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We see this problem pop up a lot because of multiple Office 365 accounts, old settings, or corrupted Outlook files. Figuring out why Outlook gets stuck offline really helps you fix it—and keeps it from coming back. This guide covers the usual suspects, troubleshooting steps, and a few advanced tricks to get your email flowing again. Outlook status says offline then it can happen when offline mode enabled, server connection is Exchange connectivity diagnostic lost, or your internet isn’t stable. Corrupted Outlook profile, faulty add-ins or outdated version of Outlook can also be reasons to remain offline.
Check OST file
In doing so, you would switch the mapped drive status to "online" and access to the entirety of drive's content would then be possible/granted.In this guide, we've discussed the reasons that can cause the 'Outlook stuck in offline mode' issue and methods to troubleshoot and resolve it.Confusion happens when a device hooks up to more than one Office 365 environment.For example, it may happen when there is a problem with your profile on the mailbox server or if your mailbox is deleted or disabled.To do this, hit Windows + R, type outlook.exe /safe, and hit Enter.However, when Outlook cannot connect to the Exchange server, it automatically switches to Offline mode.If the issue is not resolved manually, we recommend using the suggested software to recover Outlook files and continue using Outlook without any interruptions.
When offline, the status is displayed in the status Outlook data file cannot be accessed bar at the bottom as Working Offline or Disconnected. Just having a simple update routine and checking build numbers from time to time can save a lot of trouble. Staying current with updates is probably the easiest way to keep Outlook connected.
How To Fix Outlook Stuck in Offline Mode?
The biggest problems usually involve too many Office 365 connections or outdated Microsoft Office components. If Outlook asks if another Exchange server can manage your system, hit No unless it’s your main domain. That keeps Outlook from getting confused and stuck offline.
Verify Work Offline Button Status
And thus, an Offline Storage Table (OST) file is created to save a local synchronized copy of mailbox items. When the mail server is not available due to maintenance tasks or other issues, Outlook may fail to connect to the server and display the status as Disconnected. This indicates that the internet is working fine, but Outlook cannot connect to the mailbox server. If your system connects to more than one Office 365 environment, Outlook might not know which Exchange server to use. That often sets off Autodiscover conflicts and lands you in offline mode. To keep Outlook from slipping into offline mode again, sort out account conflicts and keep your software up to date.
Method 1: Reset 'Work Offline' to Reconnect
The Work Offline option is selected on Outlook's Send/Receive tab. First, check to see if the Connected status is displayed or not. If it is not displayed, double-check your internet connection and re-examine it. To resolve the Outlook stuck offline working issue, click "Work offline" to reset and reconnect the Exchange server.
Autodiscover might send Outlook to the wrong Exchange server, so you can’t get to your mailbox. Damaged Outlook data files, like the OST file, can also get in the way. When these files go bad, Outlook can’t talk to the Exchange server, so it just gives up and goes offline. Now, on your keyboard, press the Send/Receive button. Old versions of Outlook or Microsoft Office often trigger synchronization issues.
Setup Exchange Server Account Manually
Given below are just a few examples of possible reasons. Select Work Offline from the Send/Receive tab in Outlook to reconnect. Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
Essential Troubleshooting Steps for Reconnecting Outlook
Sometimes a VPN or firewall blocks Outlook, so try turning those off for a minute to see if it helps. Hybrid setups—where you’ve got both on-premises Exchange servers and Office 365—can run into DNS or Autodiscover problems. If your external DNS doesn’t match the internal setup, Outlook can lose track of where it’s supposed to connect. Outdated software often brings compatibility headaches that break your connection. Further, the drive status for any drive which has a file/folder set to be available offline is stuck on "Offline". Even after following the above process, credential loop in Microsoft 365 if the issue of offline still present, and OST corruption might be the actual cause.