Generally, it happens because of a weak internet connection, and connecting to a stable internet solves the issue. But, since various factors like corrupt add-ins, working in offline mode, damaged outlook profile, etc., can cause the above issue, you might need further troubleshooting and additional fixes.
How to Fix “Outlook Cannot Connect to the Server”?
Before moving on to the more technical fixes, make sure the Outlook service is up and running. If it isn’t operational, you would have to wait for it to be functional. You can check it on the Microsoft office’s official status site. Meanwhile, check if you can connect to the server using the Outlook web version.
Fix Slow Internet Connection
You can encounter the above error if you aren’t connected to the Internet. Or if your internet connection is extremely slow or isn’t stable. Therefore, consider changing your network connection/ Wi-Fi and connecting to a strong one. You can also try restarting your router to speed up the network connection.
Use the Correct Credentials
You could be using the wrong credentials (email, password), or perhaps you made a mistake while typing the details. So, ensure you have chosen the right account and all the details you entered are correct. You can check it in your account settings.
Update Outlook
Using the old version of Outlook can cause connection issues on Outlook. Due to it, you could face problems like not being able to connect to your mailbox. Also, you might be prompted to enter your password multiple times but still not connect to the server. So, to resolve all these issues, you can update Outlook to the latest version.
Disable the Work Offline Mode
When working in offline mode, you won’t be able to send/receive new emails on Outlook and can encounter a server connection issue. If enabled, you will notice a cross symbol along with Working Offline status at the bottom bar. To disable it,
Run the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant Tool
To resolve various kinds of Outlook issues, Microsoft has provided a tool called Microsoft Support and Recovery Tool. You can run to diagnose your connection issues and perform the suggested fixes.
Disable/Remove Add-ins
While add-ins are quite useful in extending certain functionalities on Outlook, they can cause connection issues. Generally, it happens when you have faulty add-ins that start to interfere with the Outlook app. You can disable or even remove Outlook to resolve connection issues. But before doing so, you can run Outlook in safe mode, which loads the app without the add-ins.
Repair the Outlook Profile
In case your Outlook profile has been corrupted, you could face connection issues on Outlook. Generally, the profile gets corrupted when its pst files (outlook data files) are damaged. You can repair the pst files with the SCANPST tool inside the “Program Files” folder. Alternatively, you can repair the profile or create a new one if required. If repairing didn’t help, you could create and use a different Outlook profile as follows. On Windows On Mac
Repair the Outlook App
The Outlook application could be experiencing some issues due to bugs or glitches. So, you need to repair it. Since it is usually integrated as a part of Microsoft Office, you need to repair the whole office.
