SharePoint Document Issues

How to Open SharePoint .OFT Templates Directly in Outlook

Natalie Taylor Oct 12, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is trying to launch Outlook template (.oft) files stored in a SharePoint document library directly into the Outlook desktop application without manually downloading them first.

How to Open SharePoint .OFT Templates Directly in Outlook

Product: Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Accessing and using shared email templates hosted on a company intranet or SharePoint library for quick deployment in Outlook.
Observed behavior: SharePoint forces the user to download the .oft file to their local machine instead of automatically launching it in the Outlook desktop client.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary permissions to access the SharePoint document library and that the Microsoft OneDrive desktop sync client is installed and configured on your machine.

Solution 1Recommended

Sync the SharePoint Library to Windows File Explorer

By syncing your SharePoint library locally using OneDrive, Windows can recognize the .oft file type and route it directly to the Outlook desktop app.

Because the SharePoint web interface natively treats .oft files as generic downloads, bypassing the browser is the most seamless workaround. Syncing the library locally allows you to interact with the templates as if they were standard local files.

Navigate to the SharePoint Library

Open your web browser and go to the SharePoint document library where the .oft templates are stored.

Sync the Library

Click the 'Sync' button located in the top command bar. Allow your browser to open Microsoft OneDrive if prompted.

Open the Template Locally

Open Windows File Explorer, navigate to the newly created SharePoint sync folder in your sidebar, and double-click the .oft file. It will now open directly in Outlook.

Sync the SharePoint Library to Windows File Explorer

Automatic Updates: Any changes made to the templates in SharePoint by your team will automatically sync to your local File Explorer folder.

Solution 2

Use Power Automate to Distribute the Template

Create a Power Automate flow to send the .oft template as an email attachment automatically.

Solution 3

Manual Download and Launch

The standard default method required by the SharePoint web interface.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does SharePoint force a download instead of opening the .oft file directly?

SharePoint's web interface is designed to open specific supported file types (like Word or Excel) in browser-based web apps. Since there is no web-based viewer or handler for Outlook templates (.oft), the browser defaults to treating it as a standard file download.

Is there a way to request a direct-open feature for .oft files from Microsoft?

Yes. You can submit feature requests and feedback directly to Microsoft through the official SharePoint Feedback Community portal at feedbackportal.microsoft.com.

Can third-party add-ins solve the SharePoint .oft issue?

Certain enterprise third-party integrations and Outlook add-ins can bridge this gap by connecting Outlook directly to SharePoint libraries, bypassing the standard web interface limitations entirely.

Document & File Issues