How to get New Outlook to sync often

Mel Hugentobler 40 Reputation points
2026-08-18T21:00:04.7+00:00

New Outlook doesn't update/sync often. I must manually sync throughout the day even when plugged into ethernet. How do I fix that?

Outlook | Windows | New Outlook for Windows | For business

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Answer accepted by question author
Lin V 1,710 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-08-18T21:20:11.2433333+00:00

Hi Mel,

I hope you're doing well.

After reviewing the issue and the information provided, it appears that New Outlook does not offer a configurable send/receive interval like Classic Outlook. New Outlook is designed to synchronize automatically in the background, so requiring frequent manual syncs may indicate a client-side, mailbox, or connectivity-related issue.

As a first step, you may try the recommendations outlined in the AI answer. In addition, I would suggest the following steps:


1/ Compare the behavior between New Outlook and Outlook on the Web (OWA)

  • Check whether new emails arrive immediately in OWA while New Outlook requires manual synchronization.
  • This can help determine whether the issue is related to the Outlook client or the mailbox/service itself.

2/ Remove and re-add the affected account

  • Remove the account from New Outlook (Settings > Accounts > Your accounts > Manage > Remove) and then add it back.
  • This can help resolve issues related to a corrupted profile or synchronization configuration.

3/ Contact your IT administrator

If the issue persists after completing the these steps, please contact your IT administrator and ask them to open a support ticket with Microsoft for further investigation. A technical support engineer can then initiate a remote session, review backend settings, and run diagnostics. If needed, they can escalate the case to specialized engineering teams who are well-equipped to perform advanced troubleshooting and provide targeted solutions.

For guidance on how to request support, share this link with your admin: Get support - Microsoft 365 admin.

In case you do not know who your IT admin is, kindly refer to this article: How do I find my Microsoft 365 admin? - Microsoft Support

I hope that everything will be back to normal quickly. If you have any further questions or updates, please let me know.

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  1. AI answer

    2026-08-18T21:00:15.0966667+00:00

    In new Outlook for Windows, there is no setting in the provided guidance to make mail sync more frequently on a schedule. For this issue, the supported options are:

    1. Manually trigger sync
      • Go to View > Sync.
      • For shared mailbox folders added by automapping, selecting the folder can also trigger synchronization.
    2. Check offline settings
      • Go to Settings > General > Offline.
      • Confirm Enable offline email, calendar, and people is turned on if offline access is needed.
      • Review Folders to save and Days of email to save.
      • The default local email retention is 30 days.
      • If the device does not have enough local storage, fewer items may be saved or offline access may be disabled.
    3. If this is a shared mailbox
      • Incoming emails are not automatically synchronized in Inbox folders of shared mailboxes added by automapping.
      • Use View > Sync or select the folder to sync it.
      • If automatic sync and notifications are required, add the shared mailbox as an account.
    4. Use Classic Outlook as a workaround if New Outlook keeps stalling
      • A documented Q&A resolution for this symptom recommends using Classic Outlook temporarily when New Outlook stops background synchronization and only updates after restart or manual sync.
      • If the problem affects multiple users or continues after basic checks, have an administrator open a support case through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center for deeper investigation.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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    1 person found this answer helpful.