How to Deal With Outlook Cannot Connect to Server?

Outlook cannot be used unless it can connect to its Exchange server. At times, such issues can be troubleshot by just power cycling your operating system and closing the Outlook for a while. But, you cannot solve the issue on yourself, follow the below-mentioned effective solutions in detail and fix Microsoft Outlook cannot connect to the server. Visit Office.com/myaccount

Method 1: Fix ‘Microsoft Outlook Cannot Connect To The Server’ Issue By Disabling Outlook Add-ins

Even after most of the Outlook extensions are verified by the developers, they sometimes conflict with the settings and do not work properly. This further causes Outlook to not connect to the server. Hence, to get rid of this issue, disable Outlook extensions by following the below-mentioned steps.

Start Outlook and navigate yourself towards the upper-left corner and click on ‘File’

Drop down the options and click on the second last tab that is ‘Add-ins’

Scroll down the window and navigate towards the end, besides the ‘COM Add-ins’ there is a button ‘Go’ hit on it

Click on ‘Manage’ and a list of all the Outlook extensions will open in front of you, ‘Uncheck’ all the presented extensions

Click on ‘Ok’

The aforementioned easy steps will disable all the Outlook add-ins. Once the extensions are disabled, restart your device, and the server issue will also be solved. If you still cannot connect to Outlook mail server, follow the next method.

Method 2: Update Microsoft Outlook To Fix Outlook Cannot Connect To Server

If your Outlook cannot connect to server, we have the simplest solution for you. Check if there are any recent updates available for both your Outlook application and Windows. Software updates improve features and help patch existing bugs. Office 365 or other regular versions are usually updated automatically if an upgrade is required, but with some devices, you need to update your Outlook software manually. Read and follow the below-mentioned steps and update your Outlook software

Start your Windows operating system and open the Outlook application

Navigate yourself towards the upper-left corner and click on the ‘File’

Drop down the options and select the options of ‘Office account’

Under the ‘Product Description’, navigate yourself the lower-right button and click on ‘Update Options’

If there are any recent updates available of the software, it will be mentioned on the screen, click on the option

Hit the button of ‘Download and Update’ to confirm your choice and the Outlook will automatically start updating.

If your Outlook 365 cannot connect to exchange server and want to update the Windows software, follow the below mentioned steps.

Start the Windows operating system and press ‘Windows’ and ‘S’ keys together

Type ‘Update’ in the blank box and the ‘Windows Updates’ folder will automatically open

Your Windows will be ‘Checking for updates….’, you will soon be shown ‘Updates are available’ if there are any recent updates

Hit on the ‘Update’ button and it will start downloading automatically on the computer

After you apply the aforementioned steps and update both your Outlook and Windows, restart your operating device to see if the Outlook cannot connect to server issue has been resolved.

Method 3: Rebuild Outlook Data File And Fix Outlook Cannot Connect To Server

Microsoft Outlook uses two separate data file types, namely ‘.pst’ and ‘.ost’. Both types of files are vulnerable to certain errors that could cause problems with Outlook connectivity. Follow the below-mentioned steps and try to reconnect your Outlook with the server.

Close the window of ‘Outlook’ and go to the ‘Start’ menu on your system

Open the ‘Control Panel’ folder and navigate towards the ‘Mail’ to open it

In the ‘Mail’ folder and scroll down the page and hit on the ‘Data Files’

Search for a file by your ‘Email address’ and open it

Open the ‘File Location’ and check what is the type of the data file. If it is ‘.pst’ type, do not make any changes and if it is ‘.ost’ type, right-click on the name and rename the ‘Outlook extension’

After this, close all the windows one by one.

After you follow the aforementioned steps, your Outlook profile will automatically start rebuilding the data file. The entire process of the ‘Rebuild data files’ may take more than 15 minutes, it absolutely depends on the number of the Outlook data files. Once the process is complete, you will be notified with the following message ‘All the data files are rebuilt up to the date’.We assume that the microsoft outlook cannot connect to the server is fixed.

Method 4: Repair Outlook And Fix Microsoft Outlook Cannot Connect To The Server

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You can also try to fix this issue by repairing or reinstalling the Outlook application. If your Outlook 2013 cannot connect to SMTP server, this method will definitely help. Follow the below-mentioned steps and repair your Outlook profile.

Note: The Outlook users are requested to sit with their ‘Microsoft Office Product Key’, as while repairing or reinstalling the Outlook profile, the installation process might need the ‘Product Key’ for the verification.

Start your Windows operating system and click on ‘Windows’ and ‘R’ keys together

In the dialogue box, write down the ‘appwiz.cpl’ and hit the button of ‘Enter’

The application will open. Now, click on the ‘Change’ button and proceed

Click right on the same tab and select the option of ‘Repair’ and you will be redirected to the new window

Hit the button of ‘Continue’ and some imperative instructions will prompt on your screen. Follow the same on-screen information and repair the Outlook profile.

Just after following the steps mentioned in the prior method, your Outlook application will be repaired, now you will no more sulk over that you cannot connect to Outlook mail server.

You still cannot connect to Outlook mail server, follow the last and the most effective method to deal with the same issue.

Method 5: Disable ‘Work Offline’ From Outlook And Fix Outlook Cannot Connect To The Exchange Server

Few users turn on ‘Offline Mode’ in Outlook when they don’t have the internet access and still want to make use of Outlook and either check old emails or work in their office. This is one of the best features of Outlook but, this also has a drawback that after turning on this feature, Outlook cannot connect to the server even after having internet access. So, every time you turn this feature on, make sure you turn it off as well. Follow the below-mentioned steps to know how to disable the ‘Work Offline’ feature.

Open Outlook application on your operating system

Click on the third tab ‘Send/ Receive’

Navigate yourself towards the ‘Work Offline’ and click on the ‘Globe’ icon

Hit the symbol of ‘Red Cross’ on the globe

Once you click on the icon, the option will not be greyed out anymore. In case the ‘Work Offline’ icon is still greyed out, again click on the icon to deactivate or disable the feature. After changing the mode of the Outlook work offline, the Outlook cannot connect to exchange server issue will be resolved.

Why Choose us to fix Outlook Server Connecting issue?

We assume that all the aforementioned methods were useful for you and you no longer receive the error message: ‘Outlook cannot connect to server’. In case, if you are not being able to follow any of the methods and seeking assistance, contact our technical experts. They are highly experienced and knowledgeable to deal with such Outlook errors.