Syncing Issue

clive m 0 Reputation points
2026-10-31T13:39:46.3666667+00:00

I have Outlook on my desktop, iPad and Android mobile phone.

At the moment messages are landing on the Ipad and mobile phone but not on my desktop.

Occasionally a message will reach the desktop but it could be after several hours.

The issue has existed for 10 days.

What action do I need to take.

Outlook | Outlook for mobile | Outlook for iOS | For home
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  1. Adeel Khan 250 Reputation points
    2026-10-31T14:45:49.06+00:00

    Since mail arrives fine on your iPad and phone, your account itself is working, so this is a sync problem in the desktop app only.

    First, force a manual sync. In the new Outlook desktop app, open Settings and review the sync settings for the account, including how far back mail is set to sync. In classic Outlook, use the Send/Receive tab and choose Update Folder.

    Next, check the inbox view is not hiding mail. Make sure the filter is set to All rather than Unread, and check the Other tab if you use Focused Inbox.

    If it still stalls, remove the account from the desktop app and add it again. This rebuilds the local mail cache and usually clears a stuck sync.

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  2. Thomas4-N 23,140 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-11-05T07:44:33.72+00:00

    Hello clive m,

    Since your emails arrive on your iPad and Android phone but are delayed on your desktop, I'd like to narrow down what's happening before suggesting further changes to Outlook.

    Could you clarify two things?

    1. Are you using classic Outlook or new Outlook on your desktop? Also, is it a Windows PC or Mac?
    2. When an email is missing from desktop Outlook, does it appear immediately if you sign in to your email account through a web browser?

    This will help determine whether the delay is specific to the desktop application or involves the account's synchronization.

    For reference: Microsoft's Outlook connection troubleshooting guide.

    With those details, we can narrow down the next step without unnecessarily removing or reconfiguring your account.

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