ms outlook trying to connect error causes and fixes

If you're seeing the "trying to connect" error in MS Outlook, it's frustrating, but there are some common causes to look out for.

One of the main culprits is a poor internet connection. This can be due to a slow or unstable connection, which can prevent Outlook from connecting to the server.

Another possible cause is an outdated or corrupted Outlook profile. This can happen if you've recently made changes to your email settings or if your profile has become corrupted.

Outdated antivirus software can also cause issues with Outlook's connection. If your antivirus software is not up to date, it may block Outlook's connection to the server.

To resolve these issues, try restarting your computer and router, and then check your internet connection speed.

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If Outlook is constantly stalling when first launched, saying "TRYING TO CONNECT", the issue might be due to a problem with your Office 365 email account.

To check the connection of your MS Exchange Server, open Outlook, click on the File tab, and then choose Info. Now, you need to choose Account and Social Network Settings, and then Account settings. Check the Exchange account. If the connection has an issue, it'll indicate that with an orange color.

The Outlook status bar might be showing Connected to Microsoft Exchange or Connected, but may not sync properly. This is a symptom of connectivity issues in Outlook.

To troubleshoot connectivity issues, test if the issue is reproducible in Webmail (OWA). If you cannot log in to OWA and get a message saying "Login or password incorrect", verify your password is correct, and ask the account administrator to reset your password if necessary.

Software-related issues can also cause Outlook to get stuck on the "TRYING TO CONNECT" message. Check for updates for Outlook: open Outlook > File > Office Account > Update Options. If Update Options is missing, a user either has a volume license install or their company is using Group Policy to manage Office updates.

Here are some common triggers for the "TRYING TO CONNECT" error:

To fix the issue, try the following steps:

1. Close all Microsoft applications.

2. Search for the "%AppData%" folder in the Windows Search box and navigate to the Microsoft folder.

3. Cut the "OneAuth" and "IdentityCache" folders out of the Microsoft folder and paste them onto your desktop.

4. Relaunch Outlook and sign in. If the issue persists, close Outlook, copy the "OneAuth" and "IdentityCache" folders back into the Microsoft folder, and when it asks if you want to overwrite, say NO.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, try the following:

If your Outlook is trying to get connected for a long time with no visible results, it's time to check the Exchange Server connection. To do this, open Outlook, click on the File tab, and then choose Info. Next, select Account and Social Network Settings, and then Account settings. Check the Exchange account, and if the connection has an issue, it'll indicate that with an orange color.

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One of the most common symptoms of connectivity issues in Outlook is the status bar showing "Connected to Microsoft Exchange" or "Connected" but not syncing properly. This can be frustrating, especially if you're waiting for important emails.

To fix this issue, you need to ensure that your Exchange Server and account details are correct. Start Outlook on your computer, select the File tab, and click on Info. Then, choose Account and Social Network Settings, and select Account settings. Remove the existing account and re-enter the account credentials correctly.

Here are some common triggers for the "Outlook trying to connect" error:

To avoid re-occurrence of the issue, you may need to reorganize your mailbox so that folders contain no more than 5000 items each, as recommended.

Repairing a corrupted PST file is a must if you're experiencing the Outlook trying to connect error. You can use built-in Microsoft tools to do this, but the process is manual and challenging.

To avoid this hassle, consider using Stellar PST Repair as mentioned in the article.

Repairing the PST file will allow you to access your Outlook settings data again.

If your Outlook installation is now up and running, don't forget to set Out of Office or Auto Reply in Outlook before you leave for a vacation.

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Software-related issues can cause the "Outlook trying to connect" error. This is often due to outdated software.

Make sure Outlook and Windows OS are up-to-date. Check for updates: open Outlook > File > Office Account > Update Options. If Update Options is missing, updates can be installed manually.

Outlook version 2010 SP1 is no longer compatible with Exchange 2016 platform accounts. Users need to update to Outlook 2010 Service Pack 2.

Check Windows updates: Start > Settings > Update and security > Check for updates.

Outdated software can prevent you from sending and receiving emails. Try the Office Repair tool: Start > Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program > find and select user’s version of Microsoft Office on his computer > in the bar above, click Change > Select Quick Repair > Repair.

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If the issue persists, try Online Repair instead.

Antivirus software can reduce the performance of Outlook. Disable antivirus software and check if Outlook starts performing better.

If disabling antivirus noticeably improves the performance, you may disable some of the antivirus features. You will need to refer to the software documentation or contact the software vendor for more information.