Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team
While most of our technology and programs work more often than not, we definitely notice when they stop working. With email being the quickest and easiest ways to reach anyone, anything, and any company, having it not work is not only frustrating but not acceptable.
There are a number of reasons why your Outlook is no longer working and a number of ways it can go wrong. Maybe Outlook isn't sending mail. Maybe it isn't receiving mail.
Like any email program, if you're not connected to the Internet, Outlook won't work at all. But there is a setting called Work Offline that can simulate a working Outlook, unfortunately if this is toggled the program won't try to connect to the internet even if you're fully hooked up.
Outlook may not be working because you've encountered a bug that requires an update, or similarly an update may have errored and you need to have it fixed.
The simplest fix could be your settings, which we'll walk you through checking as well, along with all the previously mentioned issues.
This guide is designed to take you through a number of different troubleshooting steps. After each step, try to open Outlook and check your mail again. When the program opens and works, stop at that point; you do not need to go any further.
While the first few steps here are incredibly simple, they are absolutely crucial, and can solve many of the problems you may have quickly and easily!
Your email uses your Internet connection to send and receive mail. It's best to make sure that it works with things like browsing webpages first, before continuing.
Troubleshoot Internet Connection
If you had problems with searching or using your browser, your Internet connection is the problem. Follow this guide for help resolving your Internet connectivity problems, and your email problems will most likely be fixed as well.
In Outlook, check that Work Offline is not toggled. Work Offline allows Outlook to appear like it is online but you will only have access to mail that has already been saved.
Before your restart your PC, make sure to save all necessary work to prevent data loss.
Windows 10
Windows 8
Windows 7
If you know your mail server settings, you can check them quickly to be sure nothing changed on accident.
If your mail provider is any of the following, Windows manages these settings for you, and you will not be able to edit them directly; it is safe to skip this step.
If you are not sure of your mail server settings, it's best to contact your mail provider before making any changes to these settings, or continuing with this guide.
Windows Mail relies on a number of different settings on Windows itself to do everything from encryption (keeping your mail safe from prying eyes), as well as helping your mail provider make sure you are supposed to have access. A quick check of these Windows settings can often help.
The Date and Time set on your computer is used to help encrypt your email between your mail provider and you, keeping it safer.
Windows Mail uses some region information to connect to the proper mail server for some mail providers, such as Google.
Windows Mail integrates a calendar system with your email, and will need access to the Windows Calendar app to do so. This is done through the Privacy settings.