Inbox Folder (only) Has Stopped Syncing/Updating in Outlook Client

Gold Contributor

Jul 10, 2023

If your Inbox folder in the Outlook client has stopped updating or syncing while the other folders are functioning normally, there are a few steps you can try to troubleshoot and resolve the issue:

Check the Sync Settings:

Go to the Send/Receive tab in the Outlook ribbon.
Click on "Send/Receive Groups" and select "Define Send/Receive Groups."
Ensure that the "Inbox" folder is selected for synchronization. Verify that it is not excluded or set to sync at a different interval.

Click "Close" to save any changes.

Clear the Offline Outlook Data File:

Close the Outlook application.
Navigate to the location of your offline Outlook data file (OST file).
- The default location is: C:\Users<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook.
Rename the OST file by adding ".old" to the file extension (e.g., rename "Outlook.ost" to "Outlook.old").

Restart Outlook. This will create a new OST file for your account, which may resolve the syncing issue.

Disable Cached Exchange Mode:

Open Outlook and go to the File tab.
Click on "Account Settings" and then select "Account Settings" again from the dropdown.
In the Account Settings window, select your email account and click on "Change."
Uncheck the box for "Use Cached Exchange Mode."
Click "Next" and then "Finish."

Restart Outlook and check if the Inbox syncing issue is resolved.

Repair Outlook Data File:

Close Outlook.
Open the Control Panel on your computer.
Navigate to "Mail" or "Mail (32-bit)" (depending on your Windows version) and open it.
In the Mail Setup window, click on "Data Files."
Select your email account's data file (OST or PST) and click on "Open File Location."
This will open the folder where the data file is stored. Close the Mail Setup window.
Right-click on the data file and select "Properties."
In the Properties window, click on "Advanced."
Click on the "Compact Now" or "Compact" button to initiate the repair process.
Once the repair is complete, restart Outlook and check if the Inbox syncing resumes.

The text and steps were created with the help of AI.

My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!

Hope this will help you.

jamesachavez
Copper Contributor
Jul 21, 2024
NikolinoDE
The question is related to Windows's new Outlook. There is no Send/Receive button .
- NikolinoDE
  Gold Contributor
  Jul 22, 2024
  jamesachavez
  If you are using the new Outlook for Windows 11 with Microsoft 365 and there is no Send/Receive button, the steps for troubleshooting syncing issues differ slightly. Here are some updated steps to help you resolve the issue where the Inbox folder has stopped updating/syncing:
  1. Check for Updates
  Ensure your Outlook client is up to date:
  Go to the File tab.
  Select Office Account.
  Click on Update Options and choose Update Now.
  2. Use the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA)
  Download and install the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant.
  Run the tool and follow the prompts to diagnose and fix the issue.
  If SaRA and Updates Don’t Resolve the Issue:
  Proceed with the following steps if the issue persists after updating and using SaRA:
  3. Check the Account Settings
  Open Outlook.
  Go to the File tab.
  Click on Account Settings, then select Account Settings again from the dropdown.
  Verify that the account is set up correctly and there are no errors.
  4. Repair the Outlook Profile
  Go to the File tab in Outlook.
  Select Account Settings, then choose Manage Profiles.
  In the Mail Setup dialog, click on Show Profiles.
  Select your profile and click on Repair.
  5. Clear the Offline Outlook Data File (OST)
  Close Outlook.
  Navigate to the OST file location:
  Default path: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook.
  Rename the OST file by adding .old to the extension (e.g., Outlook.ost to Outlook.old).
  Reopen Outlook. A new OST file will be created, and it will start syncing your data again.
  6. Use Outlook Web Access (OWA)
  Open a web browser and go to Outlook Web Access.
  Log in with your Microsoft 365 credentials.
  Verify if the Inbox is updating as expected.
  7. Recreate the Outlook Profile
  Go to the File tab in Outlook.
  Select Account Settings, then choose Manage Profiles.
  In the Mail Setup dialog, click on Show Profiles.
  Click on Add to create a new profile.
  Set up your email account again in the new profile and set it as the default profile.
  8. Disable and Re-enable Cached Exchange Mode
  Go to the File tab.
  Click on Account Settings and select Account Settings.
  Choose your email account and click Change.
  Uncheck the box for Use Cached Exchange Mode and click Next.
  Restart Outlook.
  Follow the same steps to re-enable Cached Exchange Mode and restart Outlook again.
  9. Reset View Settings
  Open Outlook.
  Select the View tab.
  Click on Reset View to restore the default view settings.
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue with your Inbox folder not syncing in the new Outlook for Windows 11.
  Maybe it will help you, if not please just ignore it .
  - chrisweatherill
    Copper Contributor
    Jul 24, 2024
    NikolinoDE
    The installation of SARA has not helped. It says that Outlook needs to be running - and I have Outlook running. Any suggestions?

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Inbox Folder (only) Has Stopped Syncing/Updating in Outlook Client

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