Fixed: "The RPC server is unavailable" Error in Outlook

Outlook can display the RPC error if it’s unable to connect to the client account, access a mailbox, or send/receive emails. Seeing this error message can be confusing since it can involve either Windows, Outlook, or the network instead of the actual mail. This blog will help you identify where exactly this communication error is occurring, the most common causes behind it, and effective methods to resolve it easily.

What is “RPC Server is Unavailable” Error?

Remote Procedure Call (RPC) is a network-based protocol that allows a client service to establish a connection between the client and a server via endpoint mapper. But when the RPC endpoint is not able to establish the connection, you may get the error “The RPC server is unavailable”.

However, if this issue is limited to Outlook only, then it may happen because Outlook is unable to connect to Exchange or some other server.

Note: Here, the client system and the server can either be different machines in a network or different processes within a single machine.

Reasons Behind Outlook "The RPC Server is Unavailable" Error

Well, there can be several reasons behind ‘The RPC server is unavailable’ error. We have listed some of the common causes of the ‘RPC server not available’ issue:

• Windows Firewall: Sometimes, a security application within the client machine or any other third-party firewall running on the server blocks the RPC Server requests. Also, the RPC Endpoint Mapper cannot be reached.
• Invalid Windows Registry Settings: RPC requires valid Windows registry settings to function; any modified, invalid, or corrupt entry will disable RPC services on your machine.
• Inappropriate Network Configuration: A network is a combination of PC’s, network cables, peripheral devices, routers, etc. Any damaged component or improper network configuration leads to server unavailability issues. In such scenarios, a procedure call from the user’s end fails to reach the server, resulting in the “The RPC server is unavailable” error.
• Name Resolution Errors: A procedure call initiated by the user is specified by a name, IP address, and port addresses. All these specifications are needed by the server to respond to the correct machine. In case an RPC server’s name is mapped to the wrong IP address, the request might get diverted to the wrong server. This will result in server issues, mostly the RPC server not available error.
• Server Connectivity Issues: A procedure call initiated by the user is specified by a name, IP address, and port addresses. All these specifications are neededI by the server to respond to the correct machine. In case an RPC server’s name is mapped to the wrong IP address, the request might get diverted to the wrong server. This will result in server issues, mostly the RPC server not available error.

Workarounds to Fix RPC Server is Unavailable Error in Outlook

To make RPC functional and get the server issues sorted, you can try the fixes mentioned below:

Method 1. Check the Date and Time Zone in System

When you face The RPS Server is Unavailable, you first need to check your system’s time and zone. If they are incorrect, set the correct date and time in your system. Here are the steps you need to follow:

Step 1. Press Windows Key + I at once and go to PC Settings.

Step 2. Select the Time & Language tab and toggle the Set time automatically and the Set time zone accordingly.

Step 3. Set time zone accordingly and launch Outlook again to see if the error is fixed.

Method 2. Check the Windows Firewall Settings

Windows Firewall settings allow you to control incoming and outgoing traffic on your system. Sometimes, it can also block the required network communication, giving rise to the RPC error. Check the firewall settings with the steps below:

Step 1. Open Control Panel and click on System Security > Windows Firewall icon.

Step 2. Select Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall from the left side.

Step 3. Click on Change settings and verify the network settings of your system. Do check if the required RPC traffic is permitted or not.

Note: If your organization’s PC is facing the RPC server is unavailable error, then you need to ask the administrator to verify the firewall and network settings. Don’t change these security features just to try and fix this error.

Method 3. Check whether the RPC Services are Running

Always make sure that the RPC-related services are running on your machine. If, by any chance, these services get disabled on your system, it can contribute to an RPC-related error. You can manually change the settings anytime by following these simple steps:

Step 1. Press Win + R key to launch the Run command dialog box.

Step 2. Type Services.msc and press OK.

Step 3. Look for Remote Procedure Call Locator and check if its status is Running or not.

Step 4. If not, right-click each service, and within the Startup type dropdown, choose Automatic. Click on Start and hit OK.

Step 5. Close the services window and open Outlook again to see if the error persists.

Note: If the RPC service is already running, try restarting it once. If that doesn’t help, don’t change any more RPC settings, the problem may be with the network, firewall, or a DNS based problem.

Method 4. Flush DNS

DNS stands for Domain Name System, which plays a vital role in the functioning of the internet by making sure that users can easily access websites. However, if Windows fails to resolve the hostname completely, the RPC server connection can't be established, and it can come up as the error 1722 RPC server is unavailable. In such a case, verify DNS, flush the local DNS server resolver cache and reset the network configuration settings. Follow the steps below to do this:

Step 1. Go to Windows Search, type CMD, right-click and select Run as Administrator.

Step 2. Type the commands as given below and hit Enter after each one as per the order given.

Once you have executed all the commands, reboot your PC and launch Outlook again.

Method 5: Perform a Clean Boot in Windows

If the RPC error still persists after checking the network configuration, firewall or flushing DNS, there might be an issue with a startup service in Outlook. You need to perform a Clean Boot in Windows to start it without any additional services or software. Keep one more thing in mind, before Clean Boot, look to use Outlook in Safe Mode. If the issue still persists, follow the below steps for Clean Boot:

Step 1. Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.

Step 2. Go to the Services tab and click Hide all Microsoft services > Disable all.

Step 3. Go to the Startup tab and tap on Open Task Manager.

Step 4. Select each enabled third-party add-in and click Disable. Close Task Manager.

Step 5. Now, click OK in the System Configuration and restart your computer.

Note: Make sure you return Windows to its normal configuration after this diagnostic step.

Outlook Still Shows the RPC Server is Unavailable Error? Check These Things

If you still can’t fix this error after trying different methods, check whether this problem is related to Outlook itself.

• Check if Outlook is connected to any mail server or not.
• If multiple Outlook users face the same issue across an organization when trying to connect to the server, Exchange Server might be facing some problems.
• Check if this error is common across different profiles of an account or if it’s limited to a single profile.

Conclusion

Getting the RPC server is unavailable error can be the result of a firewall restriction or Outlook’s inability to connect to a mail server, especially in a network environment. Here, we have discussed various methods to fix it. Follow the proper step-by-step instructions to get accurate results with these methods. If you still face this error after trying everything and Outlook remains disconnected, do check if the issue is tied to an Outlook profile or any local data file. If you find any such observation, it is wise to fix any such corruption issues with a dedicated PST Repair tool.

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