How do you sync your email in Microsoft Outlook?

Whether on your laptop or smartphone, one of the most convenient things about having a Microsoft Outlook email is its ability to sync your email accounts across multiple devices. Syncing emails keeps your emails up-to-date so you’ll never miss an important email. Here’s how to do it on your computer and phone.

How to sync your Microsoft Outlook email on a computer

No matter if you have an Outlook account for family calendars, work resources, or as part of your Microsoft 365 suite, the first step to syncing Outlook emails is to ensure that you have an active Microsoft 365 account. This all-in-one login enables you to access emails, collaborate across Word and PowerPoint documents, and share files to the cloud. If you don’t have an Outlook email, you can sign up today for free!

Your Outlook can change everything

Spend less time organizing your life and more time enjoying it with Outlook

Learn more

Once you have an account, follow these steps to sync your Outlook email on your desktop:

Launch Outlook on your computer and select File in the topmost menu.
Select the Account Settings icon in the main panel, which will display a dropdown menu.
Select Account Settings… from the dropdown menu.
There will be a list of email accounts associated with your computer. Here, you can add or remove an account. Select the email account you want to sync and choose Change…
Select More Settings, and then select the Advanced tab.
Check the box that says Use Cached Exchange Mode and select Download Shared Folders, then select Ok.
Adjust the slider to specify the recency of the you want to sync (ex. Only emails from the last year).
Choose Next and then Finish to complete the process.

Your Outlook account is now synced with your computer and you can access all of your latest emails from there.

How to sync Microsoft Outlook on your phone

Chances are that you’ll likely need to access the same account on your portable devices, including your smartphone. Fortunately, syncing your Outlook email accounts across devices is just as easy as syncing it with your computer. All you need to do is follow these simple steps:

Open the Outlook app on your mobile device or tablet.
Select the three horizontal lines in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.
Select Settings (the gear icon) in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen.
Select Add Account.
Input your Outlook email address and password. Then, select Sign in.
Follow the prompts to complete the setup.

Now that you’ve synced your Outlook email across your devices, you can access your emails from anywhere and unlock productivity via Wi-Fi or cellular connection.

Why are my emails not updating in Outlook?

If your emails aren’t syncing in Outlook, you can try a few things:

Check your internet connection. Make sure your device is fully connected. Poor connection can result in syncing issues. If you find your internet connection is poor, try resetting your routers.
Try manual syncing. Normal syncing not working? Select the Send/Receive tab and Update Folder to manually update your emails.
Disable Offline Mode. Emails can’t sync when you’re offline. Check to see if you may have accidentally enabled Offline Mode in Outlook. Disable it by going to the Send/Receive tab at the top of your Outlook email and select Work Offline (if it’s on).

Syncing your Outlook email accounts across devices is a simple process that can save you a lot of time and hassle. But don’t stop there: get the most out of Outlook’s powerful email, calendar, and planning tools. Take your inbox to the next level by checking out Life Hacks articles on managing multiple email accounts, making the most of the Outlook calendar, and achieving inbox zero.