We're Upgrading SFU Mail

Overview

Aligned with the university’s “What’s Next Objective: Transform the SFU experience”, SFU is upgrading to Exchange Online, a new cloud-based email system. This upgrade aims to enhance IT security, improve user experience and improve our ability to use Microsoft’s online resources.

Throughout this upgrade, all SFU accounts (with minor exceptions) will be migrated to Exchange Online.

For other resources:

• SFU Mail Service Home Page
• SFU Mail (Revised) How-To Guides
• SFU Mail Migration FAQs and Common Issues
• New Change to SFU Mail

What I need to Know

TIMELINE

Between now and 2025, your SFU mailbox account will be upgraded to Exchange Online. You will receive emails one to two weeks prior to your account being scheduled to the upgrade.

Update: Student accounts will begin transitioning starting January 2024.

ACTIONS BEFORE UPGRADE

To ensure a smooth transition, take the following actions before your scheduled upgrade:

• Save or bookmark the new SFU Mail Outlook link (https://outlook.office.com) to access SFU Mail after your upgrade. The current SFU Mail link (https://mail.sfu.ca) will become obsolete after your upgraded.
  • If you encounter sign-in errors after the upgrade, try clearing your browser cookies.
• Learn the new new sign-in email format, which will be “YourComputingID@sfu.ca” on the Microsoft log in page.
• Be prepared that most desktop and mobile email applications will disconnect from SFU Mail, including Apple Mail.
  • If you encounter sign-in errors, try removing and re-adding your SFU account.
  • We're now blocking all unapproved email apps from connecting to SFU Mail. For a list of approved apps, see: New Changes to SFU Mail - New Restrictions.
• Email signatures on server-sided applications, like SFU Mail on the browser, will be lost during the upgrade. You will have to add them back when the upgrade is complete.
• Consider bookmarking this page in case you encounter issues.

ACTIONS AFTER UPGRADE

For everyone:

• If you haven't already, update any bookmarks you may have to the new SFU Mail Outlook link: https://outlook.office.com/. Your sign in email will be “YourComputingID@sfu.ca” on the Microsoft log in page.
• Share calendars, folders and delegation may be broken and need re-sharing of those permissions.
  • If re-sharing permissions don't work, the user you're sharing to haven't had their email upgraded to Exchange Online yet.
• As Exchange Online utilizes its cloud-based spam detection, legitimate emails can end up in your junk folder. Please report any messages mistakenly classified as junk to IT support for Exchange Online.

For desktop and mobile email application users:

• Re-sign into desktop or mobile email applications. However, only approved email applications will be allowed to access SFU Mail.
  • For desktop: Outlook for Windows and Mac are recommended and fully supported. Apple Mail and Mozilla Thunderbird may be used but will not be fully supported by IT Services. Other applications will be blocked from connecting to SFU Mail.
  • For mobile: Outlook is the recommended app for mobile devices. Apple Mail and Samsung Email may be used but will not be fully supported by IT Services. Other applications, such as Gmail, will be blocked from connecting to SFU Mail.
• More details, including changes required for specific email client applications such as Thunderbird, and special configurations like IMAP, can be found at New Changes to SFU Mail.

What's changing on SFU Mail?

For a quick summary of the changes:

• New Features:
  • SFU Mail on Browser will communicate with other Microsoft 365 apps.
  • Outlook on Desktop will have more integration with Microsoft 365 suite.
  • Microsoft Teams and other Microsoft 365 Apps (e.g., Bookings, Planner) will now communicate with SFU Mail.
• New Restrictions to connecting to SFU Mail
  • Desktop Email Applications
  • Mobile Email Applications
  • IMAP, SMTP and POP
• Service Changes and Limits
  • Email Backup
  • Mailbox Storage Limit
  • Data Security
• Compatibility
  • Older Mobile Devices
  • Older Browsers

For more information on changes and new features, see New Change to SFU Mail.