IMAP Synchronization Issues In Outlook 2013/Office 365

Aftab Alam | Updated On - December 13, 2022 |

Read time 4 minutes

An Outlook application can cater to multiple accounts from different email servers like IMAP, POP, Exchange Server, and Office 365. The user should synchronize each account with the server and apply proper settings to be able to send/receive messages. But, the user also needs to update the Outlook application according to the latest updates from Microsoft. These updates enhance the performance of Outlook and better email communication.

But sometimes there are some updates which make the adverse effect. For example, consider the updates like KB2837618 or KB2837643 for Outlook. After installing these updates, there may be synchronization problems with Outlook 2013 and Office 365. There may be no problem with the configuration, but the updates may remain incompatible with Outlook 2013 and Outlook Office 365 and create the synchronization issues.

The reasons behind the synchronization issues

The main culprit behind the synchronization issue is a security update (KB2837618 or KB2837643). When the user installs them, they will create synchronization issues for Outlook 2013 and Microsoft 365. Although there will be no issue in configuring the IMAP account, it will not synchronize with the Outlook 2013 or Microsoft 365. Microsoft has mentioned multiple issues related to the updates. Here are some of them which you can encounter with your Outlook:

1. The Outlook may crash soon after starting it.
2. When the Outlook uses an IMAP email account, then the user may not receive new messages and get an error message like the following:

   You do not have appropriate permission to perform this operation.

   Or

   You do not have permission to move items in this folder.

3. If the Outlook is connected with Exchange Server, then you may face multiple issues like:
   • The Outlook will give this error while you configure automatic replies-

   Your automatic reply settings cannot be displayed because the server is currently unavailable. Try again later.

   • Outlook will not give free/busy data for calendar scheduling.

After learning about the reason behind the synchronization issue and its outcome, now go through some manual procedures which can correct the matter and allow the Outlook to receive new messages.

• In Control Panel, select Programs and Features.
• Search for the updates KB2837618 or KB2837643 and double-click to uninstall them.
• Restart the Outlook application and check if you are getting the new messages now.

1. Open Outlook and follow File>>Account Settings>>Account Settings.
2. Click the Change button.
3. Click More Settings option and go to Advanced option.
4. Select the Folder option and go to the Root Folder path option and type Inbox. Finally, click Save.
5. Restart the Outlook application and click the Send/Receive option in the menu bar and check if you get the latest messages.

1. Start Outlook application, go to the Folder option and select IMAP Folders.
2. uncheck the option – When displaying hierarchy in Outlook, show only the subscribed folders.
3. Save the changes and click the Send/Receive option to check the new messages.

If any of the methods do not work to remove the problem, then you need to remove and add the IMAP account again with the Outlook. But, do not install such updates which hamper the performance of Outlook still. In severe cases, the messages may get corrupt due to bad installation of updates and the data will be inaccessible. To remove corruption, you need to use the ESEUTIL tool further to recover the data. If you do not want to face such a scenario, then you should take the assistance of professional software like Kernel for OST to PST converter.

Final words

Kernel for OST to PST is a simple and easy-to-use migration software which can access user mailbox from any Outlook OST file save it directly to PST file or any other location. You can migrate the mailbox from OST file, and the tool provides the best-suited filters to select only the essential data.