Outlook items not syncing between PC and android devices

Question

We just got two new Android phones. I set up Outlook on each identically. In the "Manage Account" settings it's listed as "Outlook". Emails don't sync on the phones. If we go to settings and "reset account" the emails will clean up but then we lose contacts and calendar and have to toggle them back on the the outlook settings. It doesn't really matter which phone adds or deletes and email or calendar item and it won't show on the other without a reset. I guess I have to add it isn't 100% of the time failing but probably 95% of the time we have to reset one or the other. I'm wondering if I should have set this up as an Exchange rather than Outlook? And if that is the case how do I correct it?

Answer 1

If the account is shown as Outlook in Outlook for Android, that is not the problem by itself. For Outlook.com and Microsoft 365 accounts, Outlook for Android uses Exchange-based sync automatically and does not require manually switching to POP or IMAP.

For the symptoms described, the supported troubleshooting path is:

1. In Outlook for Android go to Settings > tap the affected account > Reset Account.
   • This refreshes the sync relationship.
2. If the issue returns, remove and re-add the account:
   • Settings > tap the affected account > Delete Account > Delete From This Device
   • Add the account again in Outlook for Android.
3. After re-adding, verify calendar/contact sync settings:
   • In Calendar in the Outlook app, tap the three lines in the upper-left corner.
   • Under the email accounts list, make sure Calendar is selected.
   • For contacts on Android, open phone Settings > Applications > Outlook and make sure Contacts is enabled.
   • Then in Outlook go to Settings > tap the account > turn on Sync Contacts.
4. If the account was ever added as IMAP or POP, calendar and contacts will not sync. In that case, delete it and add it again so it uses Exchange ActiveSync / Exchange instead.
5. If email sync is still unreliable on the new Android phones, check Android background restrictions:
   • Turn off power-saving mode if enabled.
   • Disable power optimization for Authenticator or Company Portal if those apps are installed.
   • Open Authenticator/Company Portal first, then open Outlook.
6. If the mailbox syncs correctly on the PC but still fails on the phones after the steps above, use Outlook mobile support or Microsoft support.

Based on the described behavior, the first correction is not to manually change “Outlook” to something else inside Outlook for Android. The practical fix is to reset the account, then delete and re-add it, and confirm it is not using IMAP/POP and that calendar/contact permissions are enabled.

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