01

Check your internet connection

This sounds obvious, but is worth confirming first. Outlook needs a working connection to send or receive.

  • Open a web browser and load a website
  • If the site loads, your internet is working and the issue is within Outlook
02

Check Outlook's connection status

Outlook can be set to Work Offline, which stops all sending and receiving.

  • Look at the bottom right of the Outlook window
  • It should say "Connected"
  • If it says "Working Offline", go to the Send/Receive tab at the top
  • Click Work Offline to toggle it off
03

Restart Outlook

A simple restart clears many temporary connection issues.

  • Close Outlook completely, check the system tray to make sure it's fully closed
  • Reopen Outlook and test again
04

Check your account settings

Incorrect server settings will prevent emails from sending or receiving.

  • Go to File → Account Settings → Account Settings
  • Select your email account and click Change
  • Verify the incoming and outgoing server details match what your email provider requires
05

Disable add-ins

A faulty Outlook add-in can cause it to stop connecting or processing mail properly.

  • Go to File → Options → Add-ins
  • At the bottom, set the dropdown to COM Add-ins and click Go
  • Uncheck all add-ins and click OK
  • Restart Outlook and test. If it works, re-enable add-ins one at a time
06

Repair Outlook

If Outlook itself is corrupted, a Quick Repair can fix it without reinstalling Office.

  • Go to Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features
  • Find Microsoft Office in the list
  • Click Change, then select Quick Repair
  • Follow the prompts and restart when complete
07

Check if your mailbox is full

A full mailbox will reject incoming mail and prevent sending in some configurations.

  • This is especially common with hosted or business email accounts
  • Log into your email via webmail (if available) to check storage usage
  • Delete old emails or attachments if you're near the limit

Email issues can sometimes look simple, but turn out to be account, server, or configuration related especially if they keep coming back. If you've worked through these steps and Outlook is still not behaving properly, it's worth getting it checked to avoid missing important emails. If you're in Johannesburg or Gauteng and need help sorting it out, you're welcome to reach out.

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