Email Not Sending in Outlook: Troubleshooting Tips to Get Your Email Back on Track

Are you having trouble sending email in Outlook? You're not alone. Many users experience issues with emails getting stuck in their Outbox or drafts folder without sending. This can be frustrating, especially when you need to send an important email.

However, there are several possible reasons why emails may not be sending, and fortunately, there are some simple troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the issue.

In this article, we will explore the most common causes of email sending problems in Outlook and provide you with step-by-step instructions to help you get your email back on track.

Step-by-Step instructions

1. Check Your Network Connection

• Before you start troubleshooting Outlook, check your internet connection.
• If your network connection is unstable or not working correctly, it may prevent you from sending email. To check your connection, try opening a webpage in your browser.
• If the page loads successfully, your internet connection is probably fine.
• If you are having trouble connecting, try resetting your router or contacting your internet service provider (ISP) for assistance.

2. Verify Your Email Account Settings

If your network connection is working correctly, the next step is to verify your email account settings. Incorrect account settings can cause problems with sending email in Outlook.

To check your account settings, follow these steps:

• Open Outlook and select File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
• Select your email account from the list and click Change.
• Verify that your email address, password, incoming mail server, and outgoing mail server settings are correct.
• Click Next to complete the setup process.

3. Try Sending Email in Safe Mode

Sometimes, Outlook add-ins can cause issues with sending email. If you suspect that an add-in is causing the problem, try starting Outlook in safe mode.

To do this, follow these steps:

• Close Outlook if it is open.
• Hold down the CTRL key and click on the Outlook icon to open it in safe mode.
• Try sending an email in safe mode. If it works, then an add-in is likely causing the problem.

4. Delete Unsent Emails from Outbox or Drafts Folder

If an email gets stuck in your Outbox or drafts folder, it may prevent you from sending other emails. To resolve this issue, delete any unsent emails from your Outbox or drafts folder. To do this, follow these steps:

• Open Outlook and select the Outbox or drafts folder.
• Select any unsent emails, right-click them, and select Delete.

5. Increase Your Mailbox Storage Limit

If your mailbox is full, you may not be able to send or receive email. To resolve this issue, check your mailbox storage and increase your storage limit if necessary.

To do this, follow these steps:

• Log in to your email account on the web.
• Check your mailbox storage and delete any unnecessary emails.
• If you need more storage, contact your email service provider to increase your storage limit.

6. Disable Add-Ins and Start Outlook in Safe Mode

• Sometimes, one of Outlook's add-ins will crash and prevent your email messages from sending.
• To disable all add-ins, you can start Outlook in safe mode.
• If you can send email while Outlook is in safe mode, creating a new Outlook email profile should allow you to send email again.
• To start Outlook in safe mode, click the Windows key and search for "Outlook.exe /safe". Press Enter to launch the program in safe mode.

7.  Review your Email Profile

• Another common cause of issues with sending email from Outlook is a problem with your email profile.
• If you're experiencing issues with sending email, you may want to try creating a new email profile.
• This can be done by going to the Control Panel, selecting Mail, and then choosing "Show Profiles". From there, you can create a new profile and set it as the default for Outlook.

8. Check Your Antivirus Settings

• Sometimes, antivirus software can cause issues with sending email from Outlook.
• If you have antivirus software installed on your computer, try disabling it temporarily to see if that resolves the issue.
• If disabling your antivirus software resolves the issue, you may need to adjust your settings or configure your software to allow Outlook to send email.

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9. Check Your Email Settings

• It's also possible that the issue is related to your email settings.
• Check to ensure that your email account settings are correct and up to date. Verify that your outgoing server settings are correct, including your SMTP server settings and authentication details.

FAQs

1. How can I start Outlook in safe mode?

• To start Outlook in safe mode, click the Windows key and search for "Outlook.exe /safe". Press Enter to launch the program in safe mode.

2. Why can't I send email from Outlook?

• There are a few different reasons why you might be having trouble sending emails from Outlook.
• Some of the most common causes include issues with add-ins, a full mailbox, or problems with your email profile.

3. How do I check my mailbox storage and filters in Outlook?

• To check your mailbox storage and filters in Outlook, go to your Other tab and ensure there are no filters preventing you from seeing all your messages.
• Check your Junk Email settings and your Junk Email folder to ensure there are no messages that shouldn't have been marked as spam.

4. How do I review my email profile in Outlook?

• To review your email profile in Outlook, go to the Control Panel, select Mail, and then choose "Show Profiles". From there, you can create a new profile and set it as the default for Outlook.

Conclusion

If you're having trouble sending emails from Outlook, there are a few different troubleshooting steps you can take to try and resolve the issue. These include disabling add-ins and starting Outlook in safe mode, checking your mailbox storage and filters, reviewing your email profile, checking your antivirus settings, and verifying your email settings.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, you may want to contact Microsoft support for further assistance.