Test Outlook in a web browser and on a different network first; this determines whether the timeout is caused by a wider Microsoft service issue, your current connection, or only the New Outlook app.
1. Isolate where the timeout occurs
- Open Edge or Chrome and visit https://outlook.com.
- Also open microsoft.com or bing.com.
- If possible, temporarily connect the PC to a phone hotspot and test Outlook again.
Microsoft recommends testing ordinary Microsoft websites first when Outlook cannot connect.^1^
Use the matching result below.
If Outlook fails everywhere, but other websites work
This can indicate an Outlook/Microsoft 365 service incident rather than a damaged application.
- Check Microsoft’s current Office/Outlook issues page.^2^
- If this is a work or school account, ask the Microsoft 365 administrator to check Microsoft 365 admin center → Health → Service health. That is the tenant-specific status source.
- If an incident is listed, no local reinstall or reset is likely to help; wait for Microsoft to mark it resolved.
If Outlook works through the hotspot but not your normal connection
The normal network is timing out or filtering Microsoft 365 traffic.
- Disconnect any VPN temporarily.
- Restart the modem/router:
- Unplug both for at least 30 seconds.
- Reconnect the modem and wait for it to stabilize.
- Reconnect the router, wait a few minutes, and retest.
- Check Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy. If you do not intentionally use a proxy, turn off Use a proxy server.
- Temporarily pause third-party web filtering or antivirus HTTPS inspection only long enough to test. Re-enable it immediately afterward.
- If it is a managed network, give the network administrator the result that Outlook works on the hotspot. Microsoft recommends allowing current Microsoft 365 endpoints rather than using hard-coded or indirect-domain allowlists, which can cause connectivity failures.^3^
If the browser works but only New Outlook fails
Repair the application itself:
- Right-click Start → Task Manager.
- Select Microsoft Outlook → End task.
- Reopen New Outlook.
If it still times out:
- Open Start, locate new Outlook for Windows, expand its options, and select Uninstall.
- Restart Windows.
- Open Microsoft Store, find New Outlook for Windows, and select Get.
- Open it and add the account when prompted.
These are Microsoft’s documented New Outlook restart and reinstall procedures.^4^
Do not run Classic Outlook profile, PST, safe-mode, or add-in troubleshooters for this problem. Microsoft states that the Classic Outlook troubleshooters do not apply to New Outlook.^5^
If no websites load reliably
Run the Windows network troubleshooter:
- Windows 11: Open Get Help, search for Network and Internet troubleshooter, and run it.
- Windows 10: Go to Start → Settings → Network & Internet → Status → Network troubleshooter.
Microsoft also documents restarting the router, reconnecting Wi-Fi, and resetting Windows networking if the automated troubleshooter does not resolve it.^6^
If Outlook still times out in both the browser and New Outlook across multiple networks, contact Microsoft Support; that result rules out an app-only failure and most local-network causes.
References
- I can't send or receive messages in Outlook | Microsoft Support
- Fixes or workarounds for recent Office issues | Microsoft Support
- Managing Microsoft 365 endpoints
- Outlook for Windows not responding, hangs, freezes, or stops working
- Resolve Outlook for Windows issues with automated troubleshooting tools | Microsoft Support
- Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows