not receiving email on outlook.com or any outlook app

Question

i am not receiving email on outlook.com or my desktop outlook exchange server or any outlook app on any device

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Moved from: Exchange | Exchange Server | Other

Answer 1

Hello,

You said this is exchange account, so I assume it is not a free outlook.com or hotmail.com address?

Are you using custom domain? If you do , go to Admin Center, assign your user the alias using the onmicrosoft.com domain. Then send the email to that alias, see if it receives. If it does, the issue is 100% related to MX record being wrong. You can use this tutorial to make sure it is added correctly:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/admin/get-help-with-domains/create-dns-records-at-any-dns-hosting-provider?view=o365-worldwide

Answer 2

Hi Michael Lubiani

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A Forum. I understand how frustrating it is when you cannot receive emails on Outlook.com or in any Outlook app.

To help identify the exact cause, could you please confirm a few details first:

• Are you using a Microsoft account (Outlook/Hotmail/Live/MSN), or is this an Exchange/Work/School account provided by your organization or another mail provider?
• When someone emails you, do they get a bounce-back message (NDR), or does it look like it sends normally but never arrives?

In addition to the steps in the Q&A Assist response under your post, please try the following:

1. Double-check Outlook on the web

• Sign in to Outlook on the web in your browser
• Check all folders (Inbox, Junk Email, Deleted Items, Archive), ensure your inbox filter is set to All (not "Unread", "Flagged", etc.)
• Check Focused / Other tab (if Focused Inbox is enabled), emails may land in Other. You can also temporarily turn Focused Inbox off to test.

2. Check for hidden rules/forwarding 

In Outlook on the web's settings, go to:  

• Settings > Mail > Rules/ Sweep: delete any suspicious rules you did not create (especially rules that moves/deletes mail)
• Settings > Mail > Forwarding: make sure nothing is forwarding

3. Check mailbox storage

If your storage is full, Outlook won’t send or receive. Check storage (Settings > Account > Storage) and free up space if needed. You can see Mailbox storage limits in Outlook - Microsoft Support

4. Check your internet connection

• Make sure your device has a stable internet connection and try switching networks (e.g., from Wi-Fi to mobile hotspot) then test again.
• Check from a different browser/device or from an InPrivate/Incognito window,
• If needed, you can then clear the browser cache/cookies for Outlook.com.

I truly appreciate your time and understanding. Please feel free to let me know how it goes.

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Answer 3

If you are not receiving emails on Outlook.com or any Outlook app, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to identify and resolve the issue:

1. Check Outlook on the Web: Sign in to your Outlook.com account via a web browser to see if you can receive emails there. If you can receive emails on the web but not in the app, the issue may be with the app itself.
2. Run Support and Recovery Assistant: Download and run the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant. This tool can help diagnose and fix many issues related to Outlook and Microsoft 365 accounts. It can check for problems with your Outlook profile or connectivity issues.
3. Check for Software Updates: Ensure that your Outlook application and Windows operating system are up to date. Outdated software can lead to connectivity issues.
4. Verify Account Settings: Make sure your account settings are correct. If you have recently changed your email account settings or password, you may need to update them in the Outlook app.
5. Check for Service Issues: If multiple users in your organization are experiencing similar issues, there may be a service outage. Check the Microsoft 365 Service health status to see if there are any known issues affecting Exchange Online.
6. Create a New Outlook Profile: If the problem persists, consider creating a new Outlook profile. This can help resolve issues related to corrupted profiles.

By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the email delivery issue and take appropriate action to resolve it.