I cannot send or receive emails in my hotmail account. I have been through all through all the troubleshooting steps but still need help

Hello andy white,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A Forum. I understand how frustrating it is when your Hotmail can’t send or receive emails even after going through multiple troubleshooting steps.

Before we proceed, could you tell me whether you’ve already tried the steps suggested in the Q&A Assist reply above? If yes, which ones and what happened?

Since you’re able to sign in but the issue continues, here're a few additional checks that you could try:

1. Test on Outlook on the web

Please sign in at https://outlook.live.com and try sending and receiving an email there.

• If it fails on the web, this points to an account-level restriction.
• If it works on the web but not in the app, the issue is local to the app/device.

2. Review Junk Email and Safe Senders settings

In Outlook on the web, go to Settings > Mail > Junk email and confirm:

• No important addresses or domains are blocked under Blocked senders and domains
• Add trusted addresses to Safe senders and domains and test again

3. Check mailbox/storage quota

If your storage is full, Outlook won’t send or receive. Review storage and free space if needed. You can see Mailbox storage limits in Outlook - Microsoft Support

4. Check the Outbox folder in app

If messages are stuck in Outbox, close Outlook, reopen it, then try sending again.

5. Restart Outlook in safe mode:

• Close Outlook completely
• Press Windows + R, type outlook.exe /safe > press Enter
• Try sending/receiving in Safe Mode

If it still fails, to help me guide you more precisely, please share:

• Which specific steps have you already tried?
• The exact error when trying to send/receive (e.g., bounce/NDR text, “quota exceeded,” or “account blocked”).
• Whether the problem occurs on Outlook.com web, the Outlook app (New Outlook or Classic Outlook), or both.

Once I have a bit more information, I can provide the exact fix for you.

For more details, please refer to this official guide: I can't send or receive messages in Outlook - Microsoft Support

Thank you for your understanding and patience. Feel free to let me know how it goes.

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If you're unable to send or receive emails in your Hotmail account, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take. Since you've already gone through the troubleshooting steps, here are some additional suggestions:

1. Check for Service Issues: Sometimes, the problem may be due to service outages. You can check the Microsoft 365 Service health status to see if there are any ongoing issues affecting email services.
2. Run Windows Update: Ensure that your Outlook client software and Windows operating system are up to date. Outdated software can cause connectivity issues.
3. Repair Office Installation: If your Office installation is corrupted, it might prevent you from sending or receiving emails. You can follow the steps to repair your Office application.
4. Check Your Internet Connection: Ensure that you have a stable internet connection, as connectivity issues can prevent email functionality.
5. Use the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant: This tool can help diagnose and fix several common Outlook connectivity issues automatically.

If these steps do not resolve your issue, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance.

References:

• Fix Outlook connection problems for Microsoft 365 account
• Help Identify My Issue with Sending/Receiving Email in Outlook (Automatic Checks)

Good day andy white, I hope you're well. May I know if you've got any chance to check my reply? If you have any further updates on this issue, please feel free to post back. I'm happy to help you.