How to Fix the Outlook Disconnected Error on Windows

Every method that we could think of

Microsoft Outlook’s disconnected errorappears when the app can’t connect to the internet or your email server. This usually happens when you’re using offline mode or your internet connection isn’t working. We’ll show you a few ways to resolve the error.

Some fixes include disabling offline mode, ensuring your internet connection is working, and turning off Outlook’s problematic add-ins.

Fix Outlook by Disabling Offline Mode

The Outlook client’s offline mode allows you to work on your emails while being disconnected from the internet. If you’ve enabled this mode, that may be why Outlook can’t establish a connection.

You can resolve the issue by disabling the offline mode.

Make Sure Your Internet Is Working

If Outlook doesn’t connect to your email server after disabling offline mode, your internet connection may be facing issues. This can cause the app to display a disconnected message.

To fix that, check if your internet is working by launching a web browser on your computer and opening a site likeGoogle. If the site loads, your internet is working. In this case, read on to learn more fixes.

If your browser fails to load the site, you have network connectivity issues. In this case, try to fix the issue yourself or reach out to your internet service provider for help.

Access Your Emails on the Web

It’s possible your email server has a problem, causing Outlook not to establish a connection. In this case, try to access your mailbox using an alternate method and see if that works.

For example, head over toOutlook for the weband try to access your Outlook account there. Similarly, head to theGmail siteand check if you can access your Gmail emails there.

If you can’t access your emails on the web, your email provider is experiencing problems. You can reach out to them and seek help.

Restart Your Windows PC to Fix the Outlook Disconnected Error

Your PC’s minor glitches can cause Outlook not to make a connection with your email server. You can resolve most temporary issues bygiving your PC a reboot.

Before you do that, save your unsaved work, so you don’t lose anything.

Update Microsoft Outlook

Outlook’s app bugs can be the cause of the disconnected error. You can resolve most of these bugs byupdating your app to the latest version.

Microsoft offers free updates for all your Office apps, including Outlook.

Turn Off the Windows Firewall

Windows’ built-in firewall ensures your computer is safe from network-based threats by blocking various suspicious activities. The tool may have mistakenly recognized Outlook as a potential threat, causing the app not to connect to the internet.

You can verify if that’s the case by temporarilydisabling your PC’s firewall.

If Outlook now connects to your email server,add the app to your firewall exclusion list.

Turn Off Outlook’s Add-Ins

Outlook supports external add-ins to allow you to get more out of this email client. Sometimes, one or more of these installed add-ons become corrupt or problematic, causing issues with your emails.

Your disconnected error may have resulted from a corrupt add-in. In this case, disable all your Outlook add-ins and enable one add-in at a time to find the culprit.

Create and Use a New Outlook Profile

Acorrupt Outlook profilecan cause many issues with the app, including blocking the app’s internet connection. In this case, you can create a new profile and add your email account to it. This should resolve your disconnected error.

Repair the Outlook Application

If Outlook’s disconnected error persists, the app’s core files might be problematic. One way to fix that is to use the Office repair tool to repair all your Office apps’ corrupt files.

This repair tool is included with your Outlook installation, so you don’t have to download or install it.

Connect a Disconnected Outlook App to Your Email Server

Your MS Outlook app fails to connect to your email server for many reasons. Once you’vefixed those issues in the Outlook appas well as on your Windows PC, the app will establish a connection and allow you to send and receive emails.

We hope the guide helps you do that.

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

Welcome to Help Desk Geek- a blog full of tech tips from trusted tech experts. We have thousands of articles and guides to help you troubleshoot any issue. Our articles have been read over 150 million times since we launched in 2008.

HomeAbout UsEditorial StandardsContact UsTerms of Use

How to Fix the Outlook Disconnected Error on Windows#

Fix Outlook by Disabling Offline Mode#

Make Sure Your Internet Is Working#

Access Your Emails on the Web#

Restart Your Windows PC to Fix the Outlook Disconnected Error#

Update Microsoft Outlook#

Turn Off the Windows Firewall#

Turn Off Outlook’s Add-Ins#

Create and Use a New Outlook Profile#

Repair the Outlook Application#

Connect a Disconnected Outlook App to Your Email Server#