Mac Outlook not Syncing with Exchange Server

Many Outlook users have reported encountering the ‘Mac Outlook not Syncing with Exchange Server’ issue. Due to this issue, they may not able to send/receive emails or add any contacts. Though this issue occurs due to connectivity problem between Outlook and the server, there are various other reasons that may lead to this issue. In this post, we have highlighted the possible reasons behind the Mac Outlook syncing issue and the solutions to fix it.

Possible Reasons for Mac Outlook Not Syncing Issue

There are different reasons that may lead to this issue. Some of the possible reasons are:

• Outlook for Mac is in Offline mode
• Connectivity issue between Mac Outlook and Exchange Server
• Outlook cache is corrupt
• Issues with Mac Outlook data files

Solutions to Fix the Mac Outlook not Syncing Issue

Firstly, reboot your device or restart your Outlook for Mac. Sometimes, a simple reboot helps fix the issue. If this doesn’t work, follow the given solutions to resolve the error.

1. Check if Outlook is in Offline Mode

At times, the users enable the Work Offline mode in their Outlook for Mac but forget to turn it off. This creates synchronization issue between Mac Outlook and Exchange Server. To check if the offline mode is enabled or disabled, follow the below-provided steps:

• Launch Outlook for Mac application.
• Go to the Outlook menu and check if Work Offline is selected.
• If selected, unselect the Work Offline mode and see if the issue is resolved.

2. Clear the Cache Data

You can use this option if any specific folder in your Mac Outlook is not synchronizing. You can delete the cache files from the Exchange folder that lacks synchronization. To do so, follow the below steps:

• Ensure that there’s a connection between Mac Outlook and the Exchange Server.
• Now navigate to the Exchange folder, which is not synchronizing.
• Right-click on the folder and go to the Properties option.
• In the Properties dialog box, select the Empty Cache option under the General tab.
• This will clear all the cache.

3. Check Exchange Server Configuration

If incorrect and improper Exchange configuration is done, there might be synchronization issues in your Mac Outlook and Exchange Account. You can confirm the same by following the below steps:

• Launch Outlook for Mac and navigate to Tools > Account.
• Go to your Exchange account.
• If you see an orange indicator against your account, it indicates problems with your Exchange account.
• You can disconnect it and further reconfigure it.
• You can also confirm the Exchange Server account status by logging in using the OWA. Further, you can connect with the Exchange Server based on the status.

4. Rebuild the Mac Outlook File

You can rebuild the database files of your Outlook for Mac by following the steps provided below:

• Exit your Outlook for Mac application and all the associated processes.
• You should take the backup of your identities folder or Mac Outlook located in the C drive of your system. Then, copy them to a new location.
• Now, launch the in-built MS Database utility (you may launch it by clicking Alt+Outlook for Mac icon simultaneously).
• Herein, select the identity you wish to rebuild and choose the Rebuild option.
• This will initiate rebuilding the identity.

You can now check if the Mac Outlook synchronization issue is resolved. However, if the issue is still not resolved, it means there is a problem with the Outlook data file.

What Should be Done to Open an Outlook Data File?

If none of the options provided above works, you can try converting the OLM file into PST (MS Outlook supportable file format). This way, you can access your Outlook for Mac data. One of the best ways to perform this conversion is by using a converter tool, such as Stellar Converter for OLM. This tool converts all your OLM mailbox data, like emails, contacts, reminders, calendar items, attachments, and more into PST. You can also export the converted data to your Office 365 account. You can also save the OLM file data in different formats, such as HTML, RTF, MSG, PDF, EML, etc.

Conclusion

You may encounter the synchronization issue between Mac Outlook and Exchange Server due to various reasons. To resolve this problem, you can use the methods mentioned in this post. You can check if the Outlook is in offline mode, rebuild the Outlook for Mac file, and check the Exchange connectivity. If the Outlook data file becomes inaccessible or gets damaged, you can convert the Outlook for Mac data by using an OLM to PST converter.