Outlook App Not Syncing? 13 Fixes to Try

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Usually, setting up and using Outlook on both Android and iOS is a seamless affair. But sometimes, Microsoft’s email client can put a dent in your day by failing to sync emails, contacts, and calendar events locally or between other devices.

Many factors such as bugs and glitches, incorrect configurations, conflicting device settings, and so on, can prevent Outlook from syncing correctly.

If you keep experiencing sync issues with Outlook’s mobile apps, the following troubleshooting methods that follow should help you fix them.

Important:Fixes involving the Settings app in Android may not appear the same on your device. If you have trouble locating specific options, try searching for them instead.

1. Force-quit and Re-open App

Force-quitting and reopening the Outlook app is a quick way to fix the odd issue with the Outlook app not syncing. Just bring up the App Switcher on your Android or iOS device and swipe away the Outlook app card. Then, relaunch Outlook. In most cases, that should help get things moving again.

2. Reset Email Account

If you continue to have sync issues in Outlook’s Android or iOS apps, it’s a good idea to reset the email account in question.

  1. Open Outlook and switch to theMailtab.

  2. Tap your profile portrait to the screen’s top-left to bring up the Outlook sidebar.

  3. Tap theSettingsicon.

  4. Pick the email account under theEmail Accountssection.

  5. SelectRestart Account.

  6. SelectOKto confirm.

The Outlook app will quit automatically. Reopen it, and it should attempt to update your data. If you still encounter any issues, go ahead with the rest of the fixes.

3. Unhide Calendars

If you don’t see specific calendar events in Outlook, make sure you’ve selected the relevant calendars.

  1. Switch to theCalendarstab in Outlook.

  2. Bring up the Outlook sidebar from the screen’s top-left.

  3. Select the calendars that you want the app to display.

If you don’t see any calendars, you may have added your email account using the Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP). In that case, try setting it up without using IMAP. You can find out how to remove and re-add accounts in Outlook further below.

4. Check Sync Settings

Outlook allows you to sync your contacts and calendars with the native Contacts and Calendar apps on your Android device. On iOS, you can save your contacts locally to the Contacts app. If that does not happen, check Outlook’s sync settings.

  1. Open Outlook and switch to theMailtab.

  2. Bring up the Outlook sidebar.

  3. TapSettings.

  4. Pick the email account under theEmail Accountssection.

  5. Turn on the switches next to theSync contactsandSync calendarsoptions. On Outlook for iOS, turn on theSave Contactsoption.

Note:Outlook for iOS will only save contacts locally. It will not upload any contacts from the Contacts app.

5. Provide Permissions

Outlook may not sync/save your contacts or calendars locally unless you provide the app with the required system permissions despite configuring the app.

  1. Open theSettingsapp.

  2. TapApps & notifications.

  3. SelectPermissions.

  4. SelectContacts.

  5. Turn on the switch next toOutlook.

  6. Go back to the previous screen and selectCalendar.

  7. Turn on the switch next toOutlook.

  8. Open theSettingsapp.

  9. Scroll down and selectOutlook.

  10. Turn on the switch next toContacts.

6. Clear Outlook Cache (Android Only)

On Android, if your Outlook app is not syncing you can try clearing the Outlook cache. That should get rid of any redundant data preventing the app from functioning normally.

  1. Open theSettingsapp.

  2. TapApps & notifications.

  3. SelectApps.

  4. Scroll down the list and selectOutlook.

  5. SelectStorage.

  6. TapClear Cache.

7. Update Outlook App

You must update the Outlook app on your Android or iOS device regularly. That should patch out any known issues preventing your email, calendars, or contacts from syncing.

  1. Open the Google Play Store.

  2. Bring up theGoogle Playmenu and tap theMy apps & gamesoption.

  3. Select theUpdateoption next to Outlook.

  4. Long-press theApp Storeicon on the Home screen and selectUpdates.

  5. Swipe down theAccountscreen to scan for new updates.

  6. SelectUpdatenext to Outlook.

8. Restart Android or iOS Device

If you continue to have issues syncing your email, calendars, or contacts, try restarting your Android or iPhone before moving on with the rest of the fixes.

9. Disable Power Saving Mode

Power-saving features on Android devices may interfere with Outlook and prevent it from updating or syncing data correctly. Disable them and check if that helps. The same goes for Low Power Mode on the iPhone.

  1. Open theSettingsapp.

  2. SelectBattery.

  3. DisablePower saving modeor any equivalent setting on your device.

You must also check for and disable any battery optimization settings that apply to Outlook. You can usually find them listed on the same screen.

  1. Open theSettingsapp.

  2. SelectBattery.

  3. Turn off the switch next toLow Power Mode.

10. Enable Background App Refresh

On iOS, you must make sure that you’ve enabled Background App Refresh for Outlook. If not, the app may fail to update your emails, contacts, or calendars properly while running in the background.

Go toSettings>Outlookand turn on the switch next toBackground App Refresh, if disabled.

11. Remove/Re-add Email Account

If the Outlook app is still not syncing, it’s a good idea to remove and re-add any problematic email accounts.

  1. Open Outlook and switch to theMailtab.

  2. Bring up the Outlook sidebar.

  3. Tap theSettingsicon.

  4. Pick the email account under theEmail Accountssection.

  5. SelectDelete Account.

  6. SelectDeleteto confirm.

  7. TapAdd Mail Accountto add your email account from scratch. If you want to access your contacts or calendar, avoid setting it up using IMAP.

12. Reinstall Outlook App

If removing and re-adding your email account (or accounts) didn’t help, try reinstalling Outlook.

Start by deleting the Outlook app from your Android or iPhone. Then, reboot your Android or iOS device, reinstall them via theGoogle Play Storeor theApple App Store, and set everything up from scratch.

13. Reset Network Settings

You can patch out broken or corrupt network configurations from interfering with Outlook by resetting the network settings on your Android or iOS device.

  1. Open theSettingsapp.

  2. SelectSystem.

  3. SelectReset.

  4. TapNetwork settings reset.

  5. TapNetwork Settings Resetto confirm.

  6. Open theSettingsapp on your iPhone.

  7. SelectGeneral.

  8. SelectReset.4.Network Settings Reset.

  9. TapReset Network Settingsto confirm.

After the network settings reset, use cellular data or Wi-Fi (you must add Wi-Fi networks from scratch) and check if Outlook syncs your data properly.

Outlook App Not Syncing

Hopefully, the troubleshooting tips above worked, and you’re back to using Outlook without issues on your Android or iOS device. To minimize the chances of problems messing things up in the future, make it a point to keep the email client up-to-date. You should also install the latest system software updates whenever possible.

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer and blogger with three years of experience writing for online technology publications. He specializes in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Google web apps. When he isn’t hammering away at his Magic Keyboard, you can catch him binge-watching productivity hacks on YouTube.Read Dilum’s Full Bio

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