JustfixemailWindows Mail App Not Syncing
The troubleshooting below is still useful if you're on an older system that hasn't been affected yet, or if the app opens and shows old mail but something else is specifically off — but if send/receive has stopped working entirely and it's been a while since you last checked, read the notice above first.
1. Force a manual sync
- Open Mail.
- Click the sync icon at the top of the message list, or press F5.
2. Check sync settings for the account
- Settings (gear icon, bottom left) → Manage Accounts → select the account.
- Click "Change mailbox sync settings" and confirm "Download email from" isn't set to some narrow window, and sync frequency isn't set to Manual.
3. Check Windows' own background app settings
- Windows Settings → Apps → Mail and Calendar → confirm it's allowed to run in the background.
- Settings → Network & internet → confirm you're not on a connection marked "Metered," which throttles background sync without much warning.
4. Remove and re-add the account
- Settings → Manage Accounts → select the account → Delete account from this device.
- Restart Mail, then add the account again.
5. Reset the Mail app
If this keeps happening across multiple accounts, the app itself may need a reset.
- Windows Settings → Apps → Installed apps → find Mail and Calendar → Advanced options.
- Click Reset. Just know this signs you out of everything in the app — you'll need to re-add each account after.
FAQ
Is there any way to fix Windows Mail so it syncs again?
No — the app was officially retired by Microsoft at the end of 2024 and can no longer send or receive email at all, regardless of settings or troubleshooting. Switching to the new Outlook for Windows app is the actual fix.
Will switching to the new Outlook app keep my old emails?
Your emails live on your email provider's servers, not solely in the Windows Mail app, so they're not lost — sign into the new Outlook app with the same account and your mail reappears.
Is this the same "Outlook" as Microsoft 365's desktop Outlook?
They're related but not identical — the new Outlook for Windows is Microsoft's modern replacement app, distinct from the classic desktop Outlook that comes with Microsoft 365. Either works for most people; the new Outlook is the direct successor to Windows Mail specifically.