Difference Between Exchange Cache Mode and Online Mode

Introduction to Exchange Cache Mode

In this Mode, a replica of your mailbox data is stored on your computer. This mailbox replica provides quick access to your data, and it is regularly updated with the server that runs Microsoft Exchange. If you work Offline, whether by choice or due to a connection problems, your data is still available to you instantly in OST format & whenever you require you can view your OST file. Any changes that you make while the server connection is unavailable are automatically synchronized once the connection is regained. However, you can continue to work while the changes are synchronized.

Introduction to Online Mode

This mode helps you to read the emails or access your information directly from the Exchange Server. It just downloads the “stub” to show the user that emails are available. Online mode users are typically those who have large mailboxes or change computers on regular basis. The computers with security compliance regulations may also require Online Mode.

Difference Between Exchange Cache And Online Mode

• The cached mode takes a while to download all the messages on the first use and takes lots of space compared to the online mode.
• Depending on the mode you are using, different features of cached and Online Mode become available in Outlook.
• If you are running Outlook in Cached Mode, you can search emails with specific conditions whereas in online mode you don’t need to search emails with specific conditions.
• Searching can be indexed locally and therefore be faster in Cached Mode compared to online mode.
• Email search works in Online Mode but doesn’t really work in cache mode.

How to Turn On or Off Cached Exchange Mode?

1. Click the File tab

2. Go to Account Settings and click Account Settings

3. On the E-Mail tab, click the Exchange Account and then click Change. Under the Microsoft Exchange Server section, select the Use “Cached Exchange Mode” check box

4. Now Exit and Restart Microsoft Outlook

How to Turn Cached Exchange Mode Off?

To turn this mode Off performs the same steps as discussed above. Under the Microsoft Exchange Server section, uncheck the checkbox for Use Cached Mode. Again, Exit and restart Outlook.

NOTE: An E-mail message may remain in Outlook for one minute until the next synchronization occurs with the server running Exchange while Cached Exchange mode is in use. Alternatively, if you want to send the message immediately then follow the given steps:

Go to Send/Receive All Folder tab, in the Send/Receive option, click on Send All

Issues Occurred In Turning On Cached Exchange Mode

These might be the reasons why you are unable to turn on Cache Mode. If the following is the list of errors then you can easily resolve them.
Issue -> If you do not have an Exchange e-mail account configured on Outlook.
Solution -> It requires your Outlook profile to contain an Exchange account

Issue -> If your Exchange administrator has disabled this functionality.
Solution -> Your Exchange administrator has the ability to disable this functionality. Therefore, you can contact him to discuss this.

Issue -> You have installed Microsoft Terminal Services.
Solution -> Cache Mode uses an offline folder file (.ost) so that it cannot be used if you have installed Microsoft Terminal Services.

Conclusion

This blog is put forward to bring into the users’ awareness about how they can work in Exchange Cache Mode and Online Mode. In addition, the comparison between the two has been done to describe each service well. At last, we came to this point that Cache mode is more stable as compared to online mode.