Updating the Insightly CRM Sidebar for Outlook

NOTE: this article is only for customers who have added the Insightly CRM Sidebar for Outlook before May 23rd, 2025 and need to update. If you are adding the Sidebar for the first time, please see How to Install the Insightly Sidebar for Outlook

Updating the Insightly CRM Sidebar for Outlook

Microsoft is changing how Outlook connects with third-party apps, which directly impacts the Insightly CRM Sidebar for Outlook. Over the past few weeks, some users have experienced disruptions as a result of these changes - and we appreciate your patience while we worked to resolve them.

We’ve now released an important update to fully support Microsoft’s new authorization system and restore stable Sidebar functionality.

Although Microsoft hasn’t confirmed the exact cutoff, the legacy connection method could fully stop working as early as June 1, 2025. To avoid further disruption, please follow the steps below to update your Outlook Sidebar as soon as possible.

1. Log in to your Insightly account
2. Go to User Settings > Email Accounts > then select the small trash icon next to your Outlook/Office email to remove it. 
3. Go to the sidebar > Click open sidebar 
4. Click three dots > Settings > Sign out of sidebar
   
5. Sign back into the sidebar using the "Continue with Microsoft" option. 
6. Accept the "Authorize with Outlook" request
   
7. Once you are signed back into Outlook, accept the additional permissions request. Most users will see the following permissions request. If you see them, proceed to step 8:
   
   
   If you see this different permissions screen noting that separate approval is required, please follow the instructions specific to Azure/Entra at the end of this document:
   
8. Some users may see one the following error messages after step 7:
   
   On PC/Windows:
   
   
   On Mac/OSX
   
   If you see an error and you're on a PC, simply click restart, and the Sidebar will load into Outlook. If you're on a Mac, close the sidebar and open it again, and the sidebar will load.

Azure/Entra steps

Your Azure or Entra admin will need to sign into the Azure/Entra panel and do the following: 

1. Go to Admin Page > Enterprise Accounts > Consent and permissions 
2. Update permission to one of the following options
   
3. Once this update is performed, you will need to wait an hour for that update to take effect.
4. Once the update has taken effect, go through these steps again, starting at step 1
5.  Once users have restored access to the sidebar, the “User Consent Settings” can be reverted to “Do not allow user consent”.

If the Sidebar has already stopped working for you, completing these steps will also bring it back online.