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How to disable send and receive from a specific account in Outlook

Anonymous
2025-01-06T13:26:42+00:00

MS Outlook Professional Plus

Version: 2408

Build 17932.20190

Hi, I recently (left) switched from my ISP email service provider to free email service provider. I need to keep my old email account (.PST) which I use frequently to access historical emails.

I’ve tried to disable the account by following the below steps:

  1. Open Outlook and go to the File menu.
  2. Click on "Account Settings," then select "Account Settings" from the drop-down menu.
  3. In the Account Settings window, select the email account you want to disable and click the "Change" button.
  4. In the Change Account window, click on "More Settings."
  5. In the Internet E-mail Settings window, go to the "Advanced" tab.
  6. Look for the option that says "Leave a copy of messages on the server" and uncheck the box.
  7. Click "OK" to close the Internet E-mail Settings window, then click "Next" and "Finish" to exit the Change Account window.

By unchecking the "Leave a copy of messages on the server" box, you instruct Outlook not to download new messages for that account. The account remains set up in Outlook, and you can easily reactivate it by checking the box again. This does not work in my circumstance.

I also attempted disabling the account using the following method, but it was unsuccessful:

  1. From the Send/Receive menu, click on "Send/Receive Groups."
  2. Select "Edit.
  3. In the left-hand pane, click on the email account you wish to disable.
  4. Uncheck the option "Include the selected account in this group.
  5. Click "OK" to exit.

Unfortunately, I’m still receiving send/receive errors from the specific account which I'm trying to disable.  I understand why I’m receiving the error, my account with my old ISP email provider has been deleted and Outlook is trying to communicate with (SMTP) the services.

Can somebody please advise how I can get Outlook (this specific account) form communicating (syncing) e.g. disabling the account.

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For business

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-01-09T01:37:54+00:00

    Hello David B_UK

    If an IMAP file was initially configured, an OST file without an account associated with it can no longer be used when deleting an account.

    For this reason, it is recommended that you export a backup PST file of the data in your account. The folder structure of the backup data and the original structure of your account will remain the same.

    Export emails, contacts, and calendar items to Outlook using a .pst file - Microsoft Support

    Sincere greetings

    Forry.F - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-01-07T08:54:27+00:00

    Hello  David B_UK

    Welcome to Microsoft Community.

     

    I understand that you want to keep old emails from your canceled ISP mailbox account and that you keep the .pst file under the account.

    What needs to be confirmed is, did you originally use the POP protocol to configure your ISP email account? I.e., are the contents of the .pst file complete? If not, it is recommended that you re-export a new pst backup file for the emails under your account.

    Import and export Outlook email, contacts, and calendar - Microsoft Support

    If you want to keep the original configuration content, it is recommended that you either create a new Outlook profile and open your PST data file under the new profile or configure another new account.

    Create an Outlook profile - Microsoft Support

    Then, click on File - Open & Export in Outlook and use the Open Outlook Data File feature to open your PST file and then view the contents under that data file.

    After ensuring that the contents are error-free, you can keep your PST data file and freely choose whether to delete the original account that reported the error.

    I hope this information has been helpful to you. If you have any questions, please let me know and I will be happy to help.

    Sincere greetings

    Forry.F - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

    Hi Forry.F,

    Thank you for your prompt response.

    After checking again and addressing your question, I realised that the original ISP account uses IMAP/SMTP, which gives a file extension of .OST, rather than the .PST I initially mentioned. I assume that the advice provided may not apply in this case, and we might need to explore an alternative solution.

    One option I was considering was to create a new data file with a .PST extension, replicating the same folder structure as the original file, and transferring the contents to the new .PST file. However, this method seems a bit cumbersome, and I'm hoping we can find a more efficient way to stop synchronisation with the cancelled ISP mailbox account.

    Please advise.

    Many thanks David B_UK

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-01-07T08:06:03+00:00

    Hello  David B_UK

    Welcome to Microsoft Community.

    I understand that you want to keep old emails from your canceled ISP mailbox account and that you keep the .pst file under the account.

    What needs to be confirmed is, did you originally use the POP protocol to configure your ISP email account? I.e., are the contents of the .pst file complete? If not, it is recommended that you re-export a new pst backup file for the emails under your account.

    Import and export Outlook email, contacts, and calendar - Microsoft Support

    If you want to keep the original configuration content, it is recommended that you either create a new Outlook profile and open your PST data file under the new profile or configure another new account.

    Create an Outlook profile - Microsoft Support

    Then, click on File - Open & Export in Outlook and use the Open Outlook Data File feature to open your PST file and then view the contents under that data file.

    After ensuring that the contents are error-free, you can keep your PST data file and freely choose whether to delete the original account that reported the error.

    I hope this information has been helpful to you. If you have any questions, please let me know and I will be happy to help.

    Sincere greetings

    Forry.F - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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