Inbox is not receiving any emails

Check Outlook.com in a web browser and remove any Inbox rule, forwarding setting, or view filter that is redirecting or hiding legitimate messages while Junk Email continues to receive mail.

Check where messages are going

1. Sign in to Outlook.com using a computer browser.
2. Above the message list, select Filter → All, then Filter → Sort → Date.
3. Check:
   • Other if Focused Inbox is enabled.
   • Deleted Items.
   • Archive.
   • Any custom folders.
4. In Deleted Items, select Recover items deleted from this folder if the missing messages are not visible. Deleted messages may remain recoverable for 30 days. ^1^

Correct automatic routing

Open Settings → Mail, then review:

1. Rules: disable or delete rules that move, delete, or redirect incoming messages. Rules can only be reviewed and edited from a computer. ^1^
2. Forwarding: turn off any forwarding you did not intentionally configure.
3. Junk email:
   • Review Blocked senders and domains.
   • Remove legitimate senders from that list.
   • For a legitimate message already in Junk, right-click it and select Mark as not junk.
   • If only particular senders are affected, add them to Safe senders and domains so their messages go to the Inbox. ^2^

Microsoft specifically recommends checking the Other tab, forwarding, rules, Junk Email settings, and message sorting when Outlook.com cannot receive expected mail. ^3^

Check storage and test delivery

1. Open Settings → General → Storage.
2. Confirm that neither Microsoft cloud storage nor mailbox storage is full.
3. If full, delete unnecessary mail or files and empty Deleted Items.
4. Send a test message from a different email service.
5. Search for that message across all folders and ask the sender whether they received a non-delivery report.

A full Microsoft cloud storage allocation prevents sending and receiving. Messages sent while it was full are returned to the sender and cannot later be recovered. ^3^

If only one sender cannot reach you and no error appears, that sender may need to investigate delivery through Outlook.com Sender Support. If Outlook.com works in the browser but a phone or desktop app does not, the remaining issue is with that app’s synchronization rather than mailbox delivery.

Escalate if the test message never arrives

If storage is available and the test message appears nowhere:

1. While signed in to Outlook.com, select the ? icon.
2. Search for cannot receive emails.
3. Scroll to Still need help? and select Yes.
4. Choose the available option to contact an Outlook.com support agent.
5. Provide the approximate date the problem began, affected sender examples, and whether senders received non-delivery reports. Do not post full email addresses publicly.

Microsoft directs unresolved Outlook.com receiving problems through the signed-in Help pane. ^3^

References

1. Email is missing from your Outlook.com inbox | Microsoft Support
2. Help protect your Outlook.com email account | Microsoft Support
3. Can't send or receive email in Outlook.com | Microsoft Support