How to Fix AOL Email Not Syncing to Outlook?
Last updated
Last updated
AOL Mail remains a popular email service for many users, while Microsoft Outlook is one of the most widely used email clients, offering powerful tools for managing multiple email accounts in one place. However, many AOL Mail users who try to sync their AOL email to Outlook sometimes encounter frustrating problems Outlook fails to sync emails, new messages don’t appear, or you may see error messages like "Cannot connect to AOL server."
When AOL email doesn’t sync properly with Outlook, it interrupts your workflow, causing missed emails and communication delays. The good news is, most of these syncing issues can be fixed with some methodical troubleshooting and proper configuration. In this article, we’ll explore why AOL email might not be syncing with Outlook and provide comprehensive solutions to fix the problem.
Understanding the root causes will help in diagnosing the issue correctly. Here are some frequent reasons for AOL Mail failing to sync with Outlook:
Incorrect Account Settings: Wrong server addresses, ports, or authentication details can prevent syncing.
Outdated Outlook Version: Older versions may not support current AOL server protocols.
Poor or Unstable Internet Connection: Interruptions can cause syncing failures.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) or Security Settings: AOL accounts with 2FA enabled require app-specific passwords.
IMAP/POP Settings Conflicts: Misconfigured IMAP or POP settings may prevent proper email fetching.
Corrupted Outlook Profile or Data Files: Damaged PST or OST files can disrupt syncing.
Firewall, Antivirus, or VPN Interference: Security software can block Outlook’s connection to AOL servers.
Server Outages or Maintenance: Temporary AOL server issues can affect syncing.
Large Mailbox or Excessive Emails: A very large mailbox can slow or block syncing.
Incorrect Date & Time Settings: Mismatched system time can cause authentication failures.
The first step is to ensure that your Outlook is configured with the correct incoming and outgoing server settings for AOL Mail.
For IMAP (recommended) settings:
Incoming Mail Server (IMAP): imap.aol.com Port: 993 Encryption: SSL/TLS
Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP): smtp.aol.com Port: 465 or 587 Encryption: SSL/TLS
For POP3 (less common):
Incoming Mail Server (POP3): pop.aol.com Port: 995 Encryption: SSL/TLS
Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP): smtp.aol.com Port: 465 or 587 Encryption: SSL/TLS
Also, ensure your username is the full AOL email address, and password is correct.
How to check/change settings in Outlook:
Open Outlook and go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
Select your AOL account and click Change.
Verify incoming/outgoing server details and encryption.
Click More Settings > Outgoing Server and check My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication.
Save and exit.
Using an outdated Outlook version can cause compatibility problems.
Open Outlook.
Go to File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now.
Install any available updates and restart Outlook.
Make sure you have a stable and fast internet connection. Syncing requires uninterrupted connectivity.
Test browsing and streaming.
Restart your router if needed.
Avoid using public or restricted networks.
If your AOL account has two-step verification enabled, your regular password won’t work in Outlook. Instead, generate an app-specific password.
Log in to your AOL account via a web browser.
Go to Account Security > Manage App Passwords.
Generate a new app password for Outlook.
Use this app password instead of your regular password in Outlook.
Sometimes, the account profile gets corrupted.
In Outlook, go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
Select your AOL account and click Remove.
Restart Outlook.
Add your AOL account again using the correct server settings.
Corrupted data files can cause syncing issues.
Close Outlook.
Open Control Panel > Mail > Data Files.
Select your AOL account and click Open File Location.
Use Microsoft’s Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe) to scan and repair PST files.
Alternatively, delete the OST file and restart Outlook to rebuild it (only for IMAP accounts).
Security software may block Outlook’s connection to AOL servers.
Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus.
Try syncing emails.
If it works, add exceptions for Outlook and AOL servers in your security software.
Re-enable security software afterward.
Server issues on AOL’s side can prevent syncing.
Visit Downdetector or AOL’s help page.
If servers are down, wait for AOL to resolve the issue.
An excessively large mailbox slows syncing.
Log in to AOL Mail via web.
Delete or archive old emails.
Empty Trash and Spam folders.
Try syncing again.
Incorrect date/time settings cause authentication failures.
On Windows, right-click the clock on the taskbar and select Adjust date/time.
Enable Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically.
Restart Outlook.
Safe mode disables add-ins which might interfere.
Press Windows + R, type outlook.exe /safe, and press Enter.
If syncing works, disable problematic add-ins via File > Options > Add-ins.
A corrupted profile can cause syncing issues.
Close Outlook.
Go to Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles > Add.
Create a new profile and add your AOL account.
Set the new profile as default.
Regularly update Outlook and AOL Mail app.
Avoid storing excessive emails in your mailbox.
Periodically repair Outlook data files.
Use app-specific passwords with 2FA enabled accounts.
Avoid using multiple email clients simultaneously accessing the same account.
AOL email not syncing with Outlook can disrupt your communication and productivity. However, most syncing problems are solvable by verifying your account settings, updating software, managing security settings, and repairing data files. By following the detailed steps above, you can usually restore seamless syncing between AOL Mail and Outlook.
If you continue to experience problems despite trying these solutions, contacting AOL support or Microsoft Outlook support might be necessary for advanced troubleshooting.
With patience and the right approach, you can enjoy the full benefits of managing your AOL email efficiently through Outlook once again
.