Figuring out why Outlook gets stuck offline really helps you fix it—and keeps it from coming back. This guide covers the usual suspects, troubleshooting steps, and a few advanced tricks to get your email flowing again. However, when Outlook cannot connect to the Exchange server, it automatically switches to Offline mode.

How to Fix Outlook Stuck in Offline Mode Issue? Simple Methods

As is known, we can switch from Offline to Online Outlook Not Sending or Receiving Email Mode and vice versa in Microsoft Outlook 2010 and later versions. Once Outlook is configured with an Exchange account, the Cached Exchange Mode is enabled automatically. And thus, an Offline Storage Table (OST) file is created to save a local synchronized copy of mailbox items. You can't send or receive email until you reconnect.

My windows live mail is stuck in the work offline mode. I cannot send or receive emails using wlm. I can access my

If you set up your Outlook profile wrong, it might not log in to Microsoft Exchange or Office 365. Sometimes, people connect their system to several Office 365 environments without realizing it. That can confuse Outlook, especially with Autodiscover, and you end up stuck offline. FixTechGuide fix for stuck folders Even a brief hiccup can kick Outlook into offline mode, and sometimes it just stays there until you do something about it.

Create or Repair Outlook Profile

If it connects in Safe Mode, one of your add-ins is probably the culprit. Closing Outlook and reopening it helps clear up minor glitches. Try launching Outlook in Safe Mode to check if add-ins are causing trouble. Outlook has a Work Offline button under the Send/Receive tab. People hit it by accident all the time, so it’s worth a look. Double-check that you’re on the right network, especially if you have several Wi-Fi options.

• If it gets corrupted, Outlook might not connect and just stay offline.
• Your mailbox data is safe on the Exchange server, but if you have local stuff that hasn’t synced, export it first so you don’t lose anything.
• If it is not displayed, double-check your internet connection and re-examine it.
• It’s a good idea to turn on automatic updates in Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.
• Closing Outlook and reopening it helps clear up minor glitches.
• Corrupted Outlook profile, faulty add-ins or outdated version of Outlook can also be reasons to remain offline.
• To keep Outlook from slipping into offline mode again, sort out account conflicts and keep your software up to date.

Setup Exchange Server Account Manually

Welcome to Tales From Tech Support, the subreddit where we post stories about helping someone with a tech issue. Move it to a backup folder, like Desktop\OST Backup. There could be several reasons for your Outlook disconnect.

Role of Exchange Server and Office 365

I get connected, navigate to Send/Receive...and click it. Outlook returns to 'Connected to Microsoft Exchange' mode. Check your Access work or school settings in Windows and remove any accounts you don’t actually use. That way, Outlook won’t try to log in to the wrong domain. To do this, hit Windows + R, type outlook.exe /safe, and hit Enter. Outlook will start without any third-party add-ins.

Status: Disconnected

Don’t let secondary Exchange servers manage your device if you don’t have to. Accepting mailbox not updating on IMAP those prompts can shift control away from your main email domain and cause more offline issues. If your system connects to more than one Office 365 environment, Outlook might not know which Exchange server to use. That often sets off Autodiscover conflicts and lands you in offline mode. To keep Outlook from slipping into offline mode again, sort out account conflicts and keep your software up to date. The biggest problems usually involve too many Office 365 connections or outdated Microsoft Office components.

Making a new profile tends to work better, especially if your old one has lots of accounts or long-standing sync problems. If Outlook says Working Offline and won’t budge, you’re probably dealing with a network glitch, a bad setting, or a profile error. Tackling these one by one usually gets things back on track. Hybrid setups—where you’ve got both on-premises Exchange servers and Office 365—can run into DNS or Autodiscover problems.

Recreate OST File

Create your account and connect with a world of communities. Now, at this point my blood was boiling because he's demonstrated a complete ineptitude at clicking buttons. Thank God this wasn't a phone call or my frustration would have been laid bare against my better judgment. The issue, which he didn't explain for crap, was that Outlook's Work Offline toggle was enabled. Kind of important information to exclude, but whatever. Most users are courteous enough to post screenshots or detailed descriptions.