How to Switch Outlook Working Offline to Online

Updated On - December 22, 2022 by Armaan |

Reading Time: 6 minutes

MS Outlook is a feature-rich desktop client capable of email management. It gives the flexibility to make Outlook work online or offline with your mail server. MS Outlook provides an option to work offline when you configure an IMAP, Outlook.com, or Microsoft Exchange server account. You can switch Outlook working offline to work online depending on your requirements.

If you are looking for how to switch Outlook from working offline to working online, then this article might be of much help to you.

Know, How to Switch from Working Offline to Online in Outlook

Reasons for Outlook Offline or Disconnected

• Internet Connection Issue: Due to Internet connectivity issue, Outlook may display Working Offline or Disconnected status. The Outlook may remain stuck in the offline mode until the network is restored.
• Issue with the email account
• Accidentally enabling “Work Offline” mode
• Issue with the mail server: When the mail server is unavailable due to maintenance tasks or other issues, Outlook may fail to connect to the server and display the status as Disconnected. This indicates that the internet is working fine, but Outlook cannot connect to the mailbox server.
• Account Configuration Issue: This can prevent Outlook from connecting to the mail server, resulting in Offline Mode.
• System might need to be updated
• Issue with your account settings
• There might be a fault in your current Outlook profile
• Synchronization error
• Disabled Outlook profile
• Corrupt or damaged Outlook Storage Table file (also known as Offline Outlook data file or OST file): A corrupt Outlook profile can prevent Outlook from authorizing and connecting to the mail server resulting in Outlook offline mode problem.
• Outlook cannot reach to your email server
• Email login credentials are incorrect
• Your Outlook profile might be corrupt
• A third-party Outlook add-in might be causing Outlook to stay offline.

Methods to Disable Work Offline Mode to Online Mode

1. Check Internet Connection

In case of slow internet connection, Outlook shows Offline Mode or disconnected status. When Outlook is offline, you can’t send or receive new messages. At a first attempt, check your internet connection and ensure uninterrupted connectivity.

2. Reset Work Offline Status

1. Launch MS Outlook desktop client.
2. Go to Send / Receive and click Work Offline to reconnect.

Note:

• If the Work Offline button has a shaded background, it means you are not connected to the Internet.
• If Outlook is running, then check the Quick Launch Taskbar; if there is a cross on the Outlook icon, it indicates Outlook is Working Offline.
• Check the status by looking at the status bar (bottom-right of the interface).
• If you are connected, then the status bar displays status as Connected.

3. Check for Updates

1. Open any Microsoft Office app.
2. Navigate to File > Account.
3. Under the Product Information, click on Office Updates.

4. Create a New Outlook Profile

Perform the below steps to remove your Outlook profile and then add it again in MS Outlook:

1. Navigate to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
2. Select the Profile that you want to remove > click Remove.
3. To add an account, navigate to File > Add Account and follow the instructions.

OR

1. Launch Microsoft Outlook.
2. Navigate to File > Account Settings > Manage Profiles.
3. Click Show Profiles > click Add.
4. Type a profile name > click OK.
5. Restart Outlook and choose this new profile.

5. Enable Cached Exchange Mode setting

1. Launch Outlook.
2. Navigate to File > Account Settings > click Account Settings.
3. Select the Exchange or Office 365 profile > click Change.
4. Under Offline Settings, click Use Cached Exchange Mode checkbox to enable it.
5. Restart Outlook for changes to take effect.

6. Start Outlook in Safe Mode

Outlook Safe Mode can help fix the Outlook stuck in offline mode issue as it prevents any add-in from interfering with the normal Outlook operations. Perform the steps as discussed below:

1. Close Microsoft Outlook.
2. Press Windows+R keys, type exe /safe, and press ‘Enter’.

This will launch Outlook in safe mode.

3. Press the Send/Receive button.
4. Check the status bar. It should change from offline to online.

7. Manually Setup Exchange Server Account

You may also connect to the network and control the connection state by manually configuring the Exchange account settings. Perform the steps as discussed below:

1. Navigate to File > Account Settings > Account Setting.
2. Click on your Microsoft Exchange Server account under the Email Click Change.
3. Click ‘More Settings‘ button.
4. Click the ‘Manually control connection state‘ option and then select “Connect with network‘.
5. Click OK > Next > Finish to complete the wizard and close the window.
6. Click the ‘Close‘ button to terminate the Account settings window.

8. Recreate OST File

There could be a problem with the Outlook OST file, preventing Outlook from connecting and syncing mailbox items with the mailbox server. In this case, recreate the OST file. Perform the steps as discussed below:

1. Launch Microsoft Outlook.
2. Click File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
3. Click ‘Data Files‘.
4. Select the Outlook profile and click ‘Open File Location‘.
5. Copy the OST file to a safe location and then close Outlook.
6. Delete the OST file and restart Outlook.

This will recreate the new OST file and fix the Outlook stuck in offline mode error. In addition, it will sync all mail items from the server.

9. Cached Exchange Mode Settings

1. Launch Microsoft Outlook.
2. Navigate to File > Info menu  > Account Settings > Account Name and Sync Settings.
3. From the Account Name and Sync Settings window, click on the More Settings button.
4. On the popup window, click on the Advanced tab and mark the check boxes “Use Cached Exchange Mode” and “Download shared folders”.
5. Click OK, then restart Outlook.

The Work Offline button should now be visible on your Outlook Send / Receive tab.

Professional Solution: Regain OST Converter Software

If none of the above-described method works and your Outlook profile is still showing status as disconnected or working offline, then your Outlook OST file might have gone damaged or corrupted. The OST file might become inaccessible due to inconsistency issues, synchronization errors or crashes. The professional OST Converter software repairs corrupt, damaged or inaccessible offline OST files and saves them in working MS Outlook PST format.

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The advanced tool recovers and extracts email data from OST files including mail, calendar, contacts, notes, tasks, appointments, journals, etc. The software restores OST files into EML, EMLX, PST, MSG, MBOX, ICS, vCard, PDF, TGZ, and HTML file formats. Also, the utility allows user to export OST file to Office 365 account or Live Exchange Server mailboxes. The tool migrates OST files to Gmail, Yahoo mail, Hotmail, Amazon Work email, etc. Compatible with all Outlook versions and Windows operating systems, the software is available as a free to download demo version.

Conclusion

This article discusses various methods on how to switch Outlook from Offline mode to Online mode. If any of the manual method does not works, then your Outlook OST file might have gone corrupted or damaged due to any unforeseen reason. We recommend using professional third-party Regain OST Converter software to repair the damaged OST file and recover all the email data in PST file format.