New Outlook vs Classic Outlook Working Elsewhere Status: Where to Find It

When you use Outlook on multiple devices or have a delegate accessing your mailbox, you may see a “Working Elsewhere” status for a contact or colleague. This status indicates that the person is actively using Outlook on another computer or device. In the new Outlook for Windows and the classic Outlook, the location of this status notification differs significantly. This article explains exactly where to find the Working Elsewhere status in both versions and describes the differences in how each version reports the status.

Understanding the Working Elsewhere Status in Outlook

The Working Elsewhere status is a feature that informs other users when you are actively using Outlook in a different location. In classic Outlook, this status appears primarily in the status bar when you are viewing a shared mailbox, calendar, or folder that another user has opened. The classic version uses Exchange Server information to detect simultaneous logins. In new Outlook, the status is shown as a small icon on the People Card, which appears when you hover over or click a contact’s name. The underlying mechanism is the same: Exchange ActiveSync or the Mailbox Replication Service detects multiple active sessions. The key difference is the user interface element that displays the status. New Outlook relies on the modern People Card interface, while classic Outlook uses the legacy status bar. Both versions require an Exchange Online or on-premises Exchange mailbox. The Working Elsewhere status does not appear for IMAP or POP accounts.

Finding Working Elsewhere Status in Classic Outlook

1. Open a shared mailbox or folder
   In classic Outlook, the Working Elsewhere status only appears when you have opened a shared mailbox, calendar, or public folder that belongs to another user. Go to File > Open & Export > Other User’s Folder. Enter the name of the mailbox owner and select the folder type, such as Inbox or Calendar. Click OK.
2. Check the status bar at the bottom of the window
   After the shared folder loads, look at the status bar located at the bottom of the Outlook window. The status bar shows text like “Connected to Microsoft Exchange” and a small icon. If the mailbox owner is currently using Outlook elsewhere, you will see a message that reads “Working Elsewhere” in the status bar. The text appears in a gray font.
3. Verify the status for a delegate
   If you have delegate permissions, you can also see the Working Elsewhere status for the delegator. In the Navigation Pane, right-click the shared mailbox name and select Open in New Window. The status bar in the new window will display the Working Elsewhere message if the delegator is active elsewhere.
4. Use the Mailbox AutoMapping feature
   Classic Outlook automatically maps shared mailboxes for which you have Full Access permissions. When you open such a mailbox, the status bar updates in real time. If the mailbox owner signs in from another device, the status bar changes from “Connected” to “Working Elsewhere” within a few seconds.

Finding Working Elsewhere Status in New Outlook

1. Open the People Card for a contact
   In new Outlook, click the search box at the top of the window and type the name of the person whose status you want to check. From the search results, click the contact’s name or email address. The People Card opens on the right side of the window.
2. Look for the gray icon next to the name
   On the People Card, directly to the right of the contact’s display name, you will see a small gray icon that looks like a person with a gear symbol. This icon indicates that the person is working elsewhere. Hover your mouse over the icon to see a tooltip that reads “Working Elsewhere.”
3. Check the reading pane for shared mailboxes
   When you open an email from a shared mailbox in the reading pane, the People Card for the mailbox owner appears at the top of the email. The Working Elsewhere icon appears next to the owner’s name if they are active elsewhere. This works only for Exchange Online mailboxes.
4. Open the Calendar People Card
   In the Calendar view, click a meeting or appointment created by another user. The People Card for the organizer appears. The Working Elsewhere icon displays next to the organizer’s name if they are using Outlook on another device.

If You Cannot See the Working Elsewhere Status

The icon does not appear in new Outlook

If the gray icon does not appear on the People Card, the person may not be using Outlook on another device. The status updates only when Exchange detects a second active session. If the person is using Outlook Web App or Outlook mobile, the status still appears. If the person uses a non-Exchange email service, the status never shows. Also, new Outlook requires a stable internet connection to fetch the status from Exchange Online. If you are offline, the icon does not appear.

The status bar shows nothing in classic Outlook

In classic Outlook, if the status bar does not show “Working Elsewhere” even when you know the person is active elsewhere, the mailbox may not be configured with AutoMapping. You can manually add the shared mailbox by going to File > Account Settings > Account Settings > Change > More Settings > Advanced > Add. Enter the mailbox name. After adding it, restart Outlook. The status bar should then update.

The Working Elsewhere status stays visible after the person closes Outlook

Exchange takes up to 15 minutes to detect that a session has ended. If the person closes Outlook, the status may persist for a short time. This is normal behavior. If the status persists for more than 30 minutes, the person may have an orphaned session. They can sign out of all devices using the Microsoft 365 sign-out page or restart Outlook.

Item	New Outlook	Classic Outlook
Status display location	People Card icon next to name	Status bar at bottom of window
Icon or text	Gray person icon with gear	Gray text: “Working Elsewhere”
Requires shared mailbox	No, works for any Exchange contact	Yes, only when viewing another user’s folder
Real-time update	Yes, within seconds	Yes, within seconds
Works offline	No	No
Supported account types	Exchange Online only	Exchange Online and on-premises Exchange

You can now locate the Working Elsewhere status in both versions of Outlook. In new Outlook, check the People Card icon. In classic Outlook, check the status bar when viewing a shared folder. If you manage multiple mailboxes, consider using new Outlook for quicker access to the status icon. For delegated access scenarios, classic Outlook provides more detailed status information in the status bar. As an advanced tip, you can use the Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles option in classic Outlook to create separate profiles for different Exchange accounts, which isolates the Working Elsewhere status per session.