outlook desktop will not update emails

Question

my outlook stopped updating on my desktop - I was cleaning up old messages and moving to data files and now outlook is frozen on my desktop version

Answer 1

Hi,

I can see the AI Answer reply on your thread, so to avoid repeating the same steps, could you please confirm whether you have already tried them? If so, what happened when you tried them?

If you have already tried those steps and are still experiencing the same issue, please try accessing your email through the Outlook.com website (if you are using an Outlook.com account) or through the official website of your email provider. Then, check whether any new emails are coming in there.

I look forward to your response.

Stay Safe!

Answer 2

Try these steps in order for classic Outlook on Windows:

1. Check for a hidden dialog box.
   • Press Alt+Tab and look for any Outlook confirmation window that is waiting for input.
   • If one is open, respond to it first. Outlook can appear frozen until that dialog is closed.
2. Check whether Outlook is still processing the move operation.
   • Look at the status bar at the bottom of Outlook.
   • If a large move, delete, send/receive, or archive task is running, wait a few minutes. Outlook can look stuck while it finishes background work.
3. Install the latest Windows and Office updates.
   • Outlook freezing is commonly caused by missing updates.
   • Install both Windows updates and Microsoft 365/Office updates, then restart the PC.
4. Repair Office.
   • Close all Microsoft 365 apps.
   • Open Control Panel > Programs and Features.
   • Right-click Microsoft Office 2016 and select Change.
   • Start with repair. If available, a quick repair is the safer first step; if that does not help, use online repair.
5. Repair Outlook data files.
   • Since messages were being moved to data files, the Outlook data file may have been damaged.
   • Run the Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe) by following the steps in Repair Outlook data files (.pst and .ost).
6. Test with a new Outlook profile.
   • A corrupted Outlook profile can cause freezing and mail sync problems.
   • Create a new profile using Create an Outlook profile.
   • Then close Outlook, hold Shift while starting Outlook, choose the new profile in Choose Profile, and select OK.
   • If Outlook works with the new profile, the original profile is the cause.
7. Run the Classic Outlook Advanced Diagnostics troubleshooter.
   • It can automatically check many common causes such as add-ins, corrupted profile, damaged data files, antivirus conflicts, and other program conflicts.
   • It works for classic Outlook, not new Outlook for Windows, and requires Windows 10 or later on the same device where classic Outlook is installed.

Common causes that match this symptom include:

• Outlook being busy with another process
• damaged Outlook data files
• a corrupted Outlook profile
• Office installation issues
• add-ins or other software conflicts

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References:

• Classic Outlook not responding, stuck at "Processing," stopped working, or freezes
• Outlook not responding, stuck at "Processing," stopped working, or freezes
• Outlook not responding error or Outlook freezes when you open a file or send mail
• Outlook for Windows not responding, hangs, freezes, or stops working