Sync and Data Set Configuration for Lightning Sync and Salesforce for Outlook

Things you must know when dealing with Salesforce for Outlook (SFO) and Lightning Sync (S2X)

1. You won't be able to sync the same object with both products but you can setup one product to sync one object and setup the other product to sync the other objects. Same object cannot be sync with both products Example: You can use Lightning Sync to sync your Contacts and Calendar Events and use SFO to sync your Tasks and add email using the Side Panel 
2. If you have decided to use one product such as SFO only to sync all 3 objects, you CANNOT assign users to Lightning sync configurations even if the configuration is inactive or even Lightning sync is not enabled anymore. 

To verify this, re-enable the lightning sync and make sure the user is not assigned to any configuration if the same user is assigned to an Outlook configuration for SFO and syncing all or Contact and Event objects.
 

Salesforce for Outlook (SFO): Allows you to sync Contacts, Events, and Tasks

Lightning Sync (S2X): Allows you to sync Contacts and Events only

* No Outlook configuration is needed if you want your user(s) to only use the Side Panel to associate emails in Outlook. This is enabled by Default

A few scenarios and issues that users may run into with both of these products enabled

1. SFO wizard shows that sync is not enabled (Image on the left below) even though you have enabled the sync in your SFO Outlook Configuration in Salesforce. This is most probably because of the user being assigned to both SFO and S2X configuration. If folders are greyed out (Image on the right below) in the SFO wizard that is a different issue and not related to the conflict between SFO and S2X

For the following 3 scenarios, refer to this image for a better explanation

Scenario 1: the User is assigned to both Lightning Sync and Salesforce for Outlook configuration with sync enabled

"Review Your Sync Direction..."

Contacts:     Contacts not enabled to sync (Gray cloud) 
Events:         Events not enabled to sync (Gray cloud) 
Task:            Blue cloud (Change folder button is grayed out)
Next button: Grayed out

 
Note: The scenario above also applies where Lightning Sync was previously enabled and then disabled. You need to enable it and make sure there are no users assigned to Lightning Sync configuration. If so, make sure to remove them then deactivate the configuration and then disable Lightning Sync

Scenario 2: This is same with scenario 1. The only difference is that, Outlook is open


"Review Your Sync Direction..."

Contacts:                Contacts not enabled to sync (Gray cloud) 
Events:                   Events not enabled to sync (Gray cloud) 
Task:                      Blue cloud (Change folder button is NOT grayed out)
Next button: NOT   Grayed out

 
Scenario 3: There is an error running in Users' machine. Probably with Salesforce for Outlook or Outlook installation. This can be related to the Redemption key in the registry


"Review Your Sync Direction..."

Contacts: Contact folder not available or Change folder button is grayed out (Blue cloud) 
Events: Event folder not available or Change folder button is grayed out (Blue cloud) 
Task: Task folder not available or Change folder button is grayed out (Blue Cloud)
Next button: Grayed out


For instance, you have configured your S2X to sync Events only and assigned the user "John Doe" to this configuration.
Then created an Outlook configuration in Salesforce and assigned the same user and also enabled sync for Contacts only.
If user runs SFO and tries to configure the wizard, user will only see the folder for Contacts.
Salesforce automatically gives S2X precedence over SFO



Scenario 4: The User is assigned to both Lightning Sync and Outlook configuration where in;

• Lightning Sync is set to sync Events only
• Outlook Configuration is set to sync Contacts only

 
Salesforce automatically gives Lightning Sync precedence over Salesforce for Outlook
Link to related image for better explanation

"Review Your Sync Direction..."

Contacts:                       Blue cloud ( Change Folder button is NOT grayed out) 
Events:                           Events not enabled to sync (Gray cloud) 
Task:                             Tasks not enabled to sync (Gray cloud)
Next button:                  NOT grayed out

Or

you have enabled Contacts and Events in S2X configuration and then enabled sync for all 3 objects in SFO Outlook configuration but with different settings, when user runs SFO and tries to configure the wizard, user will only see the folder for Tasks (Contacts and Events being grayed out because its being controlled by S2X)


Scenario 5: The User is assigned to both Lightning Sync and Outlook configuration where in;
 

• Lightning Sync is set to sync Events and Contacts
• Outlook Configuration is set to sync ALL (Contacts, Events and Task)

Link to related image for better explanation
 
"Review Your Sync Direction..."

Contacts:                       Contacts not enabled to sync (Gray cloud)
Events:                           Events not enabled to sync (Gray cloud) 
Task:                              Blue Cloud (Change folder button is NOT grayed out)
Next button:                   NOT grayed out

See Also:
How Salesforce Manages Sync Conflicts Between Products