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“Since Outlook is the primary email client used in our organization, yesterday I sent a mail to 75 people using it to notify them about the today’s meeting schedule. I thought it will be sent to all the recipients but after 1 hour a few of the intended receivers, informed me that they didn’t receive the email. Then I checked and found that the email is Outlook email hanging in outbox. I even tried clicking on send button multiple times but that didn’t help. Do you know how to send it with successful delivery?”
Does this sound familiar? You click Send, expect the email to be delivered within seconds, and move on with your work. Later, you discover that the message never left the Outbox. Naturally, you hit the Send button again, refresh Outlook, and check your inbox for a response, only to find the email still sitting there.
The reason is that every email first passes through the Outbox before it is sent. If Outlook detects a connectivity issue, a large attachment, or another sending problem, the message can get stuck and never reach its recipients.
Fortunately, the fix is often simpler than expected. A quick internet check, a smaller attachment size, or a few Outlook adjustments can usually get your email moving again. This guide covers the proven fixes that work.
Why are Emails Stuck in Outbox?
The error “emails get stuck in Outbox” or the “Outlook outbox not sending emails“ can occur due to:
- Oversized attachments: Large attachments or the attachment size that exceeds the allowed size limit can halt or slow down the sending process.
- Work offline mode: Outlook switches to offline mode due to weak internet connectivity or lower bandwidth.
- Email configuration settings: Misconfigured email authentication settings may interfere with email sending and receiving.
- Default account not selected: The mail server does not authenticate the Outlook account, or there is no default email account.
- Offline server: The mail server is offline due to some hardware or software issues.
- Issues with security software: The antivirus or anti-spam installed on your system prevents you from sending messages.
Tips to Prevent Emails Stuck in Outbox
Here are some tips to consider for avoiding the error in future:
- Keep your Outlook application updated.
- Avoid sending emails with oversized attachments.
- Archive outdated emails from your mailbox.
- Turn-off add-ins that are not required.
- Repair Outlook data files regularly.
Go-to Solutions for Outlook Emails Stuck in Outbox
Try out these quick solutions first to get rid of the error and then move to other solutions (if these don’t help out):
- Firstly, check if the internet connection you’re using is stable and have enough bandwidth to support uninterrupted sending/ receiving emails.
- Try resending the Outlook messages stuck in outbox but this time with server connected.
- Update Outlook to its latest version.
- Restart your system and then check the Outlook application to see if the emails are synchronizing now with the email server.
- Run outlook/safe command to run Outlook in the safe mode.
- Make sure that ‘send later’ or ‘delayed sending’ settings aren’t enabled, and you’ve selected the correct email account.
- Remove or reduce the size of large attachments, which can otherwise stall the email delivery.
Follow the solutions given below to fix the “email stuck in Outbox” issue.
Method 1. Change the Outlook connection status
Before focusing on techniques for resolving the problem, check out the Outlook connection state. If the Outlook is offline, your email messages will remain in the Outbox folder until the state changes to online. To change the mail server state, follow the below steps:
Step 1. Open Outlook and look at the bottom right-hand corner. You will see Connected or Connected to Microsoft Exchange. If it is “Connected” the problem is not related to the server status.
Step 2. Suppose the state is Working Offline; then go to the Send/Receive tab and click on Work Offline to turn it off. Now, send the email again.
Step 3. Still, if the status remains Disconnected, check the internet connection, and set it right.
Method 2. Look for Changes in the Password
Sometimes, Outlook emails get stuck in Outbox because of different passwords of the email account and Outlook account. Thus, if you change the password for your email account, you must also change the password for your Outlook account. To change the password for either Outlook or your internet email account or Outlook data file, follow the below steps:
Step 1. Open Outlook, click File > Account Settings > Manage Profiles.
Step 2. Click on Email Accounts.
Step 3. Select your Outlook account and click on Change.
Step 4. Enter the new password in the Password field and click on Next.
Step 5. After clicking Next, you will be logged in to Outlook, and a test email will be sent to your inbox automatically.
Method 3. Antivirus Issues with Outgoing Email
If you find yourself having trouble sending emails due to your antivirus program, start by checking for updates on your antivirus manufacturer’s website. Forums and user communities may also hold relevant solutions and workarounds. While disabling email scanning may also aid in resolving the issue, don’t be anxious about doing so, as this option is mostly an extra safety measure.
Furthermore, most modern antivirus software will continue to monitor incoming files, including email messages and attachments, regardless of whether the email scanning option is turned on or off. A timeout can also help resolve the issue. To set a timeout, do the following:
Step 1. Open Outlook, click File > Account Settings, then Server Settings.
Step 2. Go to the Outgoing Mail section, configure your Server Timeout, and click Next.
Step 3. Your server timeout is updated in your account. You’ll receive a test message in your inbox.
- Close Outlook and restart your Mac.
- Now open Outlook again and try to send the email message.
- If the issue persists, check your network connection and restore the internet. Once restored, close and re-open Outlook.
- Also, verify your email address and password in the Outlook Account settings.
- Go to Work Offline in your Outlook for Mac option and uncheck it.
The above steps may help you fix emails stuck in outbox issue. Alternatively, you can try using OWA (Outlook for Web) to send and receive email messages if you are facing issues in Outlook for Mac. Also, keep your message and attachment size within the designated limits.
Still Outlook Glitches? Say Goodbye to Emails Stuck in Outbox
If none of the above manual solutions work, your Outlook is dealing with a corrupted OST file. Corruption in the OST file could happen for several reasons, such as abrupt termination of Outlook, virus attack, oversized OST file, etc. Corruption in OST files can introduce various Outlook issues, such as the emails stuck in Outbox. Microsoft offers an in-house tool called Inbox Repair tool, which can handle minor issues related to the Outlook data files.
However, in case of severe corruption, you must leverage the advanced features of Kernel OST to PST Converter software. The tool works proficiently to resolve corruption and damage in OST files. The OST to PST converter tool works consistently even on large-size OST files and splits them as per the user’s requirement.
Conclusion
Issues such as emails get stuck in Outbox can be frustrating, especially in situations when you are in the middle of an active conversation with a client. The above-mentioned methods will guide you in reversing the issue and resuming Outlook’s correct mail flow. Technical software glitches can be dealt with by utilizing manual methods. However, to fix a corrupted OST file, you must employ an OST converter software for swift and accessible data recovery. Try out the trial version now!
FAQs
A. There are several reasons why emails stuck in Outbox, including a bad internet connection, incorrect server settings, or large attachments. But it is essential to troubleshoot these issues using the above solutions, including the OST file repair to get your emails back on track.
A. For email users, the Outbox is a familiar term that denotes the folder where outgoing emails are stored temporarily until successfully sent. This is particularly useful during issues, such as internet connectivity problems, outlook not opening, or a recipient’s mailbox being full that might prevent the email from being sent. The Outbox confirms that emails are not lost & can be resent at a later time.
A. Follow the steps below:
1. Open Outlook and go to Send/Receive.
2. Click on Work Offline and then open Outbox.
3. Select the email and move it to Drafts or delete it.
4. Now, re-enable the offline mode.
