Easy Fixes When Outlook Emails Stuck in Outbox [Top 10]

Imagine you have sent an email from Outlook & it gets stuck in the Outbox. Seems disturbing as it can interrupt your workflow, delay important conversations, & create uncertainity, especially when the message is time-sensitive.

Its causes aren’t obvious. But with the right troubleshooting approach, Outlook emails stuck in Outbox issue can be fixed easily. The write-up will help you in providing all the necessary information about the concern.

Why are Outlook emails stuck in Outbox?

There can be various reasons behind the Outlook messages stay in Outbox. Here are the major ones:

• Outlook is set to ‘work offline.’
• Email attachment size exceeds its allowable size limit.
• Due to technical glitches in the Outlook application.
• Opening and viewing the message or email in the Outbox, which is in the process of sending.
• Provided wrong password, or you have changed your email account password.
• Poor or unstable internet connection.
• Corrupted Outlook data file [PST].
• Damaged Outlook profile or conflicting Outlook add-ins.
• Incorrect send/receive settings.
• Mail server authentication problems.
• Antivirus or firewall interference.
• Synchronization issues with Exchange Microsoft 365 or IMAP accounts.

How to identify what’s blocking Email delivery?

Let’s look at the symptom & its possible causes that can help you to resolve Outlook emails stuck in Outbox issue.

Troubleshoot “Outlook emails stuck in outbox” issue: Simple Fixes

As per the availability & effectiveness of the solutions, here we have listed some advanced ones. Use any of them as per your requirement to fix Outlook messages stay in Outbox.

Solution 1. Check the Outlook connection status

Before focusing on techniques for resolving the problem, you can check out the mail server’s state. If your mail server is offline, your email messages will remain stuck in the outbox folder until the server’s state comes back online.

To change the state, follow the simple steps:

1. Check the status of your Outlook at the bottom right-hand corner. If the status says “Connected”, then the issue is not related to the server state.
2. If the status says, “Working Offline” go to the “Send/Receive” options and click on the Work Offline to turn it off.

This should bring your mail server back online and allow you to send your emails.

Solution 2. Check out the Internet Service Provider (ISP)

If you receive an error message while operating the task ‘Send/Receive email,’ then it might be due to your Internet Service Provider. Follow the given steps to examine the ISP.

• Check if the port number for the outgoing mail server is blocked by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). For this update, go to the settings of your email server. Change in port numbers and methods of authentication according to your mail server provider.
• Check that your email sending limit (hourly/daily) has not exceeded the limit set by your email server provider. In such a case, you can wait and send emails later.

Solution 3. Examine the email settings

Check out the email settings and see whether you have set the mode to ‘send later’ or delayed sending. Due to delayed sending settings, Outlook messages stay in Outbox when sending. So, to fix it, you must either remove this setting or wait till the time of sending. You can also resend emails.

Solution 4. Verify email & Outlook passwords

In most cases, when the password of your email account and Outlook account do not match, then messages keep getting stuck in Outbox. Thus, if you change the password for your email account, you must change your Outlook account password as well. Consequently, the error might be resolved.

Follow the given process to manage passwords:

1. Open Outlook. Click on File > Account setting>Manage Profiles.
2. Go to Email Accounts in the Mail Setup Window.
3. Select the account and click on the Change option.
4. Enter a new Password and click on Next followed by Finish.

Solution 5. Open Outlook in safe mode & disable the faulty add-ins

Running Outlook in safe mode allows users to diagnose issues caused by add-ins and open the application safely. Follow the simple steps to open Outlook in safe mode.

1. Press the Windows + R key and type Outlook.exe /safe.
2. Click OK to execute the command. If it opens, then the cause of the issue can be faulty add-ins.
3. Then, re-launch Outlook, go to the File > Options tab.
4. Select the Add-ins> COM Add-ins. Hit the Go option.
5. Unselect all the add-ins & then choose one at a time. Restart Outlook & verify the faulty ones.

Solution 6. Update Outlook and Office apps

Using outdated versions of Outlook and Office apps might be the reason for unusual scenarios, including the discussing issue. So, updating Office apps can be an appropriate solution to fix a stuck email in Outlook Outbox. Let’s discuss the simple steps to execute it.

1. Open Outlook and go to File > Office Account.
2. Tap on the Office Updates options and click on Update Now.

Solution 7. Create a new Outlook profile

Occasionally, configuring a new profile is also an effective way to fix many Outlook errors, including Outlook emails stuck in Outbox. It even resolves the issue of corrupted OST files to some extent. Follow the simple steps to configure the new profile.

1. Open the Control Panel and go to Mail.
2. Tap on Show Profiles.
3. Click on the Add option to create a new profile and make it the default one.

Solution 8. Verify the default sending account

There are instances where multiple email accounts are configured in Outlook. Then, the email may remain in the Outbox because Outlook is attempting to send it through an incorrect or inactive account. Follow the steps below:

1. Open Outlook & click on the File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
2. Under the Email tab, review all configured accounts. Choose the account you use most frequently & Set as Default.
3. Then close or reopen the Outlook & send a test mail to verify the issue.

Solution 9. Recreate the Send/Receive Group

A corrupted Send/Receive configuration can interrupt Outlook’s ability to process outgoing messages. So, it is possible that after recreating the Send/Receive group often restores normal synchronization. Check out the steps to know how it works:

1. Launch Outlook. Click on the Send/Receive > Send/Receive Groups> Define Send/Receive Groups option.
2. Choose the existing group & hit the Edit to verify the settings or create a New group if necessary.
3. Then save all the changes & restart Outlook to check the status of the issue.

Solution 10. Reset the Navigation pane

Sometimes, mailbox synchronizations are affected by the corrupted Outlook navigation settings that can prevent emails from being sent correctly. Here are the steps to reset it:

1. Close Outlook completely. Press Windows + R keys, type outlook.exe /resetnavpane, & hit OK.
2. Wait for Outlook to restart automatically. Then send a test email to check the status of the issue.

When Should You Use an Outlook Repair Tool?

It is possible to deal with many Outlook issues with manual troubleshooting methods. But if the problem is severely corrupted or damaged Outlook data files, you can’t go with the standard methods, as it can make your data vulnerable to loss.

Hence, the first approach that IT professionals recommend is an advanced solution when:

• The PST file is corrupted.
• Emails remain inaccessible.
• Outlook crashes repeatedly.
• Mail folders disappear unexpectedly.
• Multiple Outlook errors appear simultaneously.
• Inbox repair tool [ScanPST.exe] is not able to repair the file.

Among all the available options, Recoveryfix for Outlook PST repair stands out due to its range of features & smart filters. The tool helps users to repair corrupt PST files expeditiously and recover all the mailbox items to PST, MSG, EML, and DBX formats. Overall, it is an all-in-one software to deal with all types of PST-related errors like 0x800ccc19, 0x800ccc90, etc.

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Wind up: Outlook Emails Stuck in Outbox

Improper management of Outlook accounts can create a situation where your Outlook messages stay in Outbox. The blog has covered all the aspects of the discussed issue, including “What is Outbox in Outlook” and “Why are emails stuck in Outbox Outlook,” with effective measures to fix it. However, you can check out the recommended tool when nothing proves helpful.

FAQs-Frequently Asked Questions

Q1- Is it possible to send other emails while one message is stuck in the Outbox?

Ans- If the first email blocks the sending queue, it is possible that Outlook prevents subsequent messages from being sent till the issue is resolved.

Q2- I am thinking to delete the email stuck in the Outbox. Is it safe?

Ans-Yes. But the only condition is that the same has not been sent earlier. Deleting the message allows you to recreate & resend it after addressing the issue

Q3- Does Cached Exchange mode affect email delivery?

Ans-Synchronization delays in cached Exchange Mode can occasionally prevent messages from leaving the Outbox till it reconnects with the mail server.