Home Knowledgebase KB-074

Mobile app not syncing

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: Mobile app not syncing. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

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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

Pull Down to Refresh

Check Sync Settings

Outlook app:

iOS Mail:

Android Mail:

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

  1. Close the Outlook app completely and reopen it.
  2. Remove and re‑add your account:
    • Settings → Accounts → Delete the Outlook account.
    • Open Outlook and sign in again.
  3. Verify that the app has permission to access storage, contacts and calendar (iOS Settings → Outlook; Android Settings → Apps → Outlook → Permissions).
  4. If the problem persists, clear the app cache (Android) or reinstall the app.

Only Some Items Not Syncing

Can’t Sign In


Troubleshooting by Phone Type

iPhone (iOS)

Enable Background App Refresh and confirm Outlook has permission to use cellular data under Settings → Outlook.

Android

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

If on Wi‑Fi


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:

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:

Still Having Issues?

Need more help? If the issue persists after trying these steps, please open a support ticket and our team will assist you.

💻 Open a Ticket