Microsoft Outlook offers an excellent email experience, even on mobile devices. However, like any other app, Outlook has its fair share of issues. One is when Outlook fails to sync emails on your iPhone.
The Outlook app may not be able to sync data due to various reasons, but the good news is that it is easy to fix the problem. Listed below are some helpful troubleshooting tips that you should try if Outlook won’t sync emails on your iPhone.
1. Force close and reopen Outlook
You can start by force closing and reopening the Outlook app. This will give the app a fresh start and fix any temporary glitches that may have prevented retrieval of new data.
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app picker. Swipe up on the Outlook app card to close it. Open the Outlook app again and see if it syncs your emails.
2. Allow Outlook to use mobile data
On iPhone, iOS lets you manage cellular data permissions for each app individually. If you have disabled mobile data access for Outlook, the app will not sync emails unless you connect to a Wi-Fi network.
To allow mobile data permission for Outlook, open the Settings app and scroll down to tap Outlook. Turn on the switch next to Mobile data.
3. Reset account settings
If you’re having sync issues with only one of your accounts in the app, Outlook recommends resetting all settings for that account to resolve the issue. Here’s how to go about it.
Step 1: In the Outlook app, tap your profile picture in the top left corner. Then tap the settings icon in the bottom left corner.
Step 2: Select your email account that is not syncing.
Step 3: Tap Reset account and press OK to confirm.
The Outlook app closes automatically. Open the app again and see if it syncs your emails.
4. Disable Focused Inbox
Focused Inbox is a feature in the Outlook app that automatically separates your essential emails from the rest. This feature can be aggressive at times and move some of your important emails to a separate inbox. And you will feel that the app is not fetching new emails.
Therefore, it is best to disable this feature if you do not want to miss any new emails.
Step 1: Open the Outlook app and tap your profile picture in the top left corner.
Step 2: Tap the gear-shaped icon in the bottom left corner.
Step 3: Under the Email section, turn off the switch next to Focused Inbox.
5. Enable Background App Refresh for Outlook
Background App Refresh is a feature in iOS that allows an app to sync data even when you’re not using it. If App Refresh is disabled in the background for Outlook, the app will have trouble syncing your emails automatically. Here’s how to enable it.
Step 1: Open the Settings app and scroll down to tap Outlook.
Step 2: Turn on the toggle next to Background App Refresh if it isn’t already.
6. Disable power saving mode
Enabling low power mode on your iPhone can impair an app’s ability to update data in the background. If you are having synchronization issues with Outlook, you should disable power saving mode. To do this, open the Settings app and tap Battery. Turn off the switch next to Low Power Mode.
7. Remove and re-add email account
Authentication issues with your email account can prevent Outlook from synchronizing emails. If so, you can remove your account from the app and add it again. Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: In the Outlook app, tap your profile picture in the top left corner and tap the gear-shaped icon to access the settings menu.
Step 2: Select your email account.
Step 3: Tap Delete account.
Step 4: Go back to the Settings menu and tap “Add Email Account” to sign in with your account.
8. Update the Outlook app
App updates usually bring bug fixes and performance improvements to an app. If the sync issue is limited to the specific version of the app you are using, updating the app may help.
Go to the App Store and update the Outlook app. After that, Outlook should sync your emails like before.
Never miss an email again
We hope one of the solutions helped you get Outlook up and running on your iPhone. If you continue to experience problems, consider switching to a different email app on your iPhone.