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Use work contacts in personal apps

On devices enrolled in Android Enterprise work profile management mode, you can make work contacts available to personal apps. All personal apps with the Contacts permission can then look up contacts from the Outlook work app.

For example, the Phone, Contacts, and Messages apps show work contacts when the user searches for a contact, and the Phone app shows caller information for incoming calls from work contacts.

Requirements

  • You’ve added the Microsoft Outlook Android app to Sophos Mobile. See Add app.
  • Microsoft Outlook is installed in the device’s work profile, and the corporate mail account is configured.

Note

The procedure described here doesn’t copy Outlook work contacts to the personal address book. Instead, personal apps get permission to look up Outlook contacts in the work address book.

The key steps in making Outlook work contacts available in personal apps are as follows:

  • Allow personal apps to use work contacts.
  • Turn on contact synchronization in Sophos Mobile.
  • Turn on contact synchronization on the device.

Allow personal apps to use work contacts

You configure your device policy to allow personal apps to use work contacts.

  1. In Sophos Central, go to My Products > Mobile > Policies > Android.

  2. Click the policy assigned to the device.

    The following image shows an example. Your policy might have a different name.

    An Android work profile policy.

  3. Under Configurations, click Restrictions.

    "Restrictions" in the list of configurations.

  4. Under Security, make sure the following settings are turned on:

    • Allow work contact info for personal calls
    • Allow work contact info for Bluetooth devices
    • Allow searches of work contacts in personal profile

    The policy settings you must turn on.

  5. If you changed a setting, click Apply, then click Save on the Edit policy page.

Next, you turn on contact synchronization in the Outlook app’s managed configuration in Sophos Mobile.

Turn on contact synchronization in Sophos Mobile

  1. In Sophos Mobile, go to Apps > Android.

  2. On the Apps - Android Enterprise page, click Microsoft Outlook.

    The Outlook app on the "Apps - Android Enterprise" page.

  3. Make sure Use managed configuration is selected, then click Edit managed configuration.

    The "Edit managed configuration" button.

  4. Make sure that Contact sync enabled or Contact sync (user change allowed), or both, are turned on.

    The "Contact sync enabled" and "Contact sync (user change allowed)" settings.

  5. If you changed a setting, click Save at the bottom right of the Managed configuration window.

    The Save button of the "Managed configuration" window.

  6. Close the Managed configuration window.

Next, you turn on contact synchronization in the Outlook app on the device.

Turn on contact synchronization on the device

  1. On the device, open the Sophos Mobile Control app in the work profile. Sophos Mobile Control synchronizes the policy changes you made.

    The Sophos Mobile Control app icon.

  2. Open the Outlook app in the work profile.

    The Outlook app icon.

  3. Tap the profile image in the top left.

    The profile image.

  4. Tap the gear icon at the bottom to open Settings.

    The gear icon.

  5. Tap Contacts.

    The Contacts entry in the Settings menu.

  6. Turn on Sync contacts.

    The "Sync contacts" setting.

  7. If Android prompts you to allow Outlook access to contacts, tap Allow.

    The Android notification to allow the Contacts permission.

  8. Go back to Inbox.

You can now look up work contacts in personal apps.