Introduction

How To Use This Guide
This guide is designed to take you through a number of different troubleshooting steps. After each step, try to open Outlook and check your mail again. When the program opens and works, stop at that point; you do not need to go any further.
1 Make Sure I'm Connected to the Net
- Open your browser. In the address bar at the top, type in google.com, then push Enter or Return.
- Make sure the Google page comes up. Type in something to search for, and select Google Search.
- Make sure your search results come up.
If you had problems with searching or using your browser, your Internet connection is the problem. Follow this guide for help resolving your Internet connectivity problems, and your email problems will most likely be fixed as well.
2 Check if Work Offline is Toggled
In Outlook, check that Work Offline is not toggled. Work Offline allows Outlook to appear like it is online but you will only have access to mail that has already been saved.
- Open Outlook.
- Check the bottom of the Outlook window. If it says Working Offline or Disconnected Outlook is not connected to the internet.
- Select Send / Receive. Select Work Offline to reconnect.
3 Check for Updates
- Select the Start menu.
- Select the Settings button on the left side of the start menu.
- Select Update and Security.
- Select Windows Update on the left, then select Check for updates.
- Once the system has finished checking for updates, it will automatically download and install the latest applicable updates.
- The system also may prompt you to restart, if it does, please do so at your earliest convenience, otherwise the update process will not complete.
If you system was already recently updated, chances are that no further updates are available and your Update status will indicate: Your device is up to date.
4 Restart and Install the Update
Windows 10
- Select the Start menu, then select Power.
- Select Restart or Update and Restart.
- Your computer will close all open programs, apply any pending updates, and start back up.
Windows 8
- Select the Start menu, then select Power in the top-right corner.
- Select Restart or Update and restart.
- Your computer will close all open programs, apply any pending updates, and start back up.
Windows 7
- Select the Start menu, then select the small arrow next to Shut down.
- Select Restart.
- Your computer will close all open programs, apply any pending updates, and start back up.
5 Check Outlook Settings
If you know your mail server settings, you can check them quickly to be sure nothing changed on accident.
- Outlook.com
Your email address ends with @outlook.com, @live.com, @hotmail.com, or @msn.com - Google
Your email address ends with @gmail.com - Yahoo!
Your email address ends with @yahoo.com - iCloud
Your email address ends with @icloud.com - Corporate Exchange Email
Your email address was provided by your company at work and has a custom domain.
- Open Outlook.
- Click the File menu.
- Select Account Settings and Account Settings again.
- Select your email, then Change.
- From here you can double check all of your settings and even test them.
6 Check These Windows Settings
Windows Mail relies on a number of different settings on Windows itself to do everything from encryption (keeping your mail safe from prying eyes), as well as helping your mail provider make sure you are supposed to have access. A quick check of these Windows settings can often help.
Make Sure Date & Time Are Correct
The Date and Time set on your computer is used to help encrypt your email between your mail provider and you, keeping it safer.
- Open the Start menu and select Settings.
- Select Time & Language.
- Select Date & time on the left. It's usually best to have Set time automatically selected, and make sure the Time zone is set properly, and Adjust for daylight saving time automatically turned on. After that, look at the top and make sure the computer shows the right time and date.
Make Sure the Country or Region is Right
Windows Mail uses some region information to connect to the proper mail server for some mail providers, such as Google.
- Open the Start menu and select Settings.
- Select Time & Language.
- Select Region on the left, and make sure your Country is selected properly.
Sure the Mail App Can Access My Calendar
Windows Mail integrates a calendar system with your email, and will need access to the Windows Calendar app to do so. This is done through the Privacy settings.
- Open the Start menu and select Settings.
- Select Privacy.
- On the left, scroll down to App permissions and select Calendar. Make sure Allow apps to access your calendar is turned On, and Mail and Calendar are On, allowed to access the calendar.
7 If It Still Doesn't Work
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How To Use This Guide
This guide is designed to take you through a number of different troubleshooting steps. After each step, try to open Outlook and check your mail again. When the program opens and works, stop at that point; you do not need to go any further.
- Open your browser. In the address bar at the top, type in google.com, then push Enter or Return.
- Make sure the Google page comes up. Type in something to search for, and select Google Search.
- Make sure your search results come up.
If you had problems with searching or using your browser, your Internet connection is the problem. Follow this guide for help resolving your Internet connectivity problems, and your email problems will most likely be fixed as well.
In Outlook, check that Work Offline is not toggled. Work Offline allows Outlook to appear like it is online but you will only have access to mail that has already been saved.
- Open Outlook.
- Check the bottom of the Outlook window. If it says Working Offline or Disconnected Outlook is not connected to the internet.
- Select Send / Receive. Select Work Offline to reconnect.
- Select the Start menu.
- Select the Settings button on the left side of the start menu.
- Select Update and Security.
- Select Windows Update on the left, then select Check for updates.
- Once the system has finished checking for updates, it will automatically download and install the latest applicable updates.
- The system also may prompt you to restart, if it does, please do so at your earliest convenience, otherwise the update process will not complete.
If you system was already recently updated, chances are that no further updates are available and your Update status will indicate: Your device is up to date.
Windows 10
- Select the Start menu, then select Power.
- Select Restart or Update and Restart.
- Your computer will close all open programs, apply any pending updates, and start back up.
Windows 8
- Select the Start menu, then select Power in the top-right corner.
- Select Restart or Update and restart.
- Your computer will close all open programs, apply any pending updates, and start back up.
Windows 7
- Select the Start menu, then select the small arrow next to Shut down.
- Select Restart.
- Your computer will close all open programs, apply any pending updates, and start back up.
If you know your mail server settings, you can check them quickly to be sure nothing changed on accident.
- Outlook.com
Your email address ends with @outlook.com, @live.com, @hotmail.com, or @msn.com - Google
Your email address ends with @gmail.com - Yahoo!
Your email address ends with @yahoo.com - iCloud
Your email address ends with @icloud.com - Corporate Exchange Email
Your email address was provided by your company at work and has a custom domain.
- Open Outlook.
- Click the File menu.
- Select Account Settings and Account Settings again.
- Select your email, then Change.
- From here you can double check all of your settings and even test them.
Windows Mail relies on a number of different settings on Windows itself to do everything from encryption (keeping your mail safe from prying eyes), as well as helping your mail provider make sure you are supposed to have access. A quick check of these Windows settings can often help.
Make Sure Date & Time Are Correct
The Date and Time set on your computer is used to help encrypt your email between your mail provider and you, keeping it safer.
- Open the Start menu and select Settings.
- Select Time & Language.
- Select Date & time on the left. It's usually best to have Set time automatically selected, and make sure the Time zone is set properly, and Adjust for daylight saving time automatically turned on. After that, look at the top and make sure the computer shows the right time and date.
Make Sure the Country or Region is Right
Windows Mail uses some region information to connect to the proper mail server for some mail providers, such as Google.
- Open the Start menu and select Settings.
- Select Time & Language.
- Select Region on the left, and make sure your Country is selected properly.
Sure the Mail App Can Access My Calendar
Windows Mail integrates a calendar system with your email, and will need access to the Windows Calendar app to do so. This is done through the Privacy settings.
- Open the Start menu and select Settings.
- Select Privacy.
- On the left, scroll down to App permissions and select Calendar. Make sure Allow apps to access your calendar is turned On, and Mail and Calendar are On, allowed to access the calendar.