Microsoft Outlook Not Receiving Emails: How to Fix it

Outlook Not Receiving Emails or just sending but not receiving emails? Here are troubleshooting steps help you to pinpoint and resolve the problem.

Microsoft Outlook is a popular email client used by millions worldwide for both personal and professional communication. In addition to sending and receiving emails, Outlook also comes with handy features such as calendars for Scheduling, viewing, and communicating about meetings and appointments, email scheduling, File attachment reminders, and more. However, sometimes you may notice Outlook Not Receiving Emails. Users report Outlook sending but not receiving emails. There are many possible reasons why Outlook won’t receive emails, problems with internet connection, incorrect account settings, spam filtering or storage limitations are common. If you’re experiencing this issue, here is How to Fix Outlook When It’s Not Receiving Emails.

Why Isn’t Outlook Receiving Emails?

If Outlook isn’t receiving emails, it could be due to several reasons. Issues like weak internet connectivity, incorrect account settings, or full inbox storage are common culprits. Additionally, spam filters might redirect legitimate emails to junk folders, or certain add-ins could interfere with functionality. External factors, such as email server outages or account suspensions, can also cause such issues.

  • Internet Connectivity Issues: A weak or unstable connection can prevent emails from syncing.
  • Spam Filtering: Legitimate emails may be incorrectly flagged and sent to the junk folder.
  • Incorrect Account Settings: Misconfigured server details can block email delivery.
  • Storage Limitations: An overfilled inbox can stop new emails from arriving.
  • Software Problems: Outdated or corrupted Outlook installations can lead to functionality issues.
  • External Factors: Problems with your email provider’s servers or account status might also contribute.

Sometimes, Restarting Outlook can often fix temporary glitches that may prevent emails from appearing in your inbox.

Check Your Internet Connection

A stable internet connection is essential for receiving emails in Outlook. If your connection is weak or intermittent, Outlook might fail to sync emails.

  • Ensure your device is connected to a reliable Wi-Fi or Ethernet network.
  • Open a web browser and try accessing a website to confirm connectivity.
  • Restart your router or modem if necessary.

Internet speed

Check Spam or Junk Folder

If you experience, outlook not receiving emails from one person, It may be Emails mistakenly filtered into the spam or junk folder by Outlook’s algorithms. This is especially common for messages from unknown senders.

  • Open Outlook and navigate to the Spam or Junk Email folder.
  • Look for the missing emails and select Not Junk or Move to Inbox for legitimate messages.
  • Adjust your spam filter settings if necessary.

Verify Your Email Account Settings

Again Incorrect email account settings can prevent Outlook from syncing emails. Double-check that your account is configured correctly.

  • Open Outlook and go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
  • Select your email account and click Change.
  • Ensure the incoming and outgoing server settings match those provided by your email service provider.
  • Click Next to test the settings and save changes.

outlook configuration

Disable Add-Ins and Extensions

Some Outlook add-ins can interfere with the application’s functionality, causing email delivery issues.

  • Open Outlook and go to File > Options > Add-ins.
  • In the Manage section, select COM Add-ins and click Go.
  • Uncheck unnecessary add-ins and click OK.
  • Restart Outlook to see if the issue is resolved.

Disable Outlook Add-ins

Clear the Outlook Cache

A corrupted cache can lead to syncing issues and prevent new emails from appearing. Clearing the cache can often resolve this problem.

  • Close Outlook completely.
  • Navigate to the cache folder. On Windows, it’s usually located at: C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook.
  • Locate the .ost file for your account and delete it (Outlook will recreate it upon reopening).
  • Restart Outlook and allow it to resync with the mail server.

Ensure Outlook is Online

Again Offline mode in Outlook can prevent you from receiving new emails. You can quickly check whether Outlook is working offline by looking at the bottom-right corner of the Outlook window. If it says “Working Offline,” it means Outlook is disconnected from the server.

  • Open Outlook and navigate to the Send/Receive tab on the ribbon.
  • Click on the Work Offline button. This will toggle the mode to reconnect Outlook to the mail server.
  • Wait for Outlook to sync your emails after reconnecting.

Check Your Storage Quota

Many email providers impose a storage limit. If your inbox is full, new emails won’t be delivered.

  • Delete unnecessary emails, especially those with large attachments.
  • Empty the Deleted Items or Trash folder.
  • Consider archiving older emails or upgrading your storage plan if needed.

Update or Reinstall Outlook

Outdated or corrupted software can cause syncing problems. Keeping Outlook updated ensures it functions smoothly.

  • Open Outlook and go to File > Office Account > Update Options.
  • Click Update Now to install the latest updates.
  • If the issue persists, uninstall and reinstall Outlook to fix any corrupted files.

If none of the above steps work, the issue might be on your email provider’s end. We recommend Contact to email service provider support team for assistance.

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