Why Does Outlook Not Connect to Server? Ways to Fix it ASAP

By / Outlook /

Microsoft Outlook is a reliable and effective email client worldwide. However, errors while working with Outlook are common. The error “Outlook not connecting to server” can be caused by various reasons and affects users’ data. Therefore, it would be better to have a proper solution to fix this Outlook error in the Windows operating system.

In addition, users may face issues accessing their Outlook data when this error occurs. In this article, we will explore why Outlook is not connected to the server and then learn how to fix this error effectively. So, understand each solution carefully and avoid issues in accessing data easily by connecting Outlook to the server.

Reasons why Outlook not connecting to Server

There can be multiple reasons that can arise: ‘the Outlook not connecting to Server’ error. Users can understand the common reasons in the section below and simplify their way of fixing this Outlook problem quickly.

  • If the internet connection is poor, users may face this error.
  • This issue can also occur if the Exchange Server is having severe errors.
  • Corrupted Outlook data files (OST or PST) may be one of the reasons Outlook does not connect to the server.
  • If Outlook software is not updated to the latest version, Outlook may create issues when opening email account data.
  • If there is an error with the Microsoft Outlook profile, this can also cause this Outlook error.

Users can have more reasons why Outlook can’t connect to the Exchange Server. However, it doesn’t matter what the reason behind this issue is; it’s essential for users to look for a perfect solution to fix it.

Techniques to fix the Outlook can’t connect to the Exchange

Users can use various methods to tackle the problem of Outlook not connecting to the server. Here, we will understand a few of them and share a professional third-party software to fix the Outlook error. First, we will elaborate on the traditional methods in this write-up and the stepwise working procedure of each manual solution.

Manual methods to connect the Microsoft Outlook

Users will get the stepwise procedure of numerous manual solutions to fix the error ‘Outlook cannot connect to Server. Outlook will only connect to the server if users find a proper solution to resolve this issue. Let us understand each solution and access the data without any hassle.

  1. Check the email account settings

Now, we will check the email account settings to fix the error that Microsoft Outlook cannot connect to Server issue. Users can follow the steps below to use this method to connect their Outlook to the server quickly.

  • Launch Microsoft Outlook in your system.
  • After that, navigate to the File tab, Account Settings dropdown, and click the Account Settings.
  • Now, check that the email account details, such as email addresses, port numbers, etc., are updated and correct.
  • Then, test if Outlook is working correctly by sending or receiving an email.
  • Lastly, restart Microsoft Outlook.

By updating and correcting your email account details, users can avoid the issues that create problems when connecting Outlook to the server.

  1. Verifying the Exchange Server connectivity

Now, we will check the Exchange Server connectivity to resolve the error ‘Outlook not connecting to the server. Users can follow the stepwise procedure shared in the section below to use this solution.

  • Open your web browser and go to the Exchange Server Login page.
  • Enter your username and password to log in to the Exchange Server.
  • If there is any problem with the Exchange Server, you may face issues while logging in to the Exchange Server.
  • If you see any error after entering your login details, kindly contact your IT administrators.
  • Then, restart the Exchange Server and web browser by following your IT administrator’s instructions.
  • After that, log in with your credentials and ensure the issue is resolved.
  • If you successfully connect to the server, you need to restart Microsoft Outlook and check whether the error is fixed.

You can check the Exchange Server connectivity using a few simple steps. If you are facing the Outlook error for any other reason, then we need to move to another solution to resolve the error: ‘Outlook not connecting to the server’.

  1. Removing and creating a new Outlook profile

Users can also remove and create a new Outlook profile to eliminate the error ‘Outlook not connecting to Server’ on your device. The steps are as follows:

  • Firstly, close your Outlook program and tasks related to it.
  • Then, open the Control Panel on your system.
  • Now, you need to click the Mail (Microsoft Outlook) option.
  • After that, tap the Show profile option.
  • After that, kindly hit the Remove button to delete the Outlook profile.
  • Once you remove the Outlook profile, navigate to add a new Outlook profile by clicking the Add button.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to create a new profile and enter details, such as email address, password, etc.
  • After creating a new Outlook profile, kindly test the Microsoft Outlook by sending and receiving an email.

This method allows users to remove their defective Outlook profile and add a new one to resolve Outlook-related issues.

  1. Disabling Outlook Offline mode

It is another way that you can use to fix the ‘Outlook not connecting to Server’ error. Users can use the instructions below to find this solution to fix this Outlook issue.

  • Launch the Microsoft Outlook in your system.
  • After that, tap the Send/Receive option from the ribbon bar.
  • Look for the Work Offline option in the Send/Receive tab.
  • Then, turn off the Work Offline option and connect to the server to check whether the issues have been fixed.
  • Go to the File menu and click the Info option to verify the connection status.

Users can also use other methods, such as restarting Microsoft Outlook, to fix this Outlook issue. If you cannot resolve the error ‘Outlook is not connecting to the Server,’ then you need professional software to repair Outlook data files (OST or PST). After repairing the corrupted OST or PST file, users can easily connect their Outlook email client to the server.

Is there any third-party tool to fix this Outlook error?

Users can use the Shoviv OST to PST Converter Tool to repair their Outlook data file and resolve the ‘Outlook can’t connect to Server’ issue. This tool allows users to save their OST files in various formats, including PST, HTML, EML, MSG, etc. Moreover, it is easy for each user to use, and even new users can use this tool without having technical expertise. This software repairs all the data in the OST file without affecting the email data’s original folder hierarchy and metaproperties.

Users can also move their Outlook data file mailboxes into their Office 365 account. This tool also offers a splitter option to manage the size of the large PST file, helping users prevent oversized file-related issues. It comes with a filter option that users can use to select only specific items from the mailboxes to process.

Wrapping Up:

Understanding the traditional methods to fix the error ‘Outlook not connecting to Server’ can prevent their data from serious issues. We have explained some essential techniques that users can perform with the help of Outlook email client, Control Panel, Exchange Server, etc. However, these methods may only resolve this issue if the Outlook data file is not corrupted. If corrupted, users must go for professional third-party software, like the Shoviv OST to PST Converter Tool, to fix this error effectively. Before buying this tool, users can also try its free demo version in their system and process the first 50 items per folder to check its capability and efficiency.

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