Tips to Fix “Outlook Send and Receive” Error
Overview: Microsoft Outlook is widely trusted for managing emails, calendars, and contacts in both professional and personal environments. However, despite its reliability, users often encounter issues such as the Outlook Send and Receive Error, a problem that prevents Outlook from sending or receiving emails properly. This error can severely interrupt communication and work productivity.
To help users overcome this, Microsoft provides some built-in repair features. Still, in many cases, especially when the PST (Personal Storage Table) file is corrupted, these built-in tools fail to deliver results. That’s where the DRS PST Recovery Tool comes into play. It offers a powerful solution to repair damaged PST files and restore complete Outlook functionality without data loss.
In this blog, we’ll explore the main causes behind this error and guide you through step-by-step methods to fix it, both manually and using an advanced automated solution.
Common Error Messages You Might See
Outlook generally displays one of several error codes when the send/receive process fails. These may include:
- 0x800CCC0E: Cannot connect to the server.
- 0x80042109: Outlook is unable to connect to the outgoing (SMTP) email server.
- 0x80042108: Cannot connect to your incoming (POP3) email server.
- 0x800CCC92: Authentication failed due to incorrect username or password.
Each error code indicates a specific type of problem, which can help narrow down the solution.
Best Tips to Fix Outlook Send and Receive Error
Send and Receive Error in Outlook can happen for many reasons, poor internet connection, incorrect email settings, corrupted files, or security software conflicts. Use the following expert tips to fix the issue and get Outlook running smoothly again.
Way 01: Check Internet Connection
Start with the basics. Ensure your internet is active and stable. A quick restart of your modem/router can help reset any lingering network issues.
Way 02: Verify Outlook Email Account Settings
Double-check your email configuration:
- Go to File >> Account Settings >> Email.
- Select your email account and click on Change.
- Verify that the Incoming and Outgoing server details, port numbers, and SSL settings match those provided by your email provider.
Way 03: Run Outlook in Safe Mode
Running Outlook without add-ins helps detect if one of them is causing the error:
- Press Win + R, type Outlook.exe /safe, and press Enter.
- Try sending/receiving an email in Safe Mode to see if the issue persists.
Way 04: Disable Antivirus and Firewall Temporarily
Sometimes, security programs block ports used by Outlook. As a result, Outlook Send/Receive Progress Stuck. Follow the steps to fix Outlook Send and Receive Error:
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- Temporarily disable the antivirus or firewall.
- Check if the send/receive function starts working.
- Re-enable your protection afterward for security.
Way 05: Increase Server Timeout Settings
Long emails or slow internet may require more server response time.
- Go to Account Settings >> More Settings>>Advanced Tab.
- Increase the Server Timeout value to the maximum available.
Way 06: Delete Suspicious Emails from Outbox
An email with large attachments or incorrect formatting might get Outlook Stuck on Preparing to Send/Receive:
- Firstly, navigate to your Outbox.
- Delete or move the stuck message.
- Restart Outlook and try sending again.
Way 07: Remove and Re-add the Email Account
Sometimes starting fresh helps.
- Remove the email account from Outlook.
- Add it back with the correct settings.
- Recheck the send/receive function.
Way 08: Update Outlook to the Latest Version
Microsoft regularly releases patches and performance updates.
- Open Outlook and go to File>>Office Account>>Update Options>>Update Now.
- After the update, it might fix the Outlook Send and Receive Error.
Way 09: Create a New Outlook Profile
A corrupted Outlook profile can also cause this issue.
- Go to Control Panel>>Mail>>Show Profiles>>Add.
- Set the new profile as the default.
- Reconfigure your account in the new profile.
Way 10: Repair PST File Using Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe)
For minor PST file corruptions:
- Find ScanPST.exe in your Outlook installation directory.
- Run the tool, browse to your PST file, and click Start.
- Follow the prompts to repair detected issues.
However, this tool is limited in capability and often fails to fix severely corrupted or large PST files.
Manual Troubleshooting Limitations
While manual solutions can work for minor issues, they aren’t always reliable. Here are some limitations:
- Time-consuming and requires technical understanding.
- Manual repair tools like ScanPST can’t handle major corruption.
- There’s a risk of partial data recovery or loss.
- Steps like profile creation or reconfiguration might confuse non-technical users.
To avoid these challenges, using a professional PST repair solution is highly recommended for serious cases. This utility offers an intuitive interface that even non-technical users can easily navigate. It’s ideal when manual methods like ScanPST don’t work or when you need to recover lost or inaccessible data.
Advanced PST Recovery Tool to Fix “Outlook Send and Receive” Error
If you’re facing repeated send/receive errors in Outlook, chances are your PST file is either corrupted or damaged. This is where the DRS Solution PST Repair Tool proves to be extremely helpful. It is a powerful utility designed to repair severely corrupted or inaccessible Outlook PST files without data loss. This software restores emails, contacts, calendars, journals, and more from broken PST files and saves them in a healthy format.
Along with that, it supports both ANSI and UNICODE PST files and works seamlessly with all versions of MS Outlook, including the latest ones. Also, it allows you to preview recovered items before saving. By repairing the PST file using this tool, you can eliminate most of the send/receive issues caused due to mailbox corruption.
This professional software helps you:
- Repair highly corrupted or oversized PST files.
- Recover every mailbox item—emails, contacts, calendars, and more.
- Save recovered data in a new, healthy PST or other formats.
- Preserve folder hierarchy and data integrity during the repair process.
- Work with Outlook versions 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and earlier.
Final Words
Outlook Send and Receive Error can be frustrating, but it’s usually fixable with a clear approach. Start with simple checks like your internet connection and server settings, then move on to tools like ScanPST. If those don’t solve the issue, the PST Recovery Tool provides a secure and advanced way to restore your mailbox without data loss. Whether you’re an individual or an IT admin, solving this error promptly ensures smooth communication and uninterrupted workflow.
About The Author:
Shivam is a digital marketer and technical content writer at DRS Solution®, specializing in topics like databases, email recovery, and migration solutions. She enjoys researching and crafting content that assists database administrators, businesses, and beginners in resolving various issues related to MS SQL, MySQL, and Microsoft Exchange.