Fix your Outlook email connection by repairing your profile

Having trouble connecting to your email from Outlook on your desktop? Follow these steps to let Outlook diagnose and fix errors in your Outlook mail profile that might be causing the issue.

Do you have an Microsoft 365 account?

The Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant can diagnose and fix several Outlook issues for you, including fixing your Outlook profile. To download and install the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant, click download the tool. Once installed, the application will run automatically.

Repair a profile in Outlook 2010, Outlook 2013, or Outlook 2016

1. In Outlook 2010, Outlook 2013, or Outlook 2016, choose File.

2. Choose Account Settings > Account Settings.

3. On the Email tab, choose your account (profile), and then choose Repair.

   Note: The Repair option isn't available if you're using Outlook 2016 to connect to an Exchange account.

4. Follow the prompts in the wizard, and when you’re done, restart Outlook.

Outlook connection still not working?

• Run Windows Update to make sure you have the latest updates for Outlook and other desktop apps for Microsoft 365.

• Download and run the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant.

Tip 7: Repair Outlook Account

If nothing still works to fix the Outlook server error, you can try to repair your Outlook account.

Outlook account refers to the info associated with servers or email addresses that you have entered in Outlook. These settings might be disrupted and thereby causes several problems like the one you're facing now. Repairing an Outlook account could fix the problem. So, try the following steps:

Step 1: Open Outlook.

Step 2: Click on the "File">" Info"> Account and Social Network Settings">" Account settings".

Step 3: Now, select your account and hit on the "Repair" button.

Step 4: You will be asked to enter your account details or just to confirm them. It is suggested that you should remove the password and then re-enter it to eradicate the change that you have entered the wrong password.

Step 5: Hit on the "Next" button. This, in turn, enables Outlook to automatically make a connection with the server and diagnose the problem if there is any.

Tip 8: Disabling Extensions

It could be possible that there is an extension that enabled your Outlook which makes you face this problem. In such cases, all you can do is to disable each extension and then try to connect. If it goes great, then it means that there is a problem with an extension(s).

Step 1: Open Outlook.

Step 2: Go to the "File">" Options">" Add-ins" from the left bar.

Step 3: Click on the "Go" button, uncheck all the extensions, and hit on the "Ok" button.

Restart your Outlook to check whether the problem is resolved.

Tip 9: Rebuilding Outlook data file

You can even try to rebuild the whole Outlook data file to resolve Outlook error cannot connect to the server. The application saves its data and info to an external file. It is a kind of storage for the Outlook that it uses to perform its operations. Here, we will delete this data file. This, in turn, Outlook detects that data loss is lost or missing and then tries to rebuild it from the scratch and it could fix the corruption issues if any.

Step 1: Open the "Account Settings" in your Outlook.

Step 2: Click on the "Data Files" tab and after that, choosing the Email account that's causing issues. Then, tap on the "Open File Location".

Step 3: Now, you can rename the file or you can move it to another location.

Step 4: Now, launch Outlook again and it will automatically try to recreate your data file.

Tip 10: Repairing/Reinstalling Outlook

If none of the above methods work and you are still having trouble connecting to the server, then you can try to repair or reinstall the application. However, we still recommend you to repair the Outlook. If that doesn't work, then you can try reinstalling it completely. Below is how to repair Outlook:

Step 1: Use "Windows + R' and enter "appwiz.cpl" in the box and hit Enter.

Step 2: Once you're inside the application manager, find the Microsoft office. Then, right-tap it and choose "Change".

Step 3: Choose the "Repair" option and hit "Continue'.

If the problem doesn't go away even after repairing, then you can reinstall Outlook.