Fixing common Outlook send and receive problems
When Outlook stops sending or receiving, work from the simplest cause outward rather than rebuilding the profile first. Most cases resolve in the first two checks.
Confirm connectivity and status
Look at the bottom of the Outlook window. If it says Working Offline, that one toggle is often the whole problem. Then confirm the machine has internet by loading a normal website.
Check the obvious blockers
- A full mailbox that has hit its storage limit will stop sending
- A large attachment can stall the outbox while smaller mail looks stuck behind it
- A wrong or expired password will silently block the connection after a recent change
Test in the web version
Sign in to the mailbox through a browser. If mail flows there but not in the desktop app, the problem is local to Outlook, not the account. That single test saves a lot of guessing.
When to rebuild
Only after the above, consider repairing the account or recreating the Outlook profile. Document which step fixed it so the next similar ticket is faster.