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Apple iOS 6.1 update causing issues with Outlook calendar

12 Feb 2013

Advice for users of Apple iPhones and iPads running iOS6.1 and using their device with Outlook.

Since the latest Apple device operating system (iOS 6.1) upgrade was released, a number of people who sync their University Outlook email and calendar to their device have experienced an issue with meeting requests. The problem starts if a meeting request is accepted or declined on a device running iOS 6.1 and can cause repeated notifications (looping) to appear within their desktop version of Outlook. Additionally, due to the device issuing repeat notifications this also causes the device battery to drain rapidly.

How do I know if my device is running iOS 6.1?

To check which version of iOS a device is running, from your device navigate to: Settings > General > About > Version

What should I do?

  1. If you haven't already upgraded to iOS 6.1, please do not do so until notice has been issued to state that a fix for the issue is available.
  2. If you are already running iOS 6.1, do NOT accept or decline meeting requests on your device.  Instead, please do this via your desktop version of Outlook, or via Outlook Web App (OWA).
  3. If you are experiencing the problem described, you should delete the Exchange account on your device (this is known as the ‘device partnership’). You should also delete your mobile device from within OWA – to do this:
    • Login to OWA
    • Go to:  See all options > Phone
    • Highlight the device and "delete"
    • You should wait at least 30 minutes and then you can recreate the account on the iOS 6.1 device. This will cause data to be re-downloaded on to the mobile device and should stop the “looping”. 
    • Once your account has been recreated please no not accept or decline meeting requests on your device (as per point 2, above) until further notice, as this may cause the issue to recur.

Further updates on this problem will be communicated in due course.

Please note

This issue only arises when synchronising Outlook with Apple devices. If you are running iOS 6.1 on your device and are NOT using this to access Outlook email and calendar, then this problem will not affect you and you do not need to worry about running iOS 6.1.