How to Send “Outlook Email Stuck in Outbox” In 7 Easy Steps

A user composes an important email in Outlook and adds a large 40MB attachment. They don’t know that the maximum attachment size limit is 25MB, and they send the message. The emails remain in the Outbox indefinitely with no error message or alert being displayed. What could this mean? It means that the Outlook email stuck in Outbox. Why? Because it exceeded the attachment size limit. This could be one of the scenarios of this error. There are more manual solutions to resolve Outlook emails getting stuck in the Outbox. The professional Outlook PST Repair Tool eliminates all the manual technical steps and automates the entire process.

Why Outlook Emails Getting Stuck in Outbox?

Understanding the reasons why emails get stuck in the Outbox again is crucial for preventing this problem in the future. Below, we explore the reasons behind it:

• A common reason emails become stuck in the Outbox is that the attachment is too large. If the file is too big and exceeds the maximum size limit, Outlook will be unable to send it. 
• If the user turns on Work Offline, the Outlook application won’t connect to the mail server. This causes Outgoing emails to get stuck in the Outbox.
• A technical glitch can also prevent Outlook to fail in communicating with the outgoing mail server.
• An authentication problem between the Outlook account and the mail server, emails may remain stuck in the Outbox.
• Corrupted Send/Receive settings can also stop emails from leaving the Outbox.
• Misconfigured filters or mail rules may block the outgoing messages.

Top Methods to Fix Outlook Email Stuck in Outbox

Now that we know what’s causing the issue, we will proceed with the recommended solutions to fix the error.

Reduce the Attachment Size

Many email systems, such as Outlook and Exchange servers, impose attachment size limits. It usually ranges between 20 MB-25 MB per message. Try the following solutions to reduce the size of the attachment:

• Use a File-sharing service like Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive.
• Upload large files to the cloud and share the download link in the email.
• Compress the files using the ZIP format.
• Split large files into smaller files.

Resend the Email Message

Most of the time, this action reconnects to the mail server and sends the message successfully. This is useful if the initial send command was delayed by a temporary internet interruption. 

Follow these steps to resend the email message if Outlook messages stuck in Outbox:

1. Open the Outbox folder in Outlook.
2. Double-click the email that hasn’t been sent.
3. Look through the message and click on Send. 

Disable “Work Offline” Mode

Outlook provides a “Work Offline” mode that allows users to use emails locally without a server connection. Outlook will neither send nor receive emails until this mode is turned off. 

1. Open the Outlook application.
2. Under the Send/Receive tab, navigate to Work Offline.
3. Check if it’s turned on or off. If turned on, then turn it off. 

Check Account Settings & Server Settings

Emails get stuck in Outbox may be due to incorrect account settings, including the SMTP & authentication credentials. Make sure that they are configured properly. A misconfigured settings may prevent Outlook to connect to the mail server. 

Follow these steps to review and confirm your account configurations:

1. Launch Outlook and navigate to the File tab at the top.
2. Select Account Settings > Account Settings > Email.
3. Choose your email account and tap on Change.
4. Ensure that the SMTP server address is correct. 
5. Go to More Settings > Outgoing Server > My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication.
6. Also, select Use same settings as my incoming mail server. 
7. Under the Advanced tab, make sure the port and encryption type are correct.
8. Click on Ok > Next > Finish. 

Repair Send/Receive Settings File 

Outlook uses a special file called Outlook.srs that handles the send/receive settings. If this file gets corrupted, it can cause problems with send/receive operations.

Try resetting the file by following the given points:

1. Close the Outlook application.
2. Open the File Explorer.
3. Navigate to: %appdata%\Microsoft\Outlook and rename the Outlook.srs file.
4. Now, restart Outlook.

An Alternative Approach to Fix Outlook Email Stuck in Outbox

If the issue persists, the Outlook PST Repair Tool can help fix it if the Outlook PST file is damaged. It offers two scanning modes: Quick scan for minor issues and Advanced scan for severe corruption. The user can preview the recovered emails, do bulk recovery, supports multiple saving options, & keeps the data secure. 

Follow this step-by-step procedure to fix Outlook emails getting stuck in Outbox:

1. Download and launch the tool.
2. Go to Open and select the damaged PST File.
3. Now, choose the type of Recovery Mode and click on Ok to continue.
4. Once the scanning process is done, pick the files/folders that you want to repair and press Ok.
5. Then, preview the contents of the file.
6. Next, click on Save to export the file to your desired destination folder.
7. At last, click on Ok.

Conclusion

To conclude, the “Outlook Email Stuck in Outbox” error can be caused due to multiple factors. This includes an unstable internet connection, full email storage, Outlook in Offline mode, incorrect SMTP Server settings, etc. By following the outlined solutions, you can successfully fix the error. If the user detects a damaged PST File, the Outlook PST Repair Tool can recover and restore the damaged files. By implementing these solutions, the user can maintain hassle-free email communication.

Related Guide: Outlook Stuck on Loading Profile.

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