my outlook is not receiving or sending emails even though i can sign in to my account

Denis Glennon 55 Reputation points
2026-03-09T05:55:11.86+00:00

my outlook is not receiving or sending emails even though i can sign in to my account

Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Account management, security, and privacy

2 answers

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  1. Debashmita Saha 235 Reputation points
    2026-03-11T04:08:41.3+00:00

    Hi Denis.

    If you can sign in to Outlook but cannot send or receive emails, the issue usually lies beyond account access. Here are some steps you can follow:

    • Internet connection: Confirm your device is online and not blocked by a firewall or VPN.
    • Server settings: Double‑check IMAP/POP (incoming) and SMTP (outgoing) settings if you’re using a custom domain or external provider.
    • Browser cache: If using Outlook.com, clear cache/cookies or try another browser.
    • App updates: Ensure the Outlook desktop app is fully updated.
    • Mailbox storage: Free up space if your mailbox is full.
    • Security alerts: Check for Microsoft account notifications that may restrict mail flow.
    • Password sync: If you changed your password elsewhere, update it across all devices.

    If the problem persists, you (or the IT admin) may try this with administrative access:

    • Repair profile: In Outlook desktop, go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings, select your account, and click Repair.
    • New profile test: Create a new Outlook profile via Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles.
    • Disable add‑ins: Launch Outlook in Safe Mode (outlook.exe /safe) to rule out faulty add‑ins.
    • Check antivirus/firewall: Temporarily disable to test if they’re blocking outgoing mail.
    • Run Microsoft SaRA tool: The Support and Recovery Assistant can automatically diagnose and fix issues.
    • Review rules: Misconfigured rules may move or delete incoming mail.
    • Authentication method: Ensure Outlook is set up for OAuth/modern authentication if required.
    • Test another device: Log in on a different device or mail client to confirm if the issue is local.

    If none of these steps resolve the issue:

    Check the Microsoft Service Status page for outages.

    Contact your email provider or Microsoft support.

    For work/school accounts, ask your IT admin to review Exchange server policies.

    This structured approach should help you isolate whether the problem is local to your Outlook installation or on the server side.

    Hope this helps!

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  2. Estrella721 47,785 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-03-09T06:35:47.33+00:00

    Hi,

    Please try using a different internet connection, then open an InPrivate window(Ctrl + Shift + N) in your browser and try logging in to your account using the link below:

    https://account.microsoft.com/

    Try sending and receiving an email. Was it successful?


    If the issue persists, check your storage to make sure your mailbox is not full. In Outlook on the web, you can do this by clicking Settings > View all Outlook settings > General > Storage.

    If your storage is almost full, try deleting unnecessary emails to free up space. Then, try sending and receiving emails again.

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