Send & Receive Issues

How to Fix Outlook Emails Failing or Taking Hours to Send

Adam Davis Sep 29, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where outgoing emails in Microsoft Outlook either fail to send entirely or experience significant delays before delivery.

How to Fix Outlook Emails That Fail or Take Hours to Send

Product: Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Sending emails, particularly those with attachments, through the Outlook desktop client.
Observed behavior: Outgoing messages remain stuck in the Outbox, trigger a send/receive error, or take several hours to reach the recipient.

Before you start

Verify that your internet connection is stable and ensure Outlook is not set to 'Work Offline' by checking the status bar at the bottom of the application window.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify SMTP Settings and Clear Stuck Outbox Messages

Incorrect server settings or a single large stuck message in the Outbox can block all other outgoing emails from being sent.

If a message contains an attachment larger than your email provider's limit, it will get stuck in the Outbox and prevent subsequent emails from sending. Combined with incorrect SMTP settings, this is the most common cause of sending failures.

Enable Offline Mode

Open Outlook, go to the Send/Receive tab on the ribbon, and click 'Work Offline'. This stops Outlook from continuously trying to send the stuck message.

Clear the Outbox

Navigate to your Outbox folder. Right-click any large or stuck messages and select Delete, or drag them to the Drafts folder to remove the attachments later.

Verify Server Settings

Click File > Account Settings > Server Settings. Under the Outgoing mail (SMTP) section, verify that the server address, port, and encryption method match your email provider's exact requirements.

Reconnect and Restart

Return to the Send/Receive tab, click 'Work Offline' again to reconnect to the server, and restart Outlook to test sending a new message.

Verify SMTP Settings and Clear Stuck Outbox Messages

SMTP Authentication: Ensure that the option 'My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication' is checked in your advanced account settings, as most providers require it.

Solution 2

Temporarily Disable Antivirus Email Scanning

Overly aggressive third-party antivirus or firewall software can intercept and significantly delay outgoing emails.

Solution 3

Create a New Outlook Profile

A corrupted Outlook profile can cause persistent send and receive errors that cannot be fixed by changing settings.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Outlook emails getting stuck in the Outbox?

Emails usually get stuck in the Outbox due to large attachments exceeding the mail server limit, incorrect SMTP (outgoing server) settings, or sudden network disconnections while the sending process is in progress.

How do I find the correct SMTP settings for my email provider?

You can find the correct SMTP server address, port number, and required encryption method (such as SSL/TLS) by checking the official support documentation of your email provider (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo) or by contacting your organization's IT department.

Can the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant fix Outlook delays?

Yes, Microsoft provides a free Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) tool. It runs automated diagnostics on your system to identify and automatically fix common Outlook connectivity, profile corruption, and sending problems.

Will creating a new Outlook profile delete my existing emails?

No, creating a new profile does not delete your emails. It simply establishes a fresh connection to your email server. Your existing emails remain safe on the server or locally in your original Outlook Data File (.pst or .ost).

Outlook & Email Problems