My Email Stuck in Outbox! Why Outlook Not Sending Emails?

Frustrating because your email is stuck in the Outbox? Want to know how to deal with the emails getting stuck in Outlook Outbox? This situation is prevalent and can be caused by various reasons. If you are here, this blog will share everything about Outlook Outbox, along with the solutions to prevent you from emails stuck in Outlook Outbox. So, let’s know them by understanding why Outlook Outbox is not sending emails.

Table of Content

What is Outbox, & what does it mean in Outlook?

Outbox is a folder in Outlook that stores the emails temporarily before sending them to the receiver. This means that when a user creates an email and sends it, the email doesn’t move directly to the receiver’s server. Firstly, the email goes to the Outbox folder, waiting until Outlook proceeds to move to the receiver.

Outlook will move it to the Outbox folder when a user composes and sends an email.
In Outbox, Outlook will send the email to the receiver’s server if everything is good, like internet connection, etc.
If your Outlook has issues, like internet connection, large attachments, incorrect settings, etc., the email will get stuck in the Outbox until the problem is resolved.

Outbox vs. Sent folder in Microsoft Outlook:

Outbox: Outbox and Sent are both two different folders in Outlook. They have distinct duties in managing Outlook email. The Outbox is like a store box for an email before moving to the sent folder. In Outlook, the email will be delivered if there is no issue with the network, configuration, attachment size, or more. Also, the email will stay in the Outbox folder until the problem is resolved.

Sent: When the emails are sent to the recipient server, the email will be moved from the Outbox to the Sent folder in Outlook. The sent folder keeps a record of all emails that you have sent and allows you to review or follow up on specific emails.

Why is my email stuck in Outlook Outbox?

A wide range of causes can affect Outlook and get the email stuck in the Outbox. Let us know a few of them:

Moving large attachments in the email.
Viewing emails in the Outbox folder.
Using the wrong password for your Account.
Incorrect settings of the email account.
Outlook is set up to work offline.
No email account is set up as default.
Scanning of outgoing emails by Antivirus or Antispam software.

Outlook Outbox is not sending emails, which can be caused by more reasons, including poor internet connection, incorrect settings, etc. Now, we will explore how to fix Outlook email stuck in the Outbox issue.

Proven tips to fix Outlook emails stuck in Outbox

Here, we will describe several tips to prevent emails from getting stuck in the Outbox folder. So, now start with learning each solution one by one.

Solution 1: Check “Send Immediately When Connected” Option is Enabled:

First, ensure you have enabled the Send immediately when connected option in the Outlook program. Let us share the steps to verify whether this option is checked or unchecked:

For Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, & 2010:

Open your Microsoft Outlook, go to the File, Options and click the Advanced button.
After that, navigate to the Send and Receive section and enable the Send Immediately when connected option.

Lastly, hit the Ok button.

For Outlook 2007 and 2003:

Launch Microsoft Outlook and move to the Tools section.
Select the Options and click the Mail Setup.
Then, go to the Send and Receive section.
Check the Send Immediately when connected option and tap the Ok button.

Solution 2: Remove the Large Attachments:

The large attachments can also cause “emails stuck in Outbox” issues. However, users must remove large attachments and try to re-send the email if this problem arises due to oversized attachments. The steps are as follows:

Run the Microsoft Outlook program on your device and go to the Send/Receive option.
Then, navigate to the Work Offline and choose the Outbox folder.
Drag the email message from the Outbox to the Draft folder. After that, hit the attachment and press the Delete button.

When deleting an attachment, Outlook will send a message notifying you that “Outlook has already begun transmitting this message.” Close Outlook and try to delete the attachment again.

After deleting the attachment:

Move to the Send/Receive section again and Work Offline to work online and send email.

Solution 3: Change Outlook Password:

If you forget to update your password in Outlook after changing on the Internet mail, like Gmail and Outlook.com, the email can get stuck in Outbox, and you need to follow the steps:

Open your Outlook program and navigate to the File tab.
Then, go to the Account Settings drop-down and click the Account Settings option.
After that, select the email account for which you want to change the password and hit the Change button.

Enter your new password, click Next, and then click the Finish button.

Solution 4: Choose an Account to Set as default:

Verify that you have selected a default account for Outlook, as it can also cause emails to be stuck in Outbox.

Go to the File section in Outlook.
Afterwards, click the Account Settings drop-down and select the Account Settings option.
Navigate to the E-mail section and select the Account you want to set as default.
Then, tap the Set as Default and click the Close button.

Solution 5: Verify Email Server Authentication:

Check your email server authentication to prevent the “emails stuck in outbox folder” issue.

Open Outlook, go to the Account settings drop-down and select the Account Setting option.
Then, double-tap on the Account and hit the More Settings option.
Navigate to the Outlook Server section and make sure you have selected the recommended settings.
Then, go to the Advanced section and verify that all the information is correct.

For IMAP:

Incoming Server (IMAP): 993
Outgoing Server (SMTP): 587
Port 143

For POP3:

Incoming Server (IMAP): 995
Outgoing Server (SMTP): 465
Port 110

Solution 6: Remove LoadTransportProviders in Registry

Press the Windows + R keys and type the Regedit.
After that, hit the Enter key to open Registry Editor.
Follow the path:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\\Outlook\Preferences
- The x.0 is to refer the Outlook version:
  - 16.0 = Outlook 2019, Office 365 & Outlook 2016
  - 15.0 = Outlook 2013
  - 14.0 = Outlook 2010
  - 13.0 = Outlook 2007
Then, right-click on the LoadTransportProvidersDWORD value and hit the Delete button.

Implement these tips and tricks to resolve the “email stuck in Outbox folder” issue.

Solution 7: Shoviv Outlook Suite:

If you are still unable to get relief from emails getting stuck in the Outbox, your Outlook data file (OST or PST) can have a corruption issue. For this, we recommend you use the Shoviv Outlook Suite. This software is capable of repairing corrupted data from OST and PST files. It allows users to handle various Outlook data files at the same time without applying any limitations.

This software offers various file formats to save the recovered data from the corruption database, like PST, EML, MSG, and even more. It keeps the folder hierarchy and metadata even in the target after the recovery task.

Steps to fix the “emails stuck in Outbox” issue:

Open the tool and add the corrupted OST/PST.
Then, select the Outlook PST option to save the recovered data.
Check & uncheck subfolders, and choose the destination folder.
Apply filters to add/remove Outlook data file items.
Click the Finish button and save the report after completing the task.

The Closing Statement!

There is no specific reason that can cause the “emails stuck in Outbox” error in Outlook. Therefore, users need to execute several tricks to prevent Outlook from emails getting stuck in the Outbox folder. Suppose you fail to resolve this issue even after following the above solutions. In that case, you must go with the Shoviv Outlook Suite for speed recovery of corrupted Outlook data file (OST or PST) items. Try its free demo version for more detailed information on its advanced features.

Frequently Asked Questions(Outlook Outbox Not Sending Emails):

Q: Does the Outbox folder function similarly in the Outlook web?

No, instead of that, the unsent emails will go to the draft folder, and sent emails will go to the Sent folder.

Q: What happens to emails in the Outbox if I migrate from one Outlook account to another?

If the Outlook data file (OST or PST) stores the Outbox folder emails, you can easily migrate emails from the Outbox folder to another account.

Q: Can an antivirus software affect emails in the Outlook Outbox?

Yes, an antivirus can affect emails and make them stuck in the Outbox folder of the Outlook email client.

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Vishesh Kumar

Vishesh Kumar is working as a technical content writer with Shoviv Software. He has a degree in Mass Communication with years of experience in creating engaging and informative content. Vishesh likes looking into a variety of subjects, from technology to lifestyle and making complex topics easy. He keeps updated on the latest on-going trends and enjoys new experiences when not writing.