Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
ActiveSync
open-in-new
<h2 id="overview">Overview</h2> <p>ActiveSync allows a mobile device to be synchronized with either a desktop <a href="/facts/Personal_computer/koaYfNce">PC</a> or a <a href="/facts/Server_(computing)/dEaYFD7r">server</a> running a compatible software product. </p><p>On desktops, ActiveSync synchronizes emails, calendar, contacts and tasks with <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Outlook/cMGCKGFJ">Microsoft Outlook</a>, along with <a href="/facts/Internet_bookmark/E4WpX0Ku">Internet bookmarks</a> and files. ActiveSync does not support all features of Outlook. For instance, contacts grouped into subfolders are not transferred. Only the contacts which are not in a subfolder are synchronized. In case of Exchange Server, only emails, calendar, contacts and tasks may be synchronized. </p><p>In the <a href="/facts/Task_Manager_(Windows)/Fp70IsH6">Windows Task Manager</a>, the associated process is called wcescomm.exe. </p><p>ActiveSync also provides for the manual transfer of files to a mobile device, along with limited <a href="/facts/Backup/ldV72CkU">backup</a> functionality, and the ability to install and uninstall mobile device applications. </p><p>Supported mobile devices include <a href="/facts/Personal_digital_assistant/fLTT1Uqy">PDAs</a> or <a href="/facts/Smartphone/cSIrBMWG">smartphones</a> running <a href="/facts/Windows_Mobile/YfskR7FS">Windows Mobile</a>, <a href="/facts/Windows_CE/bMUhjgqQ">Windows CE</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> <a href="/facts/BlackBerry_10/WCev9y98">BlackBerry 10</a> or <a href="/facts/IOS/mK5cggH5">iOS</a> but not the older BlackBerry versions, <a href="/facts/Palm_OS/nIaAPX4I">Palm OS</a> and <a href="/facts/Symbian/gbRl35V9">Symbian</a> platforms. <a href="/facts/Windows_Phone_7/smNsH1IJ">Windows Phone 7</a> doesn't support desktop ActiveSync synchronization.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p><p>Starting with <a href="/facts/Windows_Vista/IASEUCTB">Windows Vista</a>, ActiveSync has been replaced with the <a href="/facts/Windows_Mobile_Device_Center/GkUw7EV8">Windows Mobile Device Center</a>, which is included as part of the operating system.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="release-history">Release history</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Version</th><th>Operating systems</th><th>Release date</th><th>Major changes</th></tr><tr><td>1.0</td><td><a href="/facts/Windows_95/1E1L93qC">Windows 95</a></td><td>1996-09-10</td><td><ul><li>Initial version (under name H/PC Explorer)</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>1.1.7077</td><td rowspan="3"><ul><li><a href="/facts/Windows_95/1E1L93qC">Windows 95</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_NT_4.0/EcKYxrkx">Windows NT 4.0</a></li></ul></td><td>1997-03-19</td><td><ul><li>NT4 support</li><li>Stability and compatibility fixes</li><li>Revised EULA</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>2.0</td><td>Fall 1997</td><td><ul><li>Renamed to Windows CE Services</li><li>Support for Windows CE 2</li><li>Windows CE 1 support dropped</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>2.1</td><td>1998-02</td><td><ul><li>Support for Windows CE 2.1x</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>2.2</td><td rowspan="3"><ul><li><a href="/facts/Windows_95/1E1L93qC">Windows 95</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_NT_4.0/EcKYxrkx">Windows NT 4.0</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_98/6qtq4oJm">Windows 98</a></li></ul></td><td>1998-09</td><td><ul><li>NT4 installation easier</li><li>33% faster than 2.1</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>3.0.0.9204</td><td>1999-08-16</td><td><ul><li>Renamed to ActiveSync</li><li>Faster, simplified, and vastly improved.</li><li>Removed the association between RAS/DUN and the Windows CE connection stack</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>3.1.9386</td><td>1999-11-24</td><td><ul><li>USB synchronization and the inclusion of the AvantGo host client</li><li>Auto-adjusting baud rate</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>3.1.9439</td><td rowspan="2"><ul><li><a href="/facts/Windows_95/1E1L93qC">Windows 95</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_NT_4.0/EcKYxrkx">Windows NT 4.0</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_98/6qtq4oJm">Windows 98</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_2000/amJIt9gz">Windows 2000</a></li></ul></td><td>?</td><td><ul><li>Sync fixes</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>3.1.9587</td><td>2001-07-31</td><td><ul><li>Added synchronisation support for <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Exchange_Server/9pu8G4It">Microsoft Exchange Server</a> 2000</li><li>Fixes for Outlook 98 / 2000 Security updates</li><li>Fixed a problem with the USB sync option</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>3.5.1176</td><td rowspan="2"><ul><li><a href="/facts/Windows_95/1E1L93qC">Windows 95</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_NT_4.0/EcKYxrkx">Windows NT 4.0</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_98/6qtq4oJm">Windows 98</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_2000/amJIt9gz">Windows 2000</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_XP/IozrkAYS">Windows XP</a></li></ul></td><td>2001-08-06</td><td><ul><li>Integrated support for new Windows XP and Office XP releases and Pocket PC 2002</li><li>Improved USB functionality, security and sync performance</li><li>New connection sounds</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>3.5.12007</td><td>2002-03-01</td><td><ul><li>Revised high color program icon</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>3.6.2148</td><td rowspan="5"><ul><li><a href="/facts/Windows_95/1E1L93qC">Windows 95</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_NT_4.0/EcKYxrkx">Windows NT 4.0</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_98/6qtq4oJm">Windows 98</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_2000/amJIt9gz">Windows 2000</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_XP/IozrkAYS">Windows XP</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_Server_2003/3vIJam5L">Windows Server 2003</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_Home_Server/ECTKVugv">Windows Home Server</a></li></ul></td><td>2002-11</td><td><ul><li>Support for the new range of Smartphone devices</li><li>Customary security updates and synchronisation performance improvements</li><li>New Get Connected Wizard</li><li>Improves on remote synchronisation by preventing error messages and dialogues from halting sync process</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>3.7.3083</td><td>2003-05-06</td><td><ul><li>Minor updates to internal icon set</li><li>Corrects a discovered security flaw in ActiveSync</li><li>Improvements to the synchronisation wizard, other UI changes and general enhancements</li><li>Improvements to support forthcoming Microsoft Office 2003 release and Windows Mobile 2003</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>3.7.1.3244</td><td>2003-10-10</td><td><ul><li>Improvements to USB drivers and issues related to synchronisation</li><li>Get Connected Wizard's interface modified slightly.</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>3.7.1.4034</td><td>2004-03-26</td><td><ul><li>Fixed reported bugs with Windows Explorer and XP Firewall integration.</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>3.8.0.5004</td><td>2005-01-06</td><td><ul><li>Secure functionality and provide updates for Windows XP SP2 systems</li><li>Performance improvements in synchronisation</li><li>Circumvents XP Firewall prompts that users experienced with other program versions upon first run.</li><li>Disables the Ethernet (LAN, Bluetooth) and RAS (Modem and WAN) connection method by default</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>4.0.4343</td><td rowspan="5"><ul><li><a href="/facts/Windows_2000/amJIt9gz">Windows 2000</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_XP/IozrkAYS">Windows XP</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_Server_2003/3vIJam5L">Windows Server 2003</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Windows_Home_Server/ECTKVugv">Windows Home Server</a></li></ul></td><td>2005</td><td><ul><li>Users able to specify installation directory</li><li>Removal of on-personal area connectivity options from the synchronisation mix.</li><li>Services for connections with Microsoft SQL server are included, along with a synchronisation update for Windows Media Player 10</li><li>GUI refresh</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>4.0.4358</td><td>2005</td><td><ul><li>Retail version included only on Windows Mobile 5 device CDs</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>4.1.0.4841</td><td>2005-11-18</td><td><ul><li>Critical update</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>4.2.0.4876</td><td>2006-06-06</td><td><ul><li>Microsoft Outlook improvements: Resolves issues relating to error code 85010014</li><li>Proxy/DTPT interaction improvements: Improved auto configuration of device Connection Manager settings when desktop has no proxy path to the Internet</li><li>Improved Desktop Pass Thru behavior with ISA proxy failures</li><li>Partnership improvements: Better resolution of multiple devices with the same name syncing with the same desktop</li><li>Connectivity improvements: Better handling of VPN clients (resolve unbinding of protocols from our RNDIS adapter). New auto detection of connectivity failure with user diagnostic alerts</li><li>New troubleshooting utility</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>4.5.5096</td><td>2007-02-13</td><td><ul><li>Faster file transfer speed and photo sync via Outlook are only available for Windows Mobile 5.0 powered devices.</li><li>Users of Microsoft Exchange 2003 Service Pack 2 with devices running the Messaging and Security Feature Pack for Windows Mobile 5.0 will benefit from the following feature enhancements included in ActiveSync 4.5: Direct Push Technology, local device wipe, and certificate powered authentication to Microsoft Exchange.</li><li>Microsoft Office Outlook 2000 not supported</li><li>Conversion of database files for use on a mobile device is not supported</li><li>Conversion of font files for use on a mobile device is not supported by ActiveSync 4.5</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> Software <ul><li><a href="/facts/Handheld_PC_Explorer/LxQdUmBk">Handheld PC Explorer</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/SyncToy/43ropEEz">SyncToy</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Windows_Mobile_Device_Center/GkUw7EV8">Windows Mobile Device Center</a></li></ul> Devices <ul><li><a href="/facts/Handheld_PC/o4mQvDH6">Handheld PC</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Palm-size_PC/XPIddk0S">Palm-size PC</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Pocket_PC/XPIddk0S">Pocket PC</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Smartphone/cSIrBMWG">Smartphone</a></li></ul> Concepts <ul><li><a href="/facts/Push_email/cF38tv1A">Push email</a></li></ul> Protocols <ul><li><a href="/facts/Exchange_ActiveSync/0dakgPQF">Exchange ActiveSync</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa998357%28v=exchg.150%29.aspx">Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070416081650/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/activesync/default.mspx">Microsoft ActiveSync</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Exchange Server 2007 Support for Mobile Devices". Microsoft Exchange portal. Microsoft. 27 March 2007. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2012. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080501143334/http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/evaluation/features/owa_mobile.mspx" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20080501143334/http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/evaluation/features/owa_mobile.mspx</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Lein, Adam Z. (17 September 2010). "How to Sync Windows Phone 7 with Outlook". Pocketnow. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2012. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130627011711/http://pocketnow.com/windows-phone/how-to-sync-windows-phone-7-with-outlook" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20130627011711/http://pocketnow.com/windows-phone/how-to-sync-windows-phone-7-with-outlook</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Snyder, Derek (2006). "Windows Mobile Enterprise Features" (PDF). Mobile & Embedded DevCon 2006. Microsoft. Retrieved 20 November 2012.[dead link] <a href="http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/0/9/70964f31-bac7-4379-b8bf-17ef35301ace/MEDC/Windows+Mobile+Enterprise+Features+-+Derek+Snyder.pdf" target="_blank">http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/0/9/70964f31-bac7-4379-b8bf-17ef35301ace/MEDC/Windows+Mobile+Enterprise+Features+-+Derek+Snyder.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>