How to Fix “We Are Unable to Connect Right Now” in Outlook

If you’re trying to open Outlook and get hit with the frustrating message “We are unable to connect right now, please check your network and try again,” you’re not alone. This issue is common—and fixable. Whether it’s a network glitch, a problem with your account settings, or something deeper in Outlook itself, here’s how to troubleshoot and get back on track fast.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

Let’s start with the obvious. Outlook needs a stable internet connection. Do this:

• Open your browser and try loading a website.
• Restart your router or switch to a different network.
• If you’re on Wi-Fi, try connecting with an Ethernet cable for a stronger signal.

2. Restart Outlook and Your PC

Sometimes, a simple restart clears things up.

• Close Outlook completely (use Task Manager if needed).
• Restart your PC.
• Reopen Outlook and see if the error disappears.

3. Check for Service Outages

It could be on Microsoft’s end.

• Go to the Microsoft 365 Service Status page and check if there’s a known issue.
• If Outlook is down, you’ll just have to wait it out.

4. Turn Off Work Offline Mode

Outlook has an offline mode that can block connections.

• Open Outlook.
• Go to the Send/Receive tab.
• Make sure Work Offline is NOT highlighted. If it is, click it to go back online.

5. Re-enter or Repair Your Account

Sometimes Outlook loses connection to your email account.

• Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
• Select your account and click Repair.
• Follow the prompts to fix connection issues.

6. Clear Credential Manager

Corrupted or outdated credentials can cause this error.

• Type Credential Manager in the Windows search bar.
• Open it and go to Windows Credentials.
• Look for any Outlook or Microsoft Office entries. Remove them.
• Restart Outlook and re-enter your login info when prompted.

7. Update Outlook

Running an outdated version of Outlook can cause problems.

• Go to File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now.
• Let it update and restart the program.

8. Create a New Outlook Profile

If your profile is corrupted, Outlook may not connect.

• Go to Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles.
• Click Add, name the new profile, and set up your account.
• Set the new profile as default and open Outlook.

9. Flush DNS Cache

DNS issues can block Outlook from connecting to the server.

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
• Type: ipconfig /flushdns
• Press Enter. Restart your PC and try again.

Final Thoughts

Outlook’s “We Are Unable to Connect Right Now” error usually comes down to one of three things: a bad network, corrupt credentials, or misconfigured settings. Go through these fixes step by step, and chances are you’ll be back in your inbox in no time.

If the issue persists, consider reinstalling Office or reaching out to Microsoft Support—it might be something deeper on your system.