Outlook Working Offline [Fixed]

Users can access Outlook 2016 on their system even when the system is not connected to the internet. 

However, sometimes, if the status bar of the Microsoft Outlook window shows Outlook Working Offline pop up, it signifies that the Outlook is not connected to the mail server and is stuck in offline mode. Many users have complained about this issue while using Outlook. 

Once you encounter this error, you will not be able to send and receive mails on your Outlook account. 

This problem indicates that if there is a problem with the internet connection. Apart from that, a corrupted or outdated version of the Outlook and damaged OST file can also lead to this error.  This is a common problem but can be solved easily. 

How to Fix Outlook Working Offline 

First of all, you need to try to solve this issue by restarting the system. Sometimes, restarting the computer can resolve several problems that you encounter. 

However, if you are still facing this problem then you can try to follow other fixes. Here we have detailed down the fixes to resolve Outlook working offline problem. Thus, go through them one by one until the problem is solved. 

Fix 1 – Uncheck the Offline Mode

One of the effective methods in which you can get rid of this problem on your PC is to uncheck the Offline Mode. The following steps will help you:

1. Open the Microsoft Outlook 2016 account
2. From that window, select the Send/Receive tab located at the top menu bar.
3. Locate the Work Offline button, click on it to return to working online. 

Fix 2 – Check the Internet Connection

A poor internet connection can cause the Outlook Working Offline message on the system. So, you need to check if the internet connection is working correctly or not. 

If you are using a router then restart it and then check if the problem is solved or not. If you are using an Ethernet cable then disconnect it and then reconnect it.  

Fix 3 – Start the Program into Safe Mode

When you get the Working Offline problem on Outlook, you need to try to start the program into safe mode. Here are some steps that you can follow:

1. Press the Windows button and R key together to launch the Run box.
2. Type outlook.exe/safe and then click on the OK option or press the Enter button.

Now the Outlook will start into the safe mode. Check if the problem gets fixed or not. 

Fix 4 – Recreate OST File

The Outlook 2016 working offline problem can be caused by missing or corrupted .OST files. In order to fix this problem, you need to delete the old .OST file and re-add it. Here’s how to do that:

1. Press Win + R buttons to launch the Run box. 
2. Type “%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Outlook\” and then press the Enter button or click on the OK option.
3. Find the .OST file, select it. After that, press the Delete button from the keyboard. 
4. After deleting this file, re-create it.
5. To recreate it, navigate to the File menu and select the Info tab on the left panel.
6. From the Info window, click on Account Settings and then select the Microsoft Exchange option.
7. Click on the Settings option and then select More Settings. 
8. Go to the Advanced tab and select Offline folder file settings. 
9. Select a location that you want to save the OST file and then click on the OK option. 
10. If you get an error “.OST file couldn’t be found. Would you like to recreate it”? Click on the Yes option and proceed. Now a new OST file will be created. 
11. After creating it, restart Outlook and then check if the issue still persists or not. 

Fix 5 – Repair Outlook

To fix this problem, you need to repair the Outlook application by following the steps given below:

1. Open the Control Panel window.
2. Navigate to the Programs & Features section.
3. Scroll down the page until you find Outlook, select it.
4. Click on the Change option and then click on the Quick Repair option to begin the repair process.
5. Once the repair process is complete, reboot your system and then check if the problem is fixed or not. 

Fix 6 – Re-add Microsoft Account

Another effective solution in which you can eliminate the Working Offline problem on Outlook is to re-add the Microsoft account. Below are certain steps that you can follow:

1. Open Outlook.
2. Select File and then click on the Info tab on the left panel.
3. When you are in the Info tab, click on the Account settings sub-tab and then select Account Settings. 
4. From the Account Settings window, select your account and then click on the Remove button. 
5. After that, click on the Yes option to confirm it. 
6. Re-open Outlook
7. Go to the File window and click on the Add Account option.
8. Put all the login details and then use it. 

Fix 7 – Create a New Outlook Account

Creating a new Outlook account can resolve the Outlook Working Offline issue on the system. Go through these steps:

1. Open Outlook
2. Navigate to the File window and click on the Account Settings button.
3. Choose the Manage Profiles option.
4. From the Mail Setup window, click on the Show Profile option and then click on the Add button.
5. Put the name for your profile and then click on the OK option. 
6. Add your mail to your newly created profile. 
7. Once you are done with these steps, use the Outlook account and check to see if the message shows up or not. 

Fix 8 – Reinstall Outlook

If none of the above solutions help you out then you can try to reinstall Outlook on your device. Let’s take a look into some steps that you can follow:

1. Press the Win + I buttons to launch the Settings window.
2. Go to the Apps & Features section and select the Apps tab on the left panel.
3. Look for Outlook, select it and then click on the Uninstall option.
4. Once the removal process is complete, you need to reinstall Outlook. 
5. Visit the official website of Microsoft.
6. Download the latest version of the Outlook and then install it.
7. After installing it, restart your PC and then check if the issue is resolved or not.