OWA): https://outlook.office365.com or your company’s custom address
- Sign in with your work email and password
- Click the gear icon > Mail > POP & IMAP
- Look under POP, IMAP, and SMTP settings — the server name for Exchange will usually be listed there
OR:
- Ask your IT admin for AutoDiscover settings or look in your desktop Outlook > Account Settings > Server Settings
Final Thoughts
To sum it all up:
If you’re setting up Microsoft Exchange on an iPhone and your company uses Microsoft 365, your server name is most likely outlook.office365.com.
However, if you’re working with a custom setup or on-prem Exchange server, you’ll need the exact server name from your IT department.
For most users, the Outlook app is the simplest and most reliable way to access Exchange services on iPhone without worrying about server names or configurations.
