7 Ways to Fix the Outlook Disconnected Error on Windows

The ‘Outlook disconnected’ error on Windows typically pops up when you are either not connected to the internet or are using Outlook in the offline mode. Apart from these reasons, in some cases, the issue is also caused due to outdated Outlook application and an error within the Office 365 Suite.

Whatever the reason might be in your case, we have listed several troubleshooting methods below that will help you fix the problem for good. We suggest that you go through the troubleshooting methods first to identify the cause of the error in your case. Once that is done, you can proceed with the most relevant troubleshooting method.

1. Restart Your PC

Before we move on to any complicated troubleshooting methods, we suggest that you try restarting the computer. 

There are times when a temporary bug or corruption error within the application can prevent you from using the app effectively. Since these issues are temporary, you can fix them by restarting the system most of the time. 

If restarting does not work, proceed to the next method below.

2. Check Your Connectivity Status

You should be connected to a stable internet connection in order to use services like Outlook. The first thing in this case that you should do is switch to another connection and see if that makes any difference.

You can also log into the Outlook Web App using your browser and check if you are able to use the platform successfully there. If you are not, then the issue is most likely with your network connection. 

However, if you are able to use it, then proceed with the methods listed below to fix problems with the desktop app.

3. Check for Updates

If the method above did not work, then the next thing you should do is check for any available updates and install them one by one. This fix was suggested by Microsoft itself for the Outlook disconnected error and so far has helped quite a few affected users.

Here is how you can install the pending updates:

1. Launch Outlook and choose File from the top left.
2. In the following window, click on Office Account.
3. Expand the Update Options dropdown under Product Information.

   

4. Click on Update Now from the context menu.
5. Once the pending updates are installed, you should see a You’re up to date! Message. You can close Outlook after that and check if the issue is resolved.

4. Create a New Profile

In some cases, the Outlook disconnected error was caused because of a corrupt user profile, and creating a new one fixed the problem for users. 

To make sure that your user profile is not at fault, we recommend creating a new profile and checking if that makes a difference.

Here is how you can proceed:

1. Launch Outlook and head over to the File section.
2. Choose Account Settings.

   

3. In the following window, a dialog should appear listing all the account settings. Choose Add Account in it.

   

4. Now, enter the name, email address, and password for the account you add.

Once the account is added, check if you face the disconnecting issue again. Another way to go about this issue is by removing your current account and then adding it back again.

If you do not want to create a new profile immediately, here is how you can re-add the account:

1. Follow steps 1-3 mentioned above again but this time, select the account you want to remove in the Account settings window.
2. Choose Remove in the same dialog.

Once the account is removed, add it back and check if the problem is resolved.

5. Repair Office 365

Another potential reason why you might be facing the Outlook disconnected error is that your Office 365 is infected with a bug or a corruption error. In this case, typically, the other Office programs on your computer might start acting up, so it wise to check other apps like Word or Powerpoint to see if the problem lies there as well. 

Fortunately, repairing Office is not that difficult. The best way to do it is by using the built-in repairing feature that offers both online and quick repair. 

Here is how you can proceed:

1. Press the Win + R keys together to open a Run dialog.
2. Type control in the text field of the dialog and press Enter.
3. In the following window, head over to Programs.
4. Choose Programs and Features.

   

5. You should now see a list of programs installed on your computer. Look for Office 365 and right-click on it.
6. Choose Change from the context menu.

   

7. In the Repair window, you will see two options; Online Repair and Quick Repair. You need the internet to use the first option, while Quick Repair works its magic offline.
8. We suggest you first go for the Quick repair option. If that does not work, choose Online repair.

Once the repairing process is complete, launch Outlook and check if it can connect to the internet without any problems now.

6. Disable the Work Offline Feature

Outlook offers an offline working feature, which if enabled, may prevent your Outlook application from connecting to the internet, resulting in the Outlook disconnected error.

If this feature is enabled on your app, follow the steps below to disable it:

1. Launch Outlook and head over to the Send/Receive tab.

   

2. Click on the Work Offline button to disable it.

   

Once done, hopefully, Outlook will reconnect.

7. Disable Extensions 

Sometimes, the extensions installed can also mess up, leading to the issue at hand. If you are using extensions with Outlook, we recommend disabling them to fix the problem.

Here is how you can do that:

1. Launch Outlook and head over to the File tab.
2. Choose Options from the left pane.
3. In the following dialog, choose Add-ins.
4. Now, click on the Go button on the right side of the dialog.
5. To disable the extensions, uncheck the boxes associated with all the extensions listed.

   

6. Click on the OK button to save the changes.

Once done, check if the error is now fixed.