Not Receiving or Sending Emails in Outlook

Outlook for the Web

*Note: Outlook is accessed via a web browser, like Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.. 

  • Close out of the web browser completely and re-open it. Then sign back into your email account. 
  • Sign out of your email account and sign back in again to re-authenticate. 
  • Hit the web browser's "refresh" button, which is usually on the top of the window and usually looks like a curving arrow. 
  • Clear your web browser's "all time" history, cache and cookies.
  • Try accessing your email with a private/incognito window.
  • Try using a different web browser.  
  • Check your inbox and sweep rules along with any filtering you have set up within your settings. 
  • Check your recycle bin or deleted items inbox.
  • Check your Archive box. 
  • Check your spam, junk and/or other possible inboxes/folders. 
  • Check to see if you are blocking email addresses within your settings. 
  • Check to see if you accidentally have auto-forwarding set up.  
  • Search for the emails that you may be missing with the search bar to see if they are ending up in a different folder. 
  • Check your Internet connection on your device. 
  • Check for any web browser updates on your device. 
  • Reinstall web browsers onto your device to ensure that you have the most updated ones.  
  • Check to see if your computer/device has any pending or important updates to run overall. 
  • Restart your computer/device. 

Outlook for Desktop

*Note: These are troubleshooting tips for both the Mac and PC/Windows versions of the Outlook desktop client/application. 

  • Close out of the desktop app completely and re-open it in order to sign back in.
  • Force close out of the desktop app and re-open it again. 
    • PC/Windows: 
      • 1. Press the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys at the same time and then select "Task Manager." 
      • 2. Select the Outlook application and then click on "End task."
    • Mac: How to force an app to quit on your Mac
  • Sign out of your email account and sign back in again to re-authenticate.  
  • Click on the "Send & Receive" button under the "Home" tab for the Mac version and click on "Update Folder" under the "Send/Receive" tab for the PC/Windows version. 
  • Check to make sure that you are not "Working Offline."
    • PC/Windows Working Offline:  The "Work Offline" option is under the tab "Send/Receive." 
    • Mac Working Offline: Select "Outlook" up on the top left next to "File" and make sure that "Work Offline" is not checked. 
  • Check the connectivity to your email server (from Microsoft Support) 
    • Check that your device is connected to the internet: To send or receive email, you'll need internet access. Make sure your device is connected to the internet.
    • Try sending email via the web: Many email providers let you access your email via a website. Sign in to your email account via the website and confirm that you can send and receive email there. If you can't, there might be an issue with your email server. Contact your email provider for support.
    • Try sending email from another app or device: If you have another email app or another computer or mobile device, try sending and receiving email from that app or device. If you can't, there might be an issue with your email server. Contact your email provider for support.
    • Check with your email provider about the status of your email server: If your email provider doesn't have a website and you can't set up your email on another app or device, contact your email provider to see if your email server is accessible.
  • Other Outlook for Mac troubleshooting tips
  • Check to see if you are blocking email addresses within your settings. 
  • Check for any filtering within your settings. 
  • Check your recycle bin or deleted inbox.
  • Check your spam, junk and/or other possible inboxes/folders. 
  • Search for the emails that you may be missing with the search bar to see if they are ending up in a different folder.
  • Check to see if you are blocking email addresses within your settings. 
  • Add any email addresses or domains to the "Safe Senders" list within your Junk Email settings. 
  • Remove and re-add the email account within the Outlook client.  
  • Check for any pending updates for your computer/device, especially for Office 365 or Outlook. 
  • Restart your computer/device.  

Outlook for Mobile

*Note: These are troubleshooting tips for both iOS and Android versions of Outlook. 

  • Close out of the Outlook app completely and then re-open it. 
  • Sign out of the email account and then sign back in again to re-authenticate.  
  • Check your Internet connection, which may include checking your WiFi connection and/or your cellphone's network provider. 
  • Check your recycle bin or deleted inbox.
  • Check your spam, junk and/or other possible inboxes/folders.
  • Search for the emails that you may be missing with the search option to see if they are ending up in a different folder.
  • Remove and re-add the email account on the Outlook app. 
  • Check for any pending updates for your device or for the Outlook app. 
  • Remove the Outlook app from your phone and re-download it from your phone's app store to make sure that you have the most updated Outlook app.
  • Restart your mobile device (smartphone/tablet.)

Need more help with Outlook? 

Please refer to the Microsoft Support website for Outlook help & learning.

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