How do you troubleshoot Outlook when it stops getting emails?

1 Check Connectivity

First, verify your internet connection, as Outlook requires an active network to send and receive emails. Open your browser and try accessing a website to ensure the internet is working. If you're using a wired connection, check the Ethernet cable, or if on Wi-Fi, ensure you're connected to the correct network. Sometimes, simply restarting your router can resolve connectivity issues. Additionally, if you're using a company network, check with your IT department to ensure there are no outages or maintenance activities that could affect your connection.

2 Update Outlook

Ensuring that you're running the latest version of Outlook can resolve many issues. Software updates often include patches for known bugs that could be causing your email problems. To update Outlook, navigate to the 'File' tab, select 'Office Account', and click 'Update Options'. Choose 'Update Now' from the dropdown menu. If an update is available, follow the prompts to install it. Restart Outlook after the update to see if the issue has been resolved.

3 Check Server

Sometimes the problem lies with the email server rather than Outlook itself. If you're using an Exchange server, verify its status. For other types of accounts like IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) or POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3), ensure that the server settings entered in Outlook match those provided by your email service. You can find these settings under 'File', then 'Account Settings', and 'Server Settings'. If you're unsure about the correct settings, contact your email provider for assistance.

5 Disable Add-ins

Add-ins enhance Outlook's functionality but can sometimes interfere with its performance. To disable add-ins, go to 'File', select 'Options', and then 'Add-ins'. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see 'Manage: COM Add-ins'. Click 'Go' and uncheck any add-ins you suspect could be causing issues. Restart Outlook to see if disabling the add-ins resolves the email reception problem. If it does, you can enable them one by one to identify the problematic add-in.

6 Repair Outlook

If all else fails, use the built-in repair tool to fix Outlook issues. Close Outlook and open the Control Panel. Navigate to 'Programs' and then 'Programs and Features'. Find Microsoft Office in the list, right-click it, and select 'Change'. Choose 'Quick Repair' to fix without using the internet or 'Online Repair' for a more comprehensive fix that requires an internet connection. Follow the prompts, and once the repair is complete, check if Outlook can now receive emails.