Office 365 Outlook emails going straight to draft box not sending. Receiving works fine? (New Outlook for Windows)

Question

All created emails to send or reply to emails go straight to drafts folder and do not send but receiving works okay.

Things I have done: Broadband stable, deleted outlook and started again, created a new windows profile and made it default [although no where can i see it in outlook office 365 to check as in the old version] on PC cleared 100's of emails and on BT web was able to send emails no problem, so it seems my end and outlook the problem. I even downloaded a complete fresh version of office 365, but the same problem with Outlook. This new Outlook does not allow access to advanced settings under file/accounts so cannot see if the new profile is being used. Checked other similar questions but none of their solution work for me.

Answer 1

It sounds like you're experiencing issues with Outlook where emails are being saved to the Drafts folder instead of being sent. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot this issue:

1. Check for Software Updates: Ensure that your Outlook is updated to the latest version. You can do this by opening any Office application, selecting File, then Office Account or Account, and checking for updates under Office Updates.
2. Run Windows Update: Make sure your Windows operating system is also up to date, as outdated software can cause connectivity issues.
3. Check Internet Connection: Although you mentioned that your broadband is stable, it might be worth checking if there are any intermittent connectivity issues that could affect sending emails.
4. Run a Microsoft 365 Diagnostic: If you have access to a Microsoft 365 administrator account, you can run diagnostics to check for connectivity issues.
5. Registry Fix: If the problem persists, you might consider deleting the SecurityManager key in the registry, as this can sometimes resolve issues with sending emails. However, be cautious when modifying the registry and ensure you back it up first.
6. Profile Issues: Since you mentioned creating a new Windows profile, ensure that this profile is correctly set up in Outlook. If the new profile is not being recognized, you may need to recreate it or check the settings in the Control Panel under Mail.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, you may want to contact Microsoft support for further assistance.

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References:

• Can't send or receive email in Outlook and "Metered Connection Warning" is triggered
• Fix Outlook connection problems for Microsoft 365 account

Answer 2

Hello Brian,

Thank you for reaching out and sharing the details of what you’ve already tried I understand how frustrating it can be when emails stay in the Drafts folder instead of sending especially after reinstalling Office and confirming that receiving works fine. This behavior often points to an issue with Outlook’s connection or configuration rather than your broadband or account since sending works on the web version.

One possible reason is that Outlook might be operating in offline mode or encountering a sync issue with the Outbox. To resolve this first check if Outlook is set to Work Offline by going to the Send/Receive tab and ensuring the Work Offline option is not selected. If it’s online and the issue persists try repairing your Office installation by going to Control Panel, selecting Programs and Features, choosing Microsoft Office and running a Quick Repair or Online Repair. This can fix underlying application issues that a reinstall might not address.

Additionally confirm that your account settings are correct by opening Control Panel, selecting Mail and reviewing the profile configuration since the new Outlook interface limits advanced settings.

Could you check if Outlook is currently in Work Offline mode and let me know if repairing Office helps?

I hope this answer is helpful if you have further questions feel free to reply back

Regards,

Marcelo

Answer 3

Hi Brian,

Thank you for the detailed update and no worries at all about your technical knowledge. You’ve actually done a great job working through each step and what you’ve found gives us some very helpful clues about what’s going on.

Based on everything you described the problem appears to be coming from the new Outlook. It functions quite differently from the classic version and no longer uses PST files, profiles or the advanced account settings you may be familiar with. Because of that several of the issues you’re seeing make perfect sense.

The missing Send/Receive tab is expected in the new Outlook which is why you couldn’t check whether it was set to Work Offline. The fact that emails arrived correctly when you switched back to Classic Outlook but not in the new Outlook strongly suggests the new version is not syncing properly with your account even though your email works fine on your phone and through BT webmail.

The PST repair tool not completing is also expected because the new Outlook doesn’t use PST files at all so repairing them won’t affect its behavior. Outlook also won’t appear as a separate application in Programs & Features anymore since it's now part of the Microsoft 365 suite. And finally the advanced account settings being greyed out in the new Outlook is normal as many of those configuration options are intentionally hidden or not yet supported in that interface.

Best regards,

Marcelo