What is Outlook Offline Mode?
Outlook Offline mode allows users to work on Outlook without being connected to the internet or server. You can do almost anything except send or receive emails, have your calendar updated or sync your progress with the server, sync with other devices, and more.
Outlook Offline Mode Vs Network Connectivity Issues
Many may argue that Outlook’s offline mode is just an internet connectivity issue disguised. However, that is far from the truth. Unlike most network connectivity issues, Outlook’s offline mode can be toggled on or off at will.
The mode also ensures that all your progress completed during offline mode is secured until it can be permanently saved when it syncs with the servers.
On the other hand, internet connectivity issues occur randomly and may cause you to lose any work midway or cause the application to malfunction.
What To Do When Outlook is Stuck in Offline Mode?
If you are unable to get Outlook back online, first you need to find out if is stuck in Offline mode or if are you just facing internet issues.
Apart from checking the internet connection, you can try restarting your router, verifying your internet settings, or contacting your local internet provider.
If you confirm that Outlook is stuck in Offline mode, then you can start with the troubleshooting methods in the next section, and then move on to the solutions section after.
Part 1: Troubleshooting Methods
1. Check Internet Connectivity
First and foremost, check your internet connectivity. To confirm, try logging into Outlook through your browser or playing a video on YouTube.
If you can receive emails but not send them, your server works fine and a quick update should be able to resolve the issue.
2. Update Outlook and Operating System.
Ensure that the Outlook application and your operating system are up to date. You can do so by following the instructions-
A. Update Windows
1. Open Windows Settings.
2. Click on Windows Update.
3. Click on Check for updates or Update now.
B. Update Outlook
1. Click on File and Access the Office Account Tab.
2. Click on Office Updates and select Update now.
Part 2: Fix Outlook Stuck in Offline Mode Using Proven Solutions
1. Disable Work Offline Status
Outlook has a Work Offline feature that enables users to work on Outlook without the Internet.
If you have accidentally enabled it, disabling it would solve the issue.
You can locate the Work Offline feature in the Send/Receive tab and click on it to turn it off.
2. Start Outlook In Safe Mode
In case your issues if caused by conflicting add-ins, you can open Outlook in Safe mode to temporarily disable them. If this works then disabling unnecessary add-ins will resolve the issue.
1. Use the Windows+R shortcut to open Run Command.
2. Type in Outlook.exe /safe and click on OK.
Verify if Outlook is still in Offline mode. If the issue persists, try out the next method.
3. Repair Outlook Application
Outlook may have minor issues that could result in it being stuck offline. To fix this, you can repair Outlook by following the steps below-
1. Open Windows Settings and access the Apps Tab.
2. Click on Installed Apps.
3. Locate Microsoft Office and click on the 3 dots next to it.
4. Select Modify.
5. Select the Quick Repair Option and click on Repair.
4. Create New Outlook Profile
If none of the above work, your profile may be damaged. Using the steps below, try creating a new Outlook profile.
1. Open Outlook.
2. Click on File and enter the Info Tab.
3. Click on Account Settings and select the Manage Profiles option.
4. In the next window, click on Show Profiles.
5. In the next Window, click on Add to create a new Outlook profile.
6. Enter the profile name and click on OK.
7. Fill in the relevant credentials and follow the instructions until you complete the setup.
5. Recreate OST File
In some cases where you use an OST file, there may be an issue that prevents Outlook from syncing with the server. During such cases, it is always safer to create a new OST file as it may not only fix the issue but also protect you from data loss.
1. Open Outlook.
2. Click on File and enter the Info Tab.
3. Click on Account Settings and select the Manage Profiles option.
4. In the next window, Click on Data Files.
5. Under the Data Files tab, select the OST file and open it in File Location.
6. Move the OST file onto another drive.
7. Shut down and restart Outlook. Verify results.
It is also important to create a new OST file to protect your data. The only copy of all your data exists in the OST file, so to prevent any scenario of data loss, you can either create a new OST file or repair it using professional repair software such as SFWare PST Repair Tool.
To Conclude
I hope that you were easily able to fix Outlook stuck in offline mode with the help of this article. This issue is fairly minor and is usually solvable by switching Outlook to online mode or fixing a network issue. To protect yourself from similar scenarios in the future, make sure to maintain a backup file of all your Outlook data and regularly update your Outlook and your operating system. If you have any queries or feedback, please feel free to reach out.
