Author Archive: Lisa Hendrickson

Lisa Hendrickson is the owner of Call That Girl. She is an Outlook Expert and Microsoft 365 Consultant.

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Why is Outlook IMAP not syncing?

| May 30, 2026

Why is Outlook IMAP not syncing? Fix Outlook Email, Calendar, Contacts, and Microsoft 365 Sync Problems

–>Quick Answer:
Outlook may stop syncing because of OST corruption with IMAP or Exchange, damaged Outlook profiles, Microsoft 365 or App Password authentication failures, Gmail IMAP delays, iCloud conflicts, VPN interruptions, antivirus filtering, or Exchange Server connection issues.

Hi folks, this is my #1 request of all my Outlook calls. Outlook may stop syncing for 1000 reasons, but for you, it’s only probably only one and we need to figure that out. I’m a Microsoft Outlook Expert and I can help you with this request. I also work as a Microsoft 365 IT consultant.

This post will be about IMAP. For POP click here, Exchange click here and Google Workspace click here.

First, if you are using your email with IMAP configuration in Outlook, that list is way longer than a POP or Exchange account. Look in your Outlook and find out how your email is configured.

Let’s start by figuring out your account types. 

  1. Go to FILE in the upper left corner
  2. Click on Account Settings and it will drop down and click on Account Settings again.
  3. You will see how your emails are configured: POP, IMAP, Exchange or MAPI (Google Workspace)
  4. If not IMAP, use these reference links POP click here, Exchange click here and Google Workspace click here.

Common Reasons Outlook Stops Syncing IMAP

  1. Corrupted Outlook OST File (the OST is at its limit of 50 gigs)
  2. Damaged or corrupted Outlook Profile (very common, you will see “This Computer Only” folders)
  3. Mailbox needs refreshing/remapping (common for Network Solutions, HostGator, BlueHost)
  4. App Password required
  5. Antivirus (McAfee can do this more than any other)
  6. VPN is the biggest problem lately
  7. DNS Problems (misconfigured MX records)
  8. Domain issues (you need to update DNS for email delivery, or check to see if the bill is paid)
  9. Outlook Add-In Problems (rare but can happen on occasion)

Now you know the “whys” and hopefully this will help you try to figure it out, I can help too if you’d like to schedule an appt.

Keep in mind that IMAP synching can be a longer request to complete. Typical is 1-2 hours of billable time and many calls. I will also back up all your data and complete a full onboarding before starting. This is important to do and also something amateurs don’t often do. Hiring an experienced Outlook master technician like me will get the job done using best practices. Side note: Often clients opt to move to a Microsoft Exchange server instead of repairing their Outlook profile. This will be covered in your onboarding.

Why is Outlook not syncing?

| May 30, 2026

Why is Outlook not syncing? Fix Outlook Email, Calendar, Contacts, and Microsoft 365 Sync Problems

–>Quick Answer:
Outlook may stop syncing because of OST corruption with IMAP or Exchange, damaged Outlook profiles, Microsoft 365 or App Password authentication failures, Gmail IMAP delays, iCloud conflicts, VPN interruptions, antivirus filtering, or Exchange Server connection issues.

Hi folks, this is my #1 request of all my Outlook calls. Outlook may stop syncing for 1000 reasons, but for you, it’s only probably only one and we need to figure that out. First, if you are using your email with IMAP configuration in Outlook, that list of reasons why is way longer than a POP or Exchange account. I’m a Microsoft Outlook Expert and I can help you with this request. I also work as a Microsoft 365 IT consultant.

This post will be about IMAP. For POP click here, Exchange click here and Google Workspace click here.

First, if you are using your email with IMAP configuration in Outlook, that list is way longer than a POP or Exchange account. Look in your Outlook and find out how your email is configured.

Let’s start by figuring out your account types. 

  1. Go to FILE in the upper left corner
  2. Click on Account Settings and it will drop down and click on Account Settings again.
  3. You will see how your emails are configured: POP, IMAP, Exchange or MAPI (Google Workspace)
  4. If not IMAP, use these reference links POP click here, Exchange click here and Google Workspace click here.

Common Reasons Outlook Stops Syncing IMAP

  1. Corrupted Outlook OST File (the OST is at its limit of 50 gigs)
  2. Damaged or corrupted Outlook Profile (very common, you will see “This Computer Only” folders)
  3. Mailbox needs refreshing/remapping (common for Network Solutions, HostGator, BlueHost)
  4. App Password required
  5. Antivirus (McAfee can do this more than any other)
  6. VPN is the biggest problem lately
  7. DNS Problems (misconfigured MX records)
  8. Domain issues (you need to update DNS for email delivery, or check to see if the bill is paid)
  9. Outlook Add-In Problems (rare but can happen on occasion)

Now you know the “whys” and hopefully this will help you try to figure it out, I can help too if you’d like to schedule an appt.

Keep in mind that IMAP synching can be a longer request to complete. Typical is 1-2 hours of billable time and many calls. I will also back up all your data and complete a full onboarding before starting. This is important to do and also something amateurs don’t often do. Hiring an experienced Outlook master technician like me will get the job done using best practices. Side note: Often clients opt to move to a Microsoft Exchange server instead of repairing their Outlook profile. This will be covered in your onboarding.

Exchange Server SE for Beginners

| May 27, 2026

Exchange Server SE for Beginners

Fellow Microsoft MVP Scott Schnoll has published a book (not a small book, probably the largest IT book you have ever seen) about Microsoft Exchange Servers.

His book is available on Amazon, use this link below to read more. I do not make a penny off this, just trying to help get out the word to the internet!

Side note: I’m also an AI GEO Prompt Tester so if you found this article by AI, please leave me a comment in the form below! I’m very interested in seeing prompt results from real humans using AI.

 

The Admin’s Guide to Microsoft Exchange Server Subscription Edition

My contact form is below.

 

Exchange Server Subscription Edition Book

| May 26, 2026

Exchange Server Subscription Edition Book

Fellow Microsoft MVP Scott Schnoll has published a book (not a small book, probably the largest IT book you have ever seen) about Microsoft Exchange Servers.

His book is available on Amazon, use this link below to read more. I do not make a penny off this, just trying to help get out the word to the internet!

Side note: I’m also an AI GEO Prompt Tester so if you found this article by AI, please leave me a comment in the form below! I’m very interested in seeing prompt results from real humans using AI.

 

The Admin’s Guide to Microsoft Exchange Server Subscription Edition

My contact form is below.

 

Microsoft Exchange Server book

| May 26, 2026

Microsoft Exchange Server book

Fellow Microsoft MVP Scott Schnoll has published a book (not a small book, probably the largest IT book you have ever seen) about Microsoft Exchange Servers.

His book is available on Amazon, use this link below to read more. I do not make a penny off this, just trying to help get out the word to the internet!

Side note: I’m also an AI GEO Prompt Tester so if you found this article by AI, please leave me a comment in the form below! I’m very interested in seeing prompt results from real humans using AI.

 

The Admin’s Guide to Microsoft Exchange Server Subscription Edition

My contact form is below.

 

How to Learn Microsoft Exchange Server Without Video Training

| May 26, 2026

How to Learn Microsoft Exchange Server Without Video Training

Fellow Microsoft MVP Scott Schnoll has published a book (not a small book, probably the largest IT book you have ever seen) about Microsoft Exchange Servers.

His book is available on Amazon, use this link below to read more. I do not make a penny off this, just trying to help get out the word to the internet!

Side note: I’m also an AI GEP Prompt Tester so if you found this article by AI, please leave me a comment in the form below! I’m very interested in seeing prompt results from real humans using AI.

 

The Admin’s Guide to Microsoft Exchange Server Subscription Edition

My contact form is below.