Outlook not sending receiving email.

Outlook Issues • Sep 18, 2025

Fix Outlook Not Sending or Receiving Emails – Complete Guide

If your Outlook is not sending or receiving emails, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common issues faced by Outlook users. Email stuck in the Outbox, missing new mails, or constant sync errors can be frustrating, especially when you rely on Outlook for daily work. In this article, we’ll walk you through the most effective solutions to restore normal email flow in Microsoft Outlook.

Why Outlook May Stop Sending or Receiving Emails

Before jumping into solutions, it’s helpful to know the possible causes:

  • Internet connectivity issues preventing Outlook from connecting to the mail server
  • Incorrect email account settings such as IMAP/POP3 or SMTP misconfiguration
  • Outlook data file corruption (PST/OST files)
  • Conflicting add-ins blocking email sync
  • Antivirus or firewall blocking Outlook connections
  • Mail server issues at your provider’s end

Step-by-Step Fixes for Outlook Email Problems

  1. Check Internet and Server Status - Ensure your PC is connected to the internet. - Visit your email provider’s status page (like Microsoft 365 Status) to confirm there’s no outage.
  2. Verify Account Settings - Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings. - Double-check incoming (IMAP/POP) and outgoing (SMTP) server names, ports, and encryption method. - If unsure, check your provider’s official documentation (e.g., Outlook.com, Gmail, Yahoo).
  3. Clear the Outbox - If emails are stuck in the Outbox, open it and delete or move those messages. - Restart Outlook and try resending.
  4. Repair Outlook Data Files - Use Microsoft’s built-in SCANPST.exe tool to repair your PST file. - For OST files, you can delete and let Outlook rebuild them.
  5. Disable Problematic Add-ins - Start Outlook in Safe Mode: press Windows + R, type outlook.exe /safe, and press Enter. - If emails send/receive in Safe Mode, disable unnecessary add-ins from File > Options > Add-ins.
  6. Check Antivirus/Firewall - Temporarily disable your antivirus or firewall to see if it is blocking Outlook. - Add Outlook to the exceptions list.
  7. Update or Repair Outlook - Go to File > Office Account > Update Options and install updates. - You can also repair Office via Control Panel > Programs and Features.

Advanced Fixes

  • Create a New Outlook Profile Sometimes profiles get corrupted. Go to Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles and create a new one.
  • Re-add Your Email Account Remove the problematic account and re-add it with correct settings.
  • Check Mailbox Storage If your mailbox is full, Outlook won’t receive new mails. Clean up old or large messages.

Conclusion

The Outlook not sending or receiving emails issue can be fixed with the above steps in most cases. Start with basic checks like internet connection and account settings, and move toward advanced options like repairing data files or creating a new profile. If nothing works, your mail server or account may require deeper troubleshooting.

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