Mobile app not syncing
Summary
This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: Mobile app not syncing. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.
Common Causes
Overview
Your Outlook mobile app (or the built‑in mail app) should sync automatically. If emails or calendar events aren’t appearing on your phone, follow the steps below. For initial account configuration see Setting Up an Email Account in Outlook (POP/IMAP/Exchange).
Quick Fixes (Try These First)
Check Your Connection
- Make sure Wi‑Fi or mobile data is turned on.
- Open a web page to confirm the internet connection is working.
Pull Down to Refresh
- In Outlook or the built‑in mail app, swipe down from the top of the inbox.
- This forces an immediate sync.
- Wait a moment and verify that new items appear.
Check Sync Settings
Outlook app:
- Tap your profile picture → Settings → Sync settings.
- Ensure sync is enabled for Mail, Calendar and Contacts.
iOS Mail:
- Settings → Mail → Accounts → select your account.
- Toggle Mail to ON.
Android Mail:
- Settings → Accounts → Microsoft account.
- Enable the Sync toggle.
On iOS, also enable Background App Refresh (Settings → General → Background App Refresh) and ensure Outlook has permission to use cellular data.
Specific Fixes
Outlook Mobile Not Syncing
- Close the Outlook app completely and reopen it.
- Remove and re‑add your account:
- Settings → Accounts → Delete the Outlook account.
- Open Outlook and sign in again.
- Verify that the app has permission to access storage, contacts and calendar (iOS Settings → Outlook; Android Settings → Apps → Outlook → Permissions).
- If the problem persists, clear the app cache (Android) or reinstall the app.
Only Some Items Not Syncing
- Calendar: Open the Calendar view → Calendars → make sure the required calendars are checked. For more details see Using Outlook Calendar and Scheduling Meetings.
- Email: Check folder sync settings: Settings → Folders → select “All” or verify that no filters are hiding messages.
Can’t Sign In
- Confirm your password at office.com.
- Check whether multi‑factor authentication (MFA) is required for your organisation.
- Ensure the account isn’t locked or disabled by your IT administrator.
Troubleshooting by Phone Type
iPhone (iOS)
- Settings → Passwords & Accounts → Fetch New Data.
- Set to Push for instant delivery.
- If Push isn’t available, choose Automatic with the shortest fetch interval.
Enable Background App Refresh and confirm Outlook has permission to use cellular data under Settings → Outlook.
Android
- Settings → Apps → Outlook → Storage.
- Tap Clear Cache (do not clear data unless reinstalling).
- Restart the device.
- Open Outlook and allow it to resync.
If your organisation enforces mobile device management (MDM) policies, verify that Outlook is allowed to sync data over the network.
Network Considerations
If Using Cellular Data
- Confirm mobile data is enabled.
- Some corporate policies require Wi‑Fi for sync; check with your IT team.
- Ensure no data‑saving mode is blocking background sync.
If on Wi‑Fi
- Try switching to cellular data to rule out Wi‑Fi issues.
- Or connect to a different Wi‑Fi network to test connectivity.
Common Issues
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Only receiving new emails manually | Enable Push or set Automatic sync in the account settings. |
| Calendar events missing | Check calendar visibility and ensure the correct calendars are selected. |
| Syncing very slowly | Verify sync frequency settings and ensure a stable internet connection. |
| Can’t sign in on mobile | Reset the password or verify multi‑factor authentication requirements. |
Still Not Syncing?
Check for app updates:
- Open the App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android) → Updates.
- Install the latest Outlook (or Teams) updates.
Reinstall the app: Uninstall Outlook, then download and install it again from the store.
Check Microsoft service status: Visit status.office.com for any known outages.
Review device storage: Ensure sufficient free space for the app to store cached data.
Need Help?
If the issue persists, open a ticket and include:
- Phone type (iPhone or Android) and OS version.
- The app you’re using (Outlook, built‑in mail, etc.).
- Any error messages displayed.
- Steps you have already tried.
Still Having Issues?
💻 Open a Ticket