This tutorial contains step by step instructions to fix the Outlook Send/Receive errors” Outlook cannot connect to your incoming (POP3) email server” & “Outlook cannot connect to your outgoing (SMTP) email server”.
Problem is details. Outlook 2003, 2007, 2010 or Outlook 2013, displays the following errors during the Send-Receive procedure:
- Log onto incoming mail server (POP3): Outlook cannot connect to your incoming (POP3) email server. If you continue to receive this message, contact your server administrator or Internet service provider (ISP).
- Sent email message: Outlook cannot connect to your outgoing (SMTP) email server. If you continue to receive this message, contact your server administrator or Internet service provider (ISP).
There are several reasons why Outlook is unable to connect to the incoming or the outgoing mail server but in this guide we will show you how to fix the problem.
How to Fix: Outlook cannot connect to email server (Outlook 2007, 2010, 2013 or 2016).
Step 1. Check your Internet Connection.
The first step to resolve the Outlook connection problems, is to check your Internet connectivity. So, Open your Internet browser and visit any website to ensure that your Internet connection is working.
Step 2. Verify Mail Server settings.
The second step to fix the Outlook connect problems, is to check if you have specified the correct email server settings. So, contact your Email provider and verify with him, that you have specified correctly the name of the incoming & Outgoing email Servers and the port numbers for the connection. To view and modify the email server settings:
1. Open Outlook.
2. Go to File –> Account Settings.
3. In Email tab, double click at your email account, to modify/view its settings.
4. Verify that you have set the correct Incoming Mail Server name at the corresponding box.
5. When done, click More Settings.
6. Click the Advanced tab and verify that you have specified the correct port and SSL setting for the Incoming server (POP3).
6. When done click OK and then close all open windows.
7. Test Outlook again.
Step 3. Check your Antivirus & Firewall settings.
If you ‘re using an antivirus program with email scanning features, then disable the Antivirus Add-in in Outlook or temporarily disable the Antivirus protection or uninstall the Antivirus program. Additionally, check your Firewall settings and ensure that the email server ports that you ‘re using doesn’t blocked from the Firewall program. More specifically, at your Firewall settings:
A. Enable the following files to access the Internet:
- Outlook.exe
B. Enable the following ports to access the Internet:
- Port 110 (If you ‘re using a POP3 Incoming Mail Server without encrypted connection) *
- Port 995 (If you ‘re using a POP3 Incoming Mail Server with encrypted connection (SSL Enabled)
- Port 143 (if you ‘re using an IMAP Incoming Mail Server without encrypted connection)
- Port 993 (if you ‘re using an IMAP Incoming Mail Server with encrypted connection (SSL Enabled)
- Port 25 If your SMTP Outgoing Mail server doesn’t use SSL. *
- Port 465 or 587 if your SMTP Outgoing Mail server uses SSL
* Note: By default, port 25 is for outgoing email access, and port 110 is for incoming email access. If you are not sure about the ports, contact your ISP or system administrator.
Step 4. Verify that your EMAIL Domain is NOT Blacklisted.
The next step to fix the Outlook connection problem with your email servers, is to check if your EMAIL domain is blacklisted. To do that:
1. Go to MXToolBox Email Black List checker tool.
2. Type the domain name of your email address and press the Blacklist Check button. *
* e.g. if your email address is “user@example.com” then the domain name is “example.com“.
3. If the status is OK then proceed to the next step. If not, then contact your domain administrator and report the problem.
Step 5. Verify that your EMAIL Server is NOT Blacklisted.
1. Go to MXToolBox Email Black List checker tool.
2. Type the name of your email server (e.g. “mail.example.com”), and press the Blacklist Check button.
3. Ensure that the status is OK. If not, contact your email server administrator and report the problem.
Additional help: If the above steps doesn’t help you, then try the following:
A. Remove and Add your Email account again.
B. Repair the Outlook PST data file.
C. Disconnect from the VPN Connection (if you ‘re connected to)
D. Repair Office Installation. To do that:
1. Navigate to Windows Control Panel > Programs and features.
2. Locate and select the MS Office application and then click Change.
3. Then select the Repair option.
That’s all folks! Did it work for you?
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