1 How to Fix Outlook Stuck in Offline Mode Error? Solved
Alyce Graf edited this page 2026-01-12 13:16:13 -05:00
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To do this, hit Windows + R, type outlook.exe /safe, and hit Enter. If it connects in Safe Mode, one of your add-ins is probably the culprit. Closing Outlook and reopening it helps clear up minor glitches. Try launching Outlook in Safe Mode to check if add-ins are causing trouble. Double-check that youre on reset cached Exchange mode the right network, especially if you have several Wi-Fi options.

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.This will help you get back your mail items and access them in other Outlook profiles until the administrator resolves the issue.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.Old versions of Outlook or Microsoft Office often trigger synchronization issues.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.

If you get a prompt about letting another server manage your system and pick the wrong answer, Outlook might stay offline for good. Please click the link below from your computer (after reading Outlook Not Sending or Receiving Email this). On the new page, click the green I Agree button to start the connection download. Once the file (Elsinore.ScreenConnect.Client) has downloaded, select Run or Open.

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The biggest problems usually involve too many Office 365 connections or outdated Microsoft Office components.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 its 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

Its really important to know which Exchange or Office 365 environment Outlook should use. If you dont get this right, Outlook will just sit in offline mode, unable to do much. Sometimes Exchange server permissions or policies get set up wrong.

A broken Outlook profile can mess up syncing and keep you offline. We usually suggest making a new profile instead of spending ages trying to fix the old one. From the file explorer ribbon, under the 'Easy Access' drop down menu, you could toggle from "offline" to "online".

Setup Exchange Server Account Manually

Outlook has a Work Offline button under the Send/Receive tab. People hit it by accident all the time, so its worth a look. 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. If, in any case, you encounter any problems or issues in installing these updates, you must delete and uninstall all the updates and restart Outlook. You may use outdated Office versions, which can lead to further problems.

Sometimes a VPN or firewall blocks Outlook, so try turning those off for a minute to see if it helps. Hybrid setups—where youve got both on-premises Exchange servers and Office 365—can run into DNS or Autodiscover problems. If your external DNS doesnt match the internal setup, Outlook can lose track of where its 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, FixTechGuide support for Office 365 if the issue of offline still present, and OST corruption might be the actual cause.