Email Sync Problems

Fix Microsoft 365 Calendar and Contacts Not Syncing Across Devices

WPS Editor Sep 29, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users are experiencing issues where their Microsoft 365 emails synchronize across devices, but their calendars and contacts fail to sync.

Fix Microsoft 365 Calendar and Contacts Not Syncing Across Devices

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to access updated calendar events and contacts across multiple devices, such as a desktop computer and a mobile phone.
Observed behavior: Emails synchronize correctly, but calendars and contacts remain unsynced or isolated to a single device because the account was set up using IMAP or POP protocols instead of Exchange.

Before you start

Ensure you have your Microsoft 365 account credentials ready and an active internet connection before making any changes to your account settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Re-add Account as Exchange or Microsoft 365

Fix the synchronization issue by removing the limited IMAP/POP setup and re-adding the account via Exchange to enable full data syncing.

IMAP and POP protocols are designed to only synchronize email messages. To sync calendars, contacts, and tasks across multiple devices, your Microsoft 365 account must be configured using the Exchange protocol.

Remove the current account

Navigate to your device's Settings, go to the Accounts or Mail section, select the affected Microsoft 365 account, and tap 'Remove Account' or 'Delete from this device'.

Add the account again

Select 'Add Account' and explicitly choose 'Microsoft Exchange', 'Microsoft 365', or 'Outlook.com' as the account type. Do not select 'Other' or manually configure IMAP.

Authenticate securely

Enter your Microsoft 365 email address and password. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete any required multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Enable synchronization toggles

Once authenticated, you will be prompted to choose what to sync. Ensure the toggle switches for Mail, Contacts, Calendars, and Tasks are turned on, then save the settings.

Re-add Account as Exchange or Microsoft 365

Data Safety: Removing the IMAP/POP account from your device will not delete your emails from the Microsoft servers. However, if you have locally saved contacts or calendar events on that device that never synced, back them up before removing the account.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Microsoft 365 emails syncing but not my calendars and contacts?

This happens when your email account is set up using IMAP or POP protocols, which only support email synchronization. To sync calendars and contacts, the account must be connected using the Exchange or Microsoft 365 protocol.

Will I lose my emails if I remove and re-add my Microsoft 365 account?

No, your emails are securely stored on Microsoft's cloud servers. Removing the account from your device only removes local access. Once you re-add the account using Exchange, all your emails, calendars, and contacts will download again automatically.

How do I force my Microsoft 365 calendar to sync on my mobile device?

Go to your device's account settings, select your Microsoft 365 account, and ensure the toggle for 'Calendars' is turned on. If it still fails, remove the account and re-add it, making sure to specifically select the 'Microsoft Exchange' option during setup.

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