Outlook Not Syncing: 10 Ways to Fix It

Quick Fix

Outlook not syncing? Click Send/Receive > Send/Receive All Folders (or press F9). If that doesn’t work, check if you’re in Offline mode (look for “Working Offline” in status bar – click it to go online). Also verify your internet connection and that your email password hasn’t changed.

Why Isn’t Outlook Syncing?

Outlook stops syncing due to Work Offline mode being enabled, connectivity issues, corrupted data files, authentication problems, add-in conflicts, or server issues. Different causes require different solutions.

Method 1: Check Offline Mode

You may be working offline.

1. Look at bottom status bar for “Working Offline”
2. Go to Send/Receive tab
3. Click Work Offline to toggle off
4. Status should change to “Connected”

Method 2: Force Manual Sync

Trigger sync manually.

1. Click Send/Receive tab
2. Click Send/Receive All Folders
3. Or press F9
4. Watch for sync progress
5. Check for error messages

Method 3: Check Internet Connection

Outlook needs internet to sync.

1. Open a web browser
2. Try accessing outlook.com
3. If website loads, internet is fine
4. If not, troubleshoot network connection

Method 4: Restart Outlook

Restart clears temporary issues.

1. File > Exit (don’t just close window)
2. Open Task Manager
3. End any remaining Outlook processes
4. Reopen Outlook
5. Try syncing

Method 5: Update Password

Password changes break sync.

1. File > Account Settings > Account Settings
2. Select your email account
3. Click Change
4. Update password
5. Click Test Account Settings
6. Click Next > Finish

Method 6: Repair Office Installation

Corrupted Office files affect Outlook.

1. Close Outlook
2. Open Control Panel > Programs and Features
3. Find Microsoft Office
4. Click Change
5. Select Quick Repair (try first)
6. If issues persist, try Online Repair

Method 7: Disable Add-ins

Add-ins can interfere with sync.

1. File > Options > Add-ins
2. Click Go next to COM Add-ins
3. Uncheck all add-ins
4. Click OK and restart Outlook
5. Test sync
6. Re-enable add-ins one by one to find culprit

Method 8: Create New Outlook Profile

Profile corruption causes sync issues.

1. Close Outlook
2. Open Control Panel > Mail
3. Click Show Profiles
4. Click Add to create new profile
5. Set up your email account
6. Set new profile as default
7. Open Outlook

Method 9: Rebuild OST File

Corrupted data file prevents sync.

1. Close Outlook
2. Go to %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook
3. Find your .ost file
4. Rename it (e.g., add .old to end)
5. Open Outlook
6. Outlook will create new OST and resync

Method 10: Check Exchange Server Status

Server issues affect all users.

• Ask IT department about server status
• Check for Exchange maintenance announcements
• For Microsoft 365: check admin.microsoft.com status
• Try accessing email via web (outlook.com)

FAQ

Why does Outlook say “Disconnected”?

Disconnected means Outlook can’t reach the mail server. Check internet connection, verify you’re not in Offline mode, and ensure your password is correct.

How long does Outlook take to sync?

Initial sync can take minutes to hours depending on mailbox size. Regular sync is near-instant. Large attachments and slow internet increase sync time.

Why are some folders not syncing?

Check folder sync settings: right-click folder > Properties > Synchronization. The folder may be set to not sync. Also, shared mailboxes may have different sync settings.