Microsoft Bookings - Getting Started Guide

Questions

  • How do I log in to Microsoft Bookings for the first time?
  • Where do I access Microsoft Bookings?
  • How do I create my first Bookings calendar?
  • What is Microsoft Bookings and how does it work at Bowdoin?
  • How do I start setting up appointment booking for my office hours?

Environment

This article applies to Bowdoin College faculty and staff who are new to Microsoft Bookings. Bookings is included with your Bowdoin Microsoft 365 account. It is an online scheduling tool for creating appointment booking calendars — originally designed for small businesses, but equally useful for academic scheduling, office hours, advising, and departmental appointments.

Terminology note: Bookings uses business-oriented language. For example, "customers" refers to the people booking appointments with you (usually students), and "services" refers to the types of appointments you offer. See Common terminology used in Microsoft Bookings in the Related Articles section for a full glossary.

Resolution

  1. Go to https://www.office.com and sign in with your Bowdoin email address and password.
  2. Click the app launcher (the waffle icon) in the upper-left corner.
  3. Select Bookings from the app list. If you do not see it, click All Apps and select Bookings from there.
  4. Click Get it now on the Bookings landing page.
  5. Click + to add your first Bookings calendar and enter a name for it.
  6. Optionally enter your business information, then click Continue.
Note: If you have already set up a Bookings calendar before, Bookings will open directly into that calendar.

Important first-time setup tips

  • Set your time zone: Click the Booking Page tab and click Change language and time zone settings to set your correct time zone. See Set your timezone in Microsoft Bookings in the Related Articles section.
  • Sync with your Outlook calendar: Under the Booking Page tab, set availability to Bookable when staff are free so Bookings checks your Outlook calendar to prevent double-booking.
  • Cancel appointments through Bookings, not Outlook: If you delete a Bookings appointment from your Outlook calendar, it will not cancel it in Bookings. Always cancel through the Microsoft Bookings website so that both you and the attendee receive a cancellation notice.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

  • Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
  • Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
  • In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
  • Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
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Related Articles (7)

Alternative to Calendly
Bowdoin does not have Calendly licensing. Microsoft Bookings with Me is the recommended free alternative for self-scheduling appointments.
Common terminology used in Microsoft Bookings
Microsoft Bookings uses small-business terminology. This article defines common Bookings terms and their Bowdoin equivalents.
How to cancel an appointment in Microsoft Bookings
How to cancel an appointment in Microsoft Bookings. Cancellations must be made within Bookings, not in Outlook.
Online video and text resources or tutorials for Microsoft Bookings
Links to official Microsoft documentation and LinkedIn Learning courses for setting up and using Microsoft Bookings.
Remove the Service Price from Microsoft Bookings
How to remove or hide the default service price from a Microsoft Bookings appointment type. Since appointments at Bowdoin are free, the price field should be set to "Price not set."
Scheduling Office Hours Using Microsoft Bookings
Step-by-step guide to creating a Microsoft Bookings calendar for faculty office hours. Covers creating a calendar, configuring a service, setting up staff availability, and publishing the booking page.
Set your timezone in Microsoft Bookings
How to set the correct time zone on your Microsoft Bookings calendar so your availability displays correctly for people booking appointments with you.