Outlook send and receive email issue - outlook not connected

Seetharaman Venkataraman 0 Reputation points
2026-09-17T05:01:10.75+00:00

my outlook is not connecting to exchange server, so not able to send and receive email

Exchange | Exchange Server | Other
Exchange | Exchange Server | Other

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  1. Dora-T 1,050 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-17T05:22:16.69+00:00

    Hi @Seetharaman Venkataraman

    To better understand your situation, may I clarify a few details with you?  

    1.If you’re using an on-premises Exchange Server, could you please confirm the Exchange Server version and Cumulative Update (CU)? 

    2.Are you using Outlook for Windows or Outlook for Mac? 

    3.Does this issue affect only one user, or are other users experiencing the same issue? 

    4.Can you access your mailbox through Outlook on the web (OWA)? If so, are you able to send and receive emails normally there? 

    5.Are you the Exchange Server administrator, or are you an end user? 

    For your reference, the following checklist is related to administrator‑side tasks: 

    -Check the overall health of the Exchange Server, including required services, IIS status, Exchange application pools, as well as IIS and Event Viewer logs.  

    -Verify Autodiscover and DNS configuration, including the Autodiscover SCP, internal and external DNS records, and whether autodiscover.domain.com and mail.domain.com resolve correctly.  

    -Review the Exchange certificate to ensure it is valid, not expired, includes the required names such as mail.domain.com and autodiscover.domain.com, and is properly assigned to IIS.  

    -Confirm the Exchange virtual directories and MAPI over HTTP configuration, including OWA, ECP, EWS, OAB, ActiveSync, MAPI, Outlook Anywhere URLs, and authentication settings.  

    In the meantime, you may also run a quick test using the Microsoft Remote Connectivity Analyzer to gather additional insight.  

    If you have any updates or further details, please feel free to share them.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-09-17T05:01:28.1066667+00:00

    Try these checks in order:

    1. Verify Outlook is not offline.
      • In Outlook for Windows, go to Send/Receive and select Work Offline to reconnect if it is enabled.
      • In Outlook for Mac, on the Outlook menu, make sure Work Offline is not checked.
    2. Check whether the mailbox works in Outlook on the web.
      • If mail works there, the mailbox and server are likely available, and the issue is with the Outlook client connection.
      • If it does not work there either, contact the Exchange server administrator to check server availability.
    3. Check the Exchange account connection status in Outlook for Mac.
      • Go to Tools > Accounts.
      • Look at the Exchange account. If the indicator icon is orange, there is a connection problem.
      • Verify the account settings, including the account credentials and Exchange server name.
    4. Confirm the network connection is available.
      • Make sure the computer is connected to the network.
      • If web access to sites or Outlook on the web also fails, the issue may be network-related.
    5. If Outlook for Mac was connected before, clear the affected Exchange folder cache.
      • This can remove synchronization problems caused by a corrupted cache.
      • Caution: Emptying the cache deletes any information not synchronized with the Exchange server, including contacts' mail certificates. Back up Outlook data first.
      • Then, in the navigation pane, Ctrl+click or right-click the Exchange folder, select Properties, go to General, and choose Empty Cache.
    6. Update Outlook and Windows if using Outlook for Microsoft 365 on Windows.
      • Out-of-date software can prevent sending and receiving email.
      • Open an Office app, go to File > Office Account or Account, check the version under Office Updates, and select Update Options > Update Now if needed.
    7. Run Microsoft troubleshooting tools.
      • Use the Support and Recovery Assistant for Microsoft 365 for common Outlook connectivity issues.
      • For Exchange Server 2013 scenarios, the automatic Outlook connectivity check can also help validate connectivity.
    8. If multiple users are affected in Microsoft 365, have an admin check service health under Exchange Online.
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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