How to Solve IMAP Synchronization Issues in Outlook 2013/Office 365?

I use Outlook 2013 with my Office 365 account, and I access everything through IMAP. But last week, I found that my Outlook stopped syncing properly. Emails weren't coming in. Some folders werent updating. It was a most disturbing day for me. As someone who relies on emails every day for work, this was a big problem.

At first, I thought it was just a slow internet connection. But after checking my internet connection and restarting everything twice, I realized it wasnt the network. It was Outlook. I did some research, and I found that IMAP synchronization issues are common in Outlook 2013, and many people face this.

Thankfully, I found some solutions that worked for me that Ive mentioned in this guide. Many times, manual approaches dont work, and users avoid performing complex steps. In such conditions, they can consider professional OST converter tools as the ultimate solution.

Scenarios Where the OST Converter tool Can be Used?

When Outlook doesnt sync correctly, some data might go missing or get stuck. Thats where an OST converter can be the best solution. It helps you convert the offline OST files to PST format. That way, you can restore emails without losing anything. I used one during my troubleshooting process, and it helped a lot. Here are a few other scenarios where the OST converter proves to be helpful:

• Accessing Outlook data when the Exchange Server is unavailable.
• Migration from Outlook to a different email client.
• Easy backup of OST emails and other data.
• Secure archiving of older emails to improve Outlook's performance.
• Recover corrupted OST files and deleted emails with ease.
• Rebuild the OST file and restore mailbox accessibility.

Basic Tips to Consider Before Trying Manual Solutions

When I got stuck in an Outlook sync issue, I first looked for a basic solution. I found some didnt work as I desired but helped me to configure the issue. If youre facing an issue, you can try these tips for resolution:

• Update your Outlook application.
• Sometimes Outlook doesnt auto-sync because the send/receive settings are off. So, adjust them.
• Disable Outlook add-ins temporarily. If the issues get fixed, enable them one by one and remove the faulty ones.
• If you're using Cached Exchange Mode, try disabling it temporarily to see if it resolves the issue.

How to Fix IMAP Synchronization Issues in Outlook 2013/Office 365?

Here are a few manual methods that I tried to fix the sync issues in my Outlook/Office 365. You can also try these methods, as per your suitability, if you are facing this sync issue:

Method 1. Check the Account Settings

Sometimes, a small error in the port number or SSL settings can cause sync issues. I matched the settings with my email providers official website using the steps below.

1. Open Outlook 2013, go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
2. Select your email account and click Repair.
3. Check the option Let me repair manually in Advanced Options. Click Repair.
4. Verify the incoming and outgoing server details.

After correcting the port and encryption method, HitNext and Finish.

Method 2. Unsubscribe the Unnecessary IMAP Folders

Outlook struggles when there are too many folders syncing over IMAP. In my case, I had over 70 folders. I unsubscribed a few folders that I didnt need. See the steps below:

1. Open Outlook and tap on the Folder tab.
2. In the folder list, right-click on my account and click IMAP Folders.
3. Click Query, select unnecessary folders, and hit Unsubscribe.

Doing this reduced the load and made sync faster.

Method 3. Create a New Outlook Profile

If the profile is corrupt, nothing syncs well. So, I created a new Outlook profile. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Open Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles.
2. Click Add, give it a name, and set up the email again.
3. Choose Always use this profile and select the new one.
4. I created a new Outlook profile, and it fixed most of my problems.

Ultimate Solution: Repair and convert OST file to PST

Even after making a new profile, some emails still didnt appear. Thats when I needed an OST to PST converter tool. I converted the OST file into PST and then imported it back into Outlook. It recovered the missing emails. Here is a feature overview of the tool:

• Convert multiple large-sized OST files in one go.
• Complete preview of OST emails with their original folder hierarchy.
• Multiple options to convert OST files like PST, EML, MBOX, PDF, etc.
• Direct migration to various platforms and servers.
• Smart filtering options to convert only specific OST data.
• Recover deleted emails and attachments.

Final Thoughts

Fixing IMAP sync problems in Outlook 2013 and Office 365 is not only crucial but also a complex task. However, basic tips, checking server settings, removing unnecessary folders, and creating new Outlook files resolved the issues to some extent.

I opted for a professional OST converter tool because I needed a complete OST recovery without following a bulky stepwise procedure. Furthermore, recovering OST files with the tool becomes so smooth, and I found that anyone can use it, whether tech or non-tech. So, download the trusted OST converter tool now to fix all OST-related issues with ease.