How to Install Microsoft Outlook Social Connector Provider for Facebook (Step‑by‑Step)

Microsoft Outlook Social Connector Provider for Facebook — Setup GuideThe Microsoft Outlook Social Connector (OSC) was an add-in for Microsoft Outlook that integrated social network information directly into the Outlook interface — showing contact updates, profile photos, status messages, and shared activities in the People Pane and contact cards. One popular provider for OSC connected Outlook to Facebook, allowing users to see friends’ Facebook profile photos, recent posts, and other public information alongside email, calendar, and contact data.

This guide explains the OSC-Facebook integration: how it worked, steps to install and configure it historically, troubleshooting, privacy considerations, and alternatives today. Note: Facebook and Microsoft have changed their APIs and product support over time; many OSC-Facebook providers are discontinued or no longer work because Facebook restricted access to the API endpoints OSC relied on. If you’re attempting to connect modern Outlook (Microsoft 365 / Outlook ⁄₂₀₂₁) to Facebook, you may need to use alternative workflows described at the end.

What the Outlook Social Connector did

• It added a “People Pane” at the bottom of message windows and contact items that aggregated social network activity for the selected contact.
• The OSC Provider for Facebook pulled profile pictures, public posts, friend connections, and presence/status when permitted.
• When connected, the People Pane showed a timeline of communications, meetings, and social updates from Facebook and other connected networks.
• It required two components: the Outlook Social Connector (the core add-in) and a provider specific to a social network (Facebook provider).

Compatibility and prerequisites

Before attempting installation, confirm the following:

• Supported Outlook versions historically included Outlook 2010, Outlook 2013 (with varying functionality), and some older Office releases. Modern Outlook for Microsoft 365 and newer standalone releases no longer support the legacy OSC in the same way.
• A Windows PC running an Outlook edition that supports COM add-ins (desktop Outlook, not Outlook Web/App).
• Administrative or installation rights on the machine to install the OSC and provider.
• A Facebook account with login credentials; note Facebook’s API changes may block direct access from OSC providers.
• Internet access for provider authentication and data retrieval.

Installation steps (historic / legacy process)

If you’re using an older supported Outlook version and an OSC-Facebook provider that still works, follow these general steps.

1. Install the Outlook Social Connector core

   • Download the Microsoft Outlook Social Connector from Microsoft’s Office website (this was provided as a separate download for some Office/Outlook versions).
   • Run the installer and accept prompts. Restart Outlook after installation.

2. Install the Facebook provider

   • Locate the “Microsoft Outlook Social Connector Provider for Facebook” installer (if available). This was sometimes provided by Microsoft or third parties.
   • Run the provider installer and follow prompts. Restart Outlook if required.

3. Enable the People Pane in Outlook

   • In Outlook, open the View tab.
   • Click People Pane and choose Normal (to show) or Minimized as preferred.

4. Configure account connections

   • In the People Pane, click “Add a social network account” or the configuration link.
   • Choose Facebook (if present) and click Connect.
   • You’ll be redirected to a Facebook login/consent flow. Sign in and grant permissions requested (profile info, friend list, etc.).
   • After successful authentication, the People Pane should populate with Facebook data for contacts who are matched.

5. Match contacts

   • OSC attempted to match Outlook contacts to Facebook profiles by name and email. Check matches and manually link if necessary via the People Pane contact card options.

Troubleshooting

• Provider not listed or installation fails

  • Ensure you installed the correct OSC core version for your Outlook build (32-bit vs 64-bit).
  • Run the installer as Administrator.
  • Check Outlook’s COM Add-ins (File → Options → Add-ins → COM Add-ins → Go…) and enable the Social Connector entries.

• Authentication errors / Facebook won’t connect

  • Facebook changed policies and deprecated older Graph API endpoints and OAuth permissions. Many legacy OSC-Facebook providers no longer have working API access.
  • If the Facebook login page appears but then returns an error, the provider’s app ID or permissions may have been revoked by Facebook.

• No data or incomplete profiles

  • Some Facebook profile fields are private; OSC only displays public or permitted fields.
  • Matching may fail if contact names differ; manually link profiles in People Pane.

• Performance issues (sluggish Outlook)

  • Disable OSC or set People Pane to Minimized if Outlook performance suffers.
  • Clear OSC cache (stored locally) or reinstall the add-in.

Privacy and security considerations

• When you connect Outlook to any social network, you grant the provider access to profile data and possibly friend lists or posts. Verify what permissions the provider requests during authentication.
• Legacy OSC providers used OAuth flows; ensure the provider you use is legitimate and provided by Microsoft or a trusted vendor.
• Because many older OSC-Facebook integrations are deprecated, continuing to use them may expose you to broken authentication flows or abandoned third-party applications — avoid entering credentials into untrusted prompts.

Alternatives (recommended for modern Outlook / Windows)

Given Facebook’s API changes and Microsoft’s shift away from OSC, consider these alternatives:

• Use Outlook People cards + manual profile photos: Manually add profile photos and details to your Outlook contacts.
• Use Microsoft 365 People/Azure AD for organizational contact syncing (for work accounts).
• Use third-party contact managers or CRM integrations that support Facebook data export/import (export friend info via Facebook tools where allowed, then import contact data).
• Use browser-based workflows: keep Facebook interactions in a browser tab and use Outlook separately; link to a contact’s Facebook profile URL in the Outlook contact card.
• For enterprise social collaboration, use Microsoft Teams and Viva Connections which integrate modern social features with Microsoft 365.

Example: Manual linking and adding a Facebook profile photo to an Outlook contact

1. Open the Facebook profile in your browser and download the profile picture (if allowed by the user’s privacy settings).
2. In Outlook, open the contact, click the photo placeholder, and choose “Add Picture,” then select the downloaded image.
3. Add the Facebook profile URL into a contact’s Notes or Web page field for quick access.

Final notes

• The Microsoft Outlook Social Connector Provider for Facebook historically provided convenient social context inside Outlook. However, due to API changes and discontinued support, many legacy integrations no longer function.
• If you must use this integration, run it only on older supported Outlook versions and ensure you obtain the provider installer from a trustworthy source. For modern setups, prefer manual contact enrichment or modern Microsoft 365 integrations.

If you tell me which Outlook version you’re using and whether you still have an OSC/Facebook provider installer, I can give step-by-step commands and links tailored to your setup.