Outlook is one of the feature-rich email clients on Windows. While it works fine with all the major email providers like Gmail, Yahoo, and iCloud, the app not sending notifications can confuse you. You may even miss important emails when Outlook notifications stop working on Windows. Here are the best ways to troubleshoot the problem.
Do you frequently miss emails on Outlook for Windows? At times, you may receive emails only when you open the app. You can always use the web version, but it’s not an ideal solution. Let’s use the tricks below and receive instant email alerts on PC.
1. Turn off Offline Mode
Are you using Outlook in offline mode? You won’t receive notifications until you disable it. When Outlook is in active offline mode, you shall see a red cross mark above the app icon in the taskbar.
Step 1: Launch Outlook on Windows.
Step 2: Select Send / Receive in the menu bar.
Step 3: Disable Work Offline and try receiving notifications again.
2. Check Outlook Notifications
Did you disable Outlook notifications from Windows Settings? It’s time to enable it using the steps below.
Step 1: Launch Windows Settings by pressing the Windows + I keys.
Step 2: Select System from the sidebar and open Notifications.
Step 3: Open Outlook.
Step 4: Enable notifications and banners.
3. Turn off Do Not Disturb on Windows
If you have enabled DND on Windows, you won’t receive Outlook alerts until you turn it off.
Step 1: Head to Windows Settings.
Step 2: Select System and open Notifications.
Step 3: Disable the ‘Do not disturb’ toggle.
4. Turn off Focus on Windows
Windows also comes with a neat Focus mode to pause distractions. When you enable Focus, the system hides badges on taskbar apps, flashing on taskbar apps, and enable do not disturb.
Step 1: Open Notifications in Windows Settings (check the steps above).
Step 2: Select Focus.
Step 3: Stop the focus session from the following menu.
5. Remove and Add the Account Again
Do you face Outlook notification issues from a specific account on Windows? You need to remove the account and add it again.
Step 1: Launch Outlook and select File at the top.
Step 2: Expand Account Settings and select the same.
Step 3: Select an account that doesn’t send instant alerts and click Remove at the top.
Step 4: Select New and connect your email address again.
6. Enable Desktop Alerts for Outlook
You should enable desktop alerts to receive emails, reminders, and calendar notifications from Outlook. Here’s how.
Step 1: Open Outlook and select File at the top.
Step 2: Select Options.
Step 3: Select Mail from the sidebar.
Step 4: Scroll to Message arrival and enable the ‘ Display a Desktop Alert’ option.
7. Disable Battery Saver
An active battery-saver mode on your Windows laptop can interfere with Outlook notifications. Here’s how you can disable Battery Saver mode.
Step 1: Launch Windows Settings.
Step 2: Select System and open the Power & battery menu.
Step 3: Expand the Battery Saver menu and turn it off.
8. Clear Outlook Cache
Outlook collects cache in the background to improve the app loading time and overall performance. If the app collects a corrupt cache, you may face notification issues on Windows. You need to clear Outlook cache and try again.
Step 1: Open the Run menu by pressing Windows + R keys.
Step 2: Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook and click Ok.
Step 3: Open the RoamCache folder.
Step 4: Select all files and delete them from your PC.
You should open Outlook and start getting new notifications again. You may notice slow loading times since the app is collecting cache from scratch.
9. Update Outlook
Outlook notifications not working on Windows 11 might be due to an outdated app build on your PC. You need to update Outlook to the latest version using the steps below.
Step 1: Open the File menu in Outlook (check the steps above).
Step 2: Select Office Account.
Step 3: Expand Update Options and select Update Now.
The system starts installing new updates for all Office apps.
10. Try New Outlook
Microsoft is working on a new ‘Outlook One’ project to revamp the Outlook experience on Windows and Mac. The latest app is available in the preview to try out. You can enable the new Outlook app to fix notification issues.
Step 1: Launch Outlook on Windows.
Step 2: Enable the ‘Try the new Outlook’ toggle at the top.
Step 3: The system restarts the app and lets you check the new Outlook app.
Check Your Emails on Windows
Outlook notifications not working on Windows 11 can break your workflow. Instead of settling with third-party email apps, use the tricks above to fix Outlook notification problems in no time. While you are at it, let us know the trick that worked for you.
