MSN Outlook is a powerful email tool, but sometimes users encounter frustrating issues—like being unable to send emails. If you’re wondering how to fix Outlook not sending emails, you’re not alone. This guide covers the most common causes and solutions to get your Outlook working again.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

Before diving into technical fixes, ensure your internet connection is stable. A poor connection may prevent Outlook from sending messages.

Fix:
Connect to a reliable network and try resending the email. Often, this alone can fix Outlook not sending emails.

2. Verify Email Account Settings

Incorrect SMTP server settings are a major reason people struggle to fix Outlook not sending emails.

Fix:

• Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings
  
• Select your account and click Change
  
• Verify the Outgoing mail server (SMTP), port number, and encryption type (usually SSL or TLS)
  

Contact your email provider if you’re unsure of the correct settings.

3. Check the Outbox for Stuck Emails

Emails stuck in the Outbox indicate a sending issue, which is a common problem users face when trying to fix Outlook not sending emails.

Fix:

• Go to the Outbox folder
  
• Open the stuck message, then click Send again
  
• If that doesn’t work, delete the email and create a new one
  

4. Disable Antivirus or Firewall Temporarily

Overprotective antivirus or firewall settings may block outgoing mail, especially with third-party security software.

Fix:
Temporarily disable your antivirus and try sending the email again. If successful, adjust your antivirus settings to permanently fix Outlook not sending emails.

5. Clear the Send/Receive Errors

Sometimes, Outlook’s send/receive functionality encounters an error loop.

Fix:
Click Send/Receive > Send/Receive All Folders. If an error message appears, note the error code and look it up. This can help you quickly fix Outlook not sending emails based on specific error types.

6. Check for Large Attachments

Large file attachments can prevent emails from being sent successfully.

Fix:
If you’re trying to send a file larger than your email provider allows (usually 20–25 MB), compress the file or use a cloud-sharing link. This is a simple way to fix Outlook not sending emails.

7. Update Outlook

An outdated Outlook version may have bugs that prevent emails from being sent.

Fix:

• Go to File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now
  
• Install any available updates to fix Outlook not sending emails caused by software glitches.
  

8. Repair Outlook Profile

A corrupted Outlook profile might cause sending failures.

Fix:

• Go to Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles
  
• Create a new profile and set it as the default
  
• Add your email account to the new profile to see if it helps fix Outlook not sending emails
  

9. Restart Outlook in Safe Mode

Some add-ins can conflict with Outlook and stop it from sending emails.

Fix:
Open Outlook in Safe Mode by pressing Win + R, then typing:

bash

CopyEdit

outlook.exe /safe  

If emails send successfully, disable problematic add-ins under File > Options > Add-ins to permanently fix Outlook not sending emails.

10. Check SMTP Authentication

If your outgoing server requires authentication and it’s not enabled, emails won’t send.

Fix:

• Go to Account Settings > More Settings > Outgoing Server
  
• Check the box for My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication
  

This setting is crucial if you’re trying to fix Outlook not sending emails on an external network.

11. Run Microsoft’s Troubleshooter

Microsoft offers built-in troubleshooting tools for Outlook issues.

Fix:
Run the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) tool to diagnose and fix Outlook not sending emails automatically.

12. Disable Offline Mode

Outlook may be set to Offline mode, preventing email transmission.

Fix:

• Go to the Send/Receive tab
  
• Click Work Offline to toggle it back to Online
  This often immediately fixes Outlook not sending emails.
  

13. Clean Up Mailbox Storage

If your mailbox is full, sending might be blocked.

Fix:
Delete unnecessary emails or empty your Deleted Items folder. Freeing up space is an easy way to fix Outlook not sending emails.

14. Check Email Quota with Provider

Your email provider might have sending limits.

Fix:
Log into your email account via webmail to check if you’ve hit a sending limit. If so, waiting or contacting support may be required to fix Outlook not sending emails.

15. Contact Support

If you’ve tried all the above and still can’t fix Outlook not sending emails, the issue might be more complex.

Fix:
Reach out to Microsoft Support or your email provider for personalized troubleshooting assistance.

Conclusion

Dealing with Outlook issues can be frustrating, especially when you’re on a tight schedule. Fortunately, the steps above can help you fix Outlook not sending emails in most scenarios. From simple checks like your internet connection to more technical solutions like repairing profiles or adjusting server settings, these methods will get you back to emailing smoothly.

Still can’t fix Outlook not sending emails? Consider reinstalling Outlook or seeking expert help to ensure no underlying system issue is interfering with your email delivery.