Home » Blog » Windows Outlook » Fixing Connection To Microsoft Exchange Server Is Unavailable Outlook Error

Fixing Connection To Microsoft Exchange Server Is Unavailable Outlook Error

admin | October 13th, 2017 | Windows Outlook

Know How to Troubleshoot an Outlook Error

"The Connection to Microsoft Exchange Server is Unavailable. Outlook must be online or connected to complete this action."
There are several Outlook users who are facing this " Connection to Microsoft Exchange Server Not Available” error while starting MS Outlook." In this following write-up, you will get to know the issues related to this error along with the appropriate solutions to fix this.
Let us first see what are the causes of this interruption.

Reasons of the Outlook Connection To Microsoft Exchange Server Is Unavailable Error

Following reasons might be possible for this "Connection to the Microsoft Exchange Server Not Available" Outlook error:

  1. There might be some interruption in the Internet Connection.
  2. The MS Exchange Server settings are not properly configured.
  3. Outlook Data file might be corrupted.
  4. The settings of the Outlook profile might not be configured properly.

Connection to Microsoft Exchange Server Not Available – Know How to Fix the Outlook Error

There are some troubleshooting ways to resolve: "The Connection To Microsoft Exchange Server Is Unavailable. Outlook must be online or connected to complete this action."

1. Terminate MS Outlook from the Task Manager

  1. Go to the Task Manager.
  2. Click on Processes tab and Find Outlook in the list.
  3. Now, click on the End Task (given below at the Task Manager).
  4. Now, restart Microsoft Outlook.

2. Open Outlook in the Safe Mode

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type outlook.exe /safe.

Note: Leave a space after outlook.exe

3. When Outlook gets opened in the safe mode, then disable add-ins

  1. Open Outlook.
  2. Go to the File tab, select Options and Choose Add-Ins.
  3. Select Com Add-ins and enter on the Go button.
  4. Disable all the active Add-ins and click OK.

4. Inbox Repair Tool

You can also run the Microsoft’s in-built Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe and scanost.exe).

5. Reset the Outlook Navigation Pane

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type outlook.exe /resetnavpane and click on OK button.
  3. If the above steps do not resolve the issue, then try to create a new profile in Outlook.

Note: Leave a space after outlook.exe

6. Run SFC Command

SFC, System File Checker, is an in-built utility whihc allows to check system file corruption.

Run this SFC command by:

  1. Go to the Start and open Command prompt.
  2. Now, enter sfc /scannow.

Note: There should be a space between sfc and /

7. Remove Exchange Account from your Outlook profile. You can add it back also, without deleting your new profile

Follow the steps to remove an MS Outlook profile and then to add it again:

  1. Go to the Control Panel.
  2. Select the option of Mail.
  3. You will get a new set up window. Now, click on Show Profiles option.
  4. Choose the Add option to create a new profile. Select the option of Always use this profile for the new profile.
  5. Now, you will get a new window prompt. Enter the Microsoft Exchange credentials and click on Next to proceed further.
  6. New profile is ready to use.

8. Restart the Microsoft Exchange System Attendant service

Restart using the following steps:

  1. Press Windows + R and type services.msc command and enter.
  2. Go to the Services window in the Detailed Pane and locate Microsoft Exchange System Attendant service.
  3. Right-click to start the service. If the service is already started, then stop it and start it again.

9. Install your Microsoft Office or Outlook again.

If the above given solutions are not resolving the error, then you have to uninstall your Outlook or Microsoft Office and install it again.

Final Thoughts

The written blog contains some ways for the Outlook error:
" The connection to Microsoft Exchange server is unavailable. Outlook must be online or connected to complete this action."
These are appropriate solutions to fix/resolve this Outlook issue and can be easily implemented by a novice user also.
And after reading the above blog, one can easily troubleshoot “Connection to Microsoft Exchange Server Not Available” Outlook error with some hassle-free ways.