How to Fix Outlook 2021/2019/2016/2013 IMAP Sync Issues?

Summary: There are various reasons that can lead to synchronization issues in Outlook. This guide provides a comprehensive approach to troubleshoot and resolve the sync issues in Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, and 2013. It also mentions an OST to PST Converter tool that can help restore emails and other items from inaccessible or orphaned Outlook data (OST) files.

When you add or configure an IMAP-based email account in Outlook, it creates an OST file to store an offline synchronized copy of mail items, such as emails, contacts, attachments, notes, tasks, etc., on the local storage. This OST file is frequently synchronized with the mailbox server when Outlook is connected to the internet. Any changes made when offline are stored in the OST file and synchronized with the mailbox server when the system connects to the internet.

Sometimes, you experience synchronization issues between Outlook and IMAP mailbox server that can lead to mismatched emails between Outlook and webmail and even prevent you from sending or receiving new emails. Thus, fixing the Outlook IMAP sync issues is critical. Let’s see how to resolve such issues. But before that, let’s understand the reasons behind the sync issues in Outlook.

Reasons for Sync Issues in Outlook 

Below are some common reasons that may trigger sync issues in Outlook:

Methods to Resolve IMAP Sync Issues in Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, and 2013

You can follow the below methods to troubleshoot and fix the synchronization issues in Outlook configured with an IMAP account.

Note: Security Updates KB2837618 and KB2837643 have caused problems, such as synchronization issues in the Outlook IMAP account. Check your system for these security updates and uninstall them. The updates were released back in 2013.

Method 1: Check Network Connection

Synchronization requires an active network connection with the mailbox server. Unreliable and poor network connection can obstruct Outlook from synchronizing the mail items stored in the OST file to the mailbox server. Similarly, if the mailbox server is down, it can prevent Outlook from synchronizing the mail items.

To troubleshoot the issue, try reconnecting the network cable or WLAN. Then, check the internet connection. You may also contact your IT support to ensure the network firewall isn’t blocking the mail server. Also, log in to your email account using a web browser to ensure your account is active and the server is available.

Method 2: Update Outlook and Windows

Updating Outlook and Windows may fix any incompatibility issues with Outlook, which could be the reason behind the synchronization issues. To check and update Outlook, follow these steps:

Furthermore, you can also check and install Windows updates, if available. Then, restart the system and check if the issue is fixed.

Method 3: Check and Disable Work Offline Mode

Outlook offers Work Offline mode that allows users to work offline. If this mode is enabled, Outlook disconnects from the server and does not synchronize any items to and from the mailbox server. It might happen that you have mistakenly enabled the Work Offline mode in Outlook. You can check and disable the mode by following these steps:

When the Work Online mode is enabled, Outlook will connect to the mailbox server and start syncing the items to and from the server.

Method 4: Increase Server Timeout Settings

Sometimes, synchronization requires more time due to slow internet connection. However, longer synchronization may trigger timeout and lead to synchronization issues. To fix this, you can increase the server timeout duration by following the steps mentioned below:

Note: If your system is part of an organization and the settings are not available in your Outlook application, you can contact your network administrator.

Method 5: Modify Send/Receive Configuration

If a specific folder in your Outlook mailbox is not syncing correctly, you can check and change the send/receive configuration settings. Follow the instructions given below:

Method 6: Check the Root Folder Path for the IMAP Account

Sometimes, Outlook fails to detect the default root folder path. In such a case, you can manually set the root folder path for your IMAP account by following these steps:

 

Method 7: Disable/Remove Faulty or Incompatible Add-Ins

Faulty or incompatible add-ins may conflict with Outlook and prevent it from working properly, leading to sync issues. By disabling and removing add-ins, you can resolve the sync issues. For this, you need to first run the Outlook in Safe Mode. To open Outlook in safe mode,

If Outlook works without any issue, a faulty add-in is the cause behind the issue. You can disable the add-ins using the following steps:

Now, enable one add-in at a time and then restart Outlook. Repeat this process for each add-in. This will help you identify the add-in that is causing the issue. You can then permanently disable it to resolve the issue.

Method 8: Repair Outlook Profile or Create a New One

Outlook profile contains all the settings of the account. If the profile is damaged or corrupted, it can lead to plethora of issues in Outlook, such as sync issues with IMAP account. However, you can repair the corrupt profile to fix the issue. To repair a corrupt or damaged Outlook profile, follow these steps:

After the repair is complete, restart Outlook. Then, check if Outlook can synchronize the mailbox with the IMAP mail server.

If repairing the profile didn’t fix the sync issues, you can create a new Outlook profile using the following steps:

Method 9: Rebuild Outlook Data File (OST)

You can also face the sync issues in Outlook, if there is a problem with the OST file. You can rebuild the Outlook data (OST) file to resolve the problem. To do so, follow the instructions given below:

When the synchronization is finished, check the OST file for any missing items. The changes done in Outlook, from when the synchronization is working till the issue is resolved, might not have been synchronized with the mail server. Therefore, these will not be reflected in the OST file. If there are any mailbox items missing, you can use Stellar Converter for OST, a reliable OST to PST converter tool, to retrieve the items from the backup OST file and save them in a PST file. You can then import this PST file into your Outlook account. This tool can extract emails and other items from orphaned or inaccessible OST files and save them in PST and various other formats. You can also import the mail items from the OST file directly into live Exchange or Microsoft 365 account in a few clicks.

Conclusion

Sync issues in Outlook are common and may occur for various reasons. You can try the methods listed in this blog to troubleshoot and resolve the synchronization issues in Outlook. If there are problems with your OST file, you can recreate it after taking its backup. After recreating the OST file, if you find missing items, you can convert the backup OST file to Outlook importable PST using Stellar Converter for OST. Then, import the converted PST file into your new IMAP OST file via Outlook Import Export wizard and restore the missing mail items.

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