Troubleshoot “Outlook for Mac not Syncing with iCloud, Gmail, IMAP” Error

Summary: In this article, you’ll read about what causes the ‘Outlook for Mac not Syncing IMAP’ error, how to fix it, and how Stellar Converter for OLM fits in the picture.

Are you facing the ?Outlook for Mac not Syncing with iCloud, Gmail, IMAP? error?

Are you unable to reply or even find that urgent client email because your mailbox hasn?t been updated?

Are you trying to access your new emails but it?s taking forever to refresh the mailbox?

Or perhaps you?ve tried to find an email using the search feature, only to know that it’s not working?

If your answer to any of these questions is a YES, then your Outlook for Mac is facing synchronization issues with the Exchange server.

Synchronization between the Exchange server and client application (Outlook for Mac) occurs whenever there is any modification on one side (the Server side or client side), and the change gets reflected on the other side.

However, multiple factors impede this synchronization causing your mailbox to not update be it on the server side or the client side. This can be particularly frustrating and cause a lot of inconveniences if you?re using Outlook for Mac for the sole purpose of professional communication.

If you’re one of the many unlucky users facing this issue, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the common causes of this error and provide step-by-step instructions on how to fix it.

Reasons Behind OLM to Exchange Synchronization Issues

Before we dive into the solutions, it’s essential you understand the reasons behind the “Outlook for Mac not Sync IMAP” error. There can be various reasons why your Outlook for Mac is unable to sync with your email account.

Here are some of the common ones:

  1. Offline Mode: You?re operating Outlook for Mac in offline mode.
  2. Network connectivity issues: One of the most common reasons for Outlook for Mac not syncing is a weak or unstable internet connection. This prevents the email client from syncing with the mail server, thus resulting in synchronization issues.
  3. Outdated Outlook for Mac version: If you are using an outdated version of Outlook for Mac, it will cause synchronization issues. Make sure to always keep your email client updated to the latest version.
  4. Corrupted Outlook database: If your Outlook profile database is corrupted, it can lead to issues of all kinds.
  5. Mail Cache Issue: Your Outlook mail cache is corrupted and has not been cleared for a while.

Now, that you?re aware of these reasons, let?s take a look at the solutions.

Read more: Fix Mac Outlook Error Code 19723

Fix Exchange synchronization issues in Outlook for Mac

Before we jump to the solutions, we recommend that you first try this quick fix: Reboot your Mac or shut down your Outlook for Mac app and log in again. Check if the issue persists, if yes, follow the methods mentioned below.

Unselect the “Work Offline” Option

This is the first thing you should do before pursuing any other method. When you?re working in offline mode, you won?t be able to send or receive emails on your Outlook, and your Outlook not sync with the exchange server. To fix this, hover over the Outlook menu and check whether the “Work Offline” option is selected. If yes, unselect it and then check if you?re able to synchronize your mailbox.

Check network connectivity

The first step to fixing the synchronization issue is to check your network connectivity. Ensure that you have a stable internet connection. If you are using a Wi-Fi, try switching to a wired connection for better stability.

Update Outlook for Mac

If you are using an outdated version of Outlook for Mac, now?s the time to update it. You can check for updates by going to the “Help” menu and selecting “Check for Updates.” Download and install any available updates to ensure that your email client is up to date.

Rebuild the Outlook database

One of the most effective ways to fix your ?Outlook for Mac, not Syncing IMAP? error. Follow the steps mentioned below to rebuild your database. However, do note that the procedure I?ve mentioned below is for the 2016 version of Outlook for Mac and other versions might have different procedures.

Step 1: Shut down the Outlook application and locate it in “Finder”.

Step 2: Right-click on it and click on “Show contents”. Navigate to the “Contents/SharedSupport” option.

Step 3: Start “Outlook Profile Manager”. Then, click on the plus button to create a new profile and set it as the default profile.

Step 4: Finally, restart your Outlook application. You’ll have a blank app and all you need to do next is just re-enter your account details.

Clear Cache Data

Your Outlook cache might contain heaps of fragmented files due to the wrongful shutting down of your Outlook for Mac application, such as abrupt shutdowns or power supply interruptions. These files may impact the synchronization process in a negative way which is why you should clear those cache files from the exchange folder as soon as possible.

Follow the mentioned steps:

Step 1: Open the folder list from the left side of Outlook?s home interface.

Step 2: Right-click on the exchange folder and click on “Properties”.

Step 3: Under the “General” tab, select the “Empty Cache” option, and then click on “OK”.

And there you go! You?ve successfully cleared your cache and Outlook can now re-download your latest emails from the server.

How to Retrieve Inaccessible Outlook for Mac Data?

This issue is just the tip of the iceberg. Since Outlook for Windows is better optimized than Outlook for Mac, Outlook for Mac is plagued with a slew of bugs. In search of better performance and user experience, you?ll find many users migrating to Windows. If you?re one of those users, you?d first want to take a backup of your Outlook for Mac data.

To upload your OLM file to Outlook for Windows, you?ll need to convert it into a compatible format like the PST file for Windows Outlook. We do not recommend the manual way as it offers zero flexibility and is time-consuming, to say the least.

This tool will help to convert OLM to PST and grant you access to Outlook for Mac emails, calendars & contacts in Windows Outlook. Thus, you can retrieve the corrupted OLM files without missing out on sensitive information. The software also provides you with detailed file analysis reports and supports bulk migration of OLM files to Outlook PST files.

This advanced tool supports all the latest versions of MS Outlook, Outlook for Windows & Mac. All things considered, this tool allows you to convert OLM files to PST without any data loss with multiple saving options like PST, MSG, PDF, EML, and HTML.

Once you?re done converting the OLM data to PST, you can fully access all your Outlook for Mac data on Windows.

Conclusion

As a Mac user, the “Outlook for Mac not Syncing with iCloud, Gmail, IMAP” error can be frustrating. However, the issue can be fixed easily by following the methods mentioned in the blog. This issue can be seen in older as well as the newer versions of Outlook for Mac, so make sure to bookmark this page in case you ever need it.

With some patience and effort, you can go back to enjoying hassle-free email service with Outlook for Mac. We hope this blog will assist you in fixing any of your Outlook for Mac synchronization issues.

In case you?re thinking of migrating to Windows, we recommend using a premium mailbox conversion tool like the Stellar Converter for OLM Converter. This tool is the perfect answer as it converts your OLM files to Outlook PST files, which you can then use on a Windows platform.

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