How to Fix Outlook Not Connecting to Server

Get back to your emails stat

When Microsoft Outlook fails to connect to your email server, you stop getting incoming emails and can’t send new emails from your end. This situationprevents you from performing any email-related tasks. Luckily, there are ways to get around this issue.

Some of the reasonsOutlook experiences issuesconnecting to the email server include a minor glitch with the app, your internet connection isn’t working, or the Outlook data file has a problem. This guide will offer a few solutions so your Outlook client can connect to your email server and fetch new emails.

Restart Outlook

One way to fix most minor glitches with Outlook is to restart the app. When you do this, Outlook turns off all features and restarts them again. This gives each option a fresh start, fixing many minor problems.

You don’t lose your saved work when you restart the Outlook app.

Check Your Internet Connection

A possible reason Outlook can’t connect to your email server is that your internet connection has problems. As a result, any apps that rely on connecting to the internet will also not function.

A quick way to check if your network connection is working is by opening a web browser on your device and launching a site like Google. If the site loads, your connection is working.

If the site fails to load, you have a connection problem. You can eitherfix this yourselfor seek the help of your internet service provider.

Fix Outlook by Disabling Offline Mode

Outlook offers an offline mode that you can use to work on your emails while being disconnected from the internet. However, if you’ve enabled this mode, that may be why the app fails to connect to your email server.

In this case, turn off the offline mode, and Outlook will be back online.

Resolve Server Error by Repairing Your Outlook Email Account

If your email account with Outlook has problems, that can cause the app to malfunction. Luckily, Outlook includes a repair tool you can use to fix all the email accounts you’ve added to the app.

Re-Add Your Email Account to Outlook

If Outlook couldn’tfix the issues with your email account, consider removing and re-adding your account to the app. This helps Outlook re-establish a connection with your email server, fixing any connection problems.

You’ll need your email account credentials, like the username, password, and configuration settings to re-add the account to Outlook.

Enter Outlook’s Safe Mode and Disable Add-Ins

Outlook allows you to install add-ins to extend the functions of the email client. Sometimes, these add-ins stop working or cause other issues with the app. In this case, you’ll need to disable the problematic add-in toresolve your Outlook issues.

One way is toopen Outlook in safe modeand see if the app connects to your email server. If it does, launch the app in normal mode, disable all add-ins, and then enable one add-in at a time to find the culprit.

Repair Outlook’s Data File

Outlook saves your email data in the app’s data files. Sometimes, these files become corrupt or problematic, causing the app’s connection problems. If this happens, use Outlook’s repair tool to fix the issues with your data files.

First, find thelocation of your Outlook data file. Then,run the repair toolto fix your file.

Depending on your version of Microsoft Office, use the appropriate path below to find Outlook’s data file repair tool:

Fix Server Connection by Updating Outlook

Last but not least, you should keep the Outlook app up to date on your computer so you have the most recent bug fixes. For example, your Outlook not connecting to the server issue may result from an app bug, which you can fix by installing the latest version of the app.

Microsoft makes it easy to update all your Office suite apps, including Outlook. Here’s how to do that.

Connect Outlook to Your Email Server Without Any Problems

Outlook has to connect with your server to fetch new emails and send outgoing messages. If you’re experiencing a problem where Outlook doesn’t do that, one or more of the above methods will fix your Outlook error.

Once Outlook is connected to your server, you can work on the latest emails, send new emails, and perform other email-related tasks.

Mahesh has been obsessed with technology since he got his first gadget a decade or so ago. Over the last few years, he’s written a number of tech articles on various online publications including but not limited to MakeTechEasier and Android AppStorm.Read Mahesh’s Full Bio

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How to Fix Outlook Not Connecting to Server#

Restart Outlook#

Check Your Internet Connection#

Fix Outlook by Disabling Offline Mode#

Resolve Server Error by Repairing Your Outlook Email Account#

Re-Add Your Email Account to Outlook#

Enter Outlook’s Safe Mode and Disable Add-Ins#

Repair Outlook’s Data File#

Fix Server Connection by Updating Outlook#

Connect Outlook to Your Email Server Without Any Problems#