Switch from working offline to Online in Outlook 2010 / 2013 / 2016

In Microsoft Outlook, you might occasionally find that it goes in to offline mode with your mail server and you stop receiving any emails.  The most common cause of this is due to loss of internet while Outlook is open.

How do you know when you’re working offline or online in Outlook? There are visual cues, starting with the status bar at the bottom of your Outlook window. If either of the following status indicators are shown, it means Outlook isn’t connected to your mail server.

Office 2010 Notification

Outlook 2013 / 2016 / Office 365 Notification

Returning to an online work mode is a simple process.

Outlook 2010

1. Click Send/Receive

2. When Outlook is set to Work Offline, the button is highlighted

3. Click Work Offline to return to working online

Outlook 2013 / 2016 / Office 365

1. Click on the Send/Receive tab and click on Work Offline to reconnect

Note: If the background of the Work Offline button is shaded (as shown in the image above), you’re not connected. But if the background is clear, you are connected.