Top 5 Ways to Fix Outlook Error 0x80042108
Written By Aaruni Arora 
Updated On September 29, 2026 The Outlook error 0x80042108 comes up when your Outlook fails to connect to the POP3 or IMAP incoming server. Outlook, just like any email client, relies on an operational email server, and if it’s unable to connect to the server, all the outgoing and incoming email activities come to a stop. In this guide, we’ll talk about what this error means, why does this occur in the first place, and outline some easy fixes to resolve this error based on your specific situation.
What Does Outlook Error 0x80042108 Mean?
Error 0x80042108 occurs when Outlook is unable to connect to the incoming POP3 or IMAP server. Most commonly, it occurs with the POP3 server accounts and can happen because of improper account configuration or authentication, server connection, or an issue with Outlook itself. You will see this dialog box when the error occurs:
It is one of the common Outlook errors and is almost always caused by a connection issue. To fix 0x80042108 POP3 error, you must verify if Outlook is connected to the server and check the configuration settings of your email. In the next section, we will take a look at some reasons for this error.
What are the Reasons for Outlook Error 0x80042108?
There are various reasons that are causing error code 0x80042108 in Outlook. Here, some of the reasons are outlined below:
- Misconfigured email account settings.
- Your Outlook profile is damaged or corrupted.
- Corrupted or damaged Outlook files (OST or PST) will create issues.
- If Secure Security Layer is turned on, then it will cause errors.
- Emails have large attachments (larger than 20 MB).
Check if you can access the same email account via webmail or not. This can help you pinpoint whether the issue is with Outlook or your email account/server. If the webmail doesn’t work either, check if the issue lies with your email provider, account, or the mail server. If the webmail does work normally, check whether your Outlook’s mail settings, add-ins, profile, or network connection is causing this issue.
Best Ways to Fix 0x80042108 Error in Outlook
Try the following methods to fix 0x80042108 POP3 error:
Method 1: Disable Antivirus Add-in
Some users install security software add-ins in Outlook. If the add-in is incompatible, it can create issues in Outlook. To verify if an add-in is the main culprit, you must open Outlook in safe mode (Outlook without any add-ins) with these steps.
Step 1: Right-click the Windows Start button and select the Run option.
Step 2: Enter Outlook/safe in the text box and click OK.
Step 3: Next, in the Choose Profile dialog box, select the Outlook profile that shows the Outlook error 0x80042108 and click OK.
Step 4: In this way, Outlook will open in safe mode.
Now, check if Outlook can receive or send emails without issue. If yes, then the issue is due to an incompatible add-in, and we must disable it.
How to Disable Outlook Add-ins?
Follow these steps to disable add-ins in Outlook safely:
Step 1: Open MS Outlook and go to File > Options.
Step 2: Now, click on Add-ins from the left panel. Click on Go.
Step 3: In the COM Add-ins dialogue box, select the anti-virus application and click on Remove option.
Step 4: Next, close the dialogue boxes and the application. Restart your system.
Method 2: Check Your Account Settings
If no faulty add-in is preventing you from sending or receiving emails, you must verify if your email account settings are correct. To fix Outlook cannot connect to your incoming (POP3) email server, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Outlook, click File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
Step 2: Select the data file associated with the account and click Repair.
Step 3: Tick the option Let me repair my account manually and click Repair.
Step 4: Check out the incoming and outgoing settings. If found any issues, correct them.
Step 5: Then, restart Outlook and verify that the Outlook error 0x80042108 is resolved.
Method 3: Create a New Outlook Profile
Improper handling of Outlook, like abrupt shutdown or a virus attack, can damage your Outlook profile. This can trigger the 0x80042108 error. To fix 0x80042108 POP3 error, you must create a new profile in Outlook.
Remember to configure the new profile with the same account in which you were having trouble sending or receiving emails. Also, make sure to make the new profile your default Outlook profile.
Method 4: Check If There are Any Errors in the Outlook Data File (OST and PST)
Seeing Outlook error 0x80042108 pop up doesn’t automatically mean that your Outlook data file is damaged or corrupt. If you’re noticing any other symptoms related to a data file problem like trouble opening the file contents or Outlook crashing repeatedly when trying to open a specific data file, then it’s worth noticing that the problem might be with the data file itself. Here’s how you can repair your Outlook data file corruption:
- Repair OST file: OST file is the local offline copy of the mailbox data that continuously synchronizes with the mail server. If the mailbox data is available on the server, Outlook can easily recreate the OST file. Check if it fixes your issue or not.
- Repair PST file: In case of PST, you can go ahead and scan your PST file with ScanPST.exe. This free tool can easily repair minor errors and structural damage in the data file.
If ScanPST.exe fails to fix the PST, try running it a few more times to see if the errors get resolved or not. If you’re unable to repair your PST file even after running it through the Inbox Repair tool several times, the corruption might be too high. In this case, go for a reliable PST repair tool that can restore PST to its healthy state without data loss.
Method 5: Repair Office 365
If none of the methods above could help you fix 0x80042108 POP3 error, try to repair Office. Repairing will help to resolve any underlying bugs or damaged program files within the Office suite that may be causing the connection issue. Steps to repair Office suite are:
Step 1: Go to Control Panel and click on Programs and Features option.
Step 2: Look for the Microsoft suite application in the list of installed apps.
Step 3: Right-click on it and select Change option.
Step 4: You have two ways to repair Outlook: Quick Repair and Online Repair. Start with the Quick Repair option, and if that doesn’t work, run Online Repair.
Final Verdict
Don't panic when you see Outlook error 0x80042108; your emails are safe. They are just invisible due to a connection blockage. Fix the problem with the methods given above. If you add a new Outlook profile, make sure it sets it as the default. Furthermore, if you have a PST file with heavy corruption, don’t risk your data with manual solutions. Perform complete data restoration using Kernel for Outlook PST Repair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can an oversized OST or PST file hang Outlook?
A: Yes, it can. If your OST file has grown too big, extract its data to a local PST file. Alternatively, for an oversized PST file, you can split PST into multiple smaller files.
Q: I have slow internet. How can I increase the Outlook Server Timeout limit?
A: To increase the Outlook Server Timeout limit follow below steps:
- Open Outlook, click File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
- Select the email account and click on Change.
- Now, click on More Settings and modify the Server Timeouts.
Q: How to extract specific emails from an archived Outlook PST file?
A: You have to first import the PST into Outlook and then drag and drop the emails to any folder on your system. Doing this will automatically convert PST to MSG files (each email will be saved to a separate .msg file).
Q: Why is Outlook showing ‘Disconnected’ or ‘Working offline’?
A: If your Outlook displays ‘Disconnected’, ‘Working offline’, or ‘Trying to connect’ messages, it might not be connected to the mail server. Look for and select Work Offline option in the Send/Receive tab to see if it fixes the issue.