Outlook doesnt connect

Check the status bar at the bottom of Classic Outlook first; if it shows Working Offline, select Send/Receive → Work Offline to reconnect, then select Send/Receive All Folders.^1^

If the status is “Working Offline”

1. Open the Send/Receive tab.
2. In Preferences, select Work Offline.
3. Check the bottom status bar:
   • Working Offline should disappear.
   • The Work Offline button should no longer be shaded.
4. Select Send/Receive All Folders and wait for synchronization to finish.

If the status remains Working Offline, select Work Offline once more and recheck the status bar.^1^

If the status is “Disconnected” or “Trying to connect”

Since the network itself is working, test the mailbox through its webmail site:

• Webmail also cannot send or receive: the issue is with the mailbox or mail service. Contact the email provider or, for a work account, the Microsoft 365/Exchange administrator.
• Webmail works normally: the server and mailbox are available, so continue with the Outlook-specific checks below.^2^

If the email password was changed recently, update the saved credentials in Outlook. For a POP or IMAP account, also compare its incoming and outgoing server settings with the provider’s current settings.^3^

Test Outlook without add-ins

1. Close Outlook.
2. Press Windows+R.
3. Enter:

outlook.exe /safe

4. Select OK, open the normal profile, and test Send/Receive.

If Outlook connects in safe mode:

1. Go to File → Options → Add-ins.
2. Beside Manage: COM Add-ins, select Go.
3. Record the enabled add-ins, then clear their checkboxes—do not select Remove.
4. Restart Outlook normally.
5. Re-enable add-ins one at a time, restarting Outlook after each, until the problem returns.^4^

If it still does not connect, create a test profile

Creating a separate profile is safer than deleting the existing one:

1. Close Outlook.
2. Hold Shift while starting Outlook.
3. In the profile picker, select Options → New.
4. Name the profile, add the email account, and finish setup.
5. Start Outlook with the new profile and test sending and receiving.^5^

If the new profile connects, continue using it and add any other required accounts. If it also remains disconnected, note the exact status or error code shown after selecting Send/Receive; that code is needed to distinguish authentication, server-setting, or service-side failures.

References

1. [Classic Outlook](https://support.microsoft.com/outlook/getstarted/how-to-work-offline-in-outlook-for-windows#status-messages-in-classic-outlook)
2. [New Outlook](https://support.microsoft.com/outlook/i-can-t-send-or-receive-messages-in-outlook#have-you-changed-your-password-recently)
3. Troubleshoot Outlook email setup | Microsoft Support
4. Outlook for Windows not responding, hangs, freezes, or stops working
5. Create a profile in classic Outlook for Windows