Fixed: Outlook Inbox Not Updating Automatically

• July 18, 2023
• Written by:
• James
• Reading Time: 11 minutes

Is there anything more frustrating than waiting for important emails only to find that your Outlook inbox hasn’t updated automatically? We’ve all been there, anxiously refreshing the page or restarting the app, hoping for those crucial messages to appear. But fear not! In this blog post, we’re diving into the common reasons behind this issue and sharing effective solutions to get your Outlook inbox back on track. Say goodbye to missed emails and hello to seamless automatic updates. Let’s explore the steps that will bring harmony and efficiency to your Outlook experience.

Let’s get started!

What causes the Outlook inbox not updating issue?

Why is my Outlook inbox not updating? As mentioned earlier, there can be several reasons why the Outlook inbox not updating issue may appear. The major reasons are as follows:

1. Weak or unstable internet connection.
2. Add-ons that are not working properly or are not compatible
3. Incorrect email settings.
4. Conflicts with other apps.
5. A damaged or corrupted Outlook profile.
6. A large amount of stored data on your computer affects performance.
7. Problems with the Outlook data file.
8. Not enough space in your email account or on your computer’s hard drive.

Try these solutions to resolve Outlook’s inbox not updating.

There can be two types of cases. One, you don’t know how to update the Outlook inbox, and second, it’s not updating. In both cases, you can try these solutions.

Check your internet connection

Ensure that you have a stable internet connection. Outlook requires a working internet connection to sync and update your emails.

Restart Outlook

Sometimes, a simple restart can fix temporary glitches. Close Outlook completely and reopen it to see if the emails start updating automatically.

Enable automatic send/receive

If you don’t know how to update the Outlook inbox, try this solution. Verify that the automatic send/receive option is enabled in Outlook. To do this:

• Open Outlook.
• Go to the “File” tab.
• Select “Options” and then click on “Advanced.”
• From the “Send and Receive” section, tap on “Send/Receive…” option.
• In the dialogue box that appears, make sure the “Schedule an automatic send or receive every…” option is checked and set to your desired interval (e.g., every 5 minutes).
• Click “Close” then proceed with “OK” to save the changes.

Adjust folder synchronization settings

You can customize the synchronization settings for individual email folders. To check if your folders are set to update automatically,

• Right-click on the folder that is not updating and select “Properties.”
• Now, go to the “Synchronisation” tab.
• Please check if the option “When changes occur, automatically move them to the offline folder” is checked.
• Click “OK” to save the changes.

Disable add-ins

Add-ins in Outlook can sometimes interfere with the automatic update process. Try disabling any recently installed add-ins or those you suspect might be causing the issue. To disable add-ins:

• Go to the “File” tab in Outlook.
• Select “Options” and then click on “Add-Ins.”
• In the Add-Ins window, locate the add-ins and disable them by unchecking the boxes next to them.
• Click “OK” and restart Outlook.

Repair Outlook data files

Corrupted or damaged Outlook data files can lead to sync issues. You can use the built-in repair tool to fix them.

• Close Outlook.
• Open the Control Panel on your computer.
• Search for “Mail/Mail (Microsoft Outlook)“.
• In the Mail Setup window, click on “Data Files.”
• Select the data file associated with your email account and click on “Open File Location.”
• This will open the location of the data file in Windows Explorer.
• Now, close both the Mail Setup and Control Panel windows.
• Right-click on the data file and then select “Properties.”
• In the Properties window, tap on the “Advanced” button.
• In the Advanced Properties window, click on the “Outlook Data File” settings tab.
• Click on the “Compact Now” button and wait until it completes.
• Once finished, reopen Outlook and check if the emails update automatically.

Also Read: How to fix Send and Receive Error in Outlook?

If none of the above solutions resolve the issue, you may consider contacting Microsoft support for further assistance or looking for additional resources specific to your version of Outlook.

Why is Outlook inbox not updating on the iPhone? Solutions

If your Outlook inbox is not updating on your iPhone, try checking your internet connection. If it still occurs, restart your iPhone, or you can try the following solutions to resolve the issue:

Enable background app refresh

Make sure that background app refresh is enabled for the Outlook app. This allows the app to update in the background even when you’re not actively using it. To enable background app refresh:

• Go to the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
• Scroll down and tap on “Outlook” (or “Mail” if you’re using the default Mail app).
• Tap on “Background App Refresh” and ensure that it is enabled.

Adjust sync settings in Outlook

You can check and adjust the sync settings within the Outlook app on your iPhone. To do this:

• Open the Outlook app on your iPhone.
• Select the menu icon.
• Scroll down and tap on “Settings.”
• Tap on the account for which the inbox is not updating.
• In the account settings, check the sync settings and ensure that the “Mail” option is enabled for syncing.
• You can also try toggling the sync settings off and on to refresh the sync process.

Delete and re-add the email account

If the issue persists, you can try removing the email account from your iPhone and adding it again. Note that this will remove the account from your device, including any associated emails and settings. Make sure to have your email account login credentials handy before proceeding.

Tip: If none of the above solutions resolve the issue, you may consider updating your iPhone to the latest iOS version, checking for any available app updates for Outlook, or contacting Microsoft support for further assistance.

Final Words

In conclusion, the solutions provided above are effective in resolving the issue of Outlook inbox not updating automatically in various versions. However, it’s important to double-check your emails after implementing these solutions. For more help, feel free to connect with us!

FAQs:

Why is Outlook’s inbox not updating?

Reasons for Outlook’s inbox not updating can include issues with internet connectivity, disabled automatic send and receive settings, synchronization problems, corrupted data files, or conflicting add-ins.

Why are my Outlook emails not showing up in my inbox?

Outlook emails may not show up in the inbox due to synchronization issues, incorrect filter settings, email rules diverting messages to other folders, or a misconfigured email account.

Written By

James

My name is David Wayne, and I work as a technical support specialist for the online industry. In the last 7 years, I have fixed a variety of email issues, such as Outlook server errors, Outlook send receive errors, Outlook working offline problems and etc. So if you are facing these types of problems, please do not hesitate to contact us without any hesitation.