No new messages in Inbox using Outlook 2013, IMAP, but messages appear in Sent

Question

I'm having a problem similar to this but the provided answer didn't resolve it.

Symptoms: Using a non-gmail email service, I've configured IMAP across multiple devices using the same settings and this one instance of Outlook is the only one not working correctly. I see every email that I send in my Sent folder, and I see new spam in my Spam folder, but nothing new is appearing in my Inbox. The following error appears in Sync issues multiple times each time I launch Outlook:

20:44:54 Synchronizer Version 15.0.4551.1004
20:44:54 Synchronizing Mailbox '[email protected]'
20:44:54 Synchronizing Hierarchy
20:44:57 Error in folder 'spam'
20:44:57         [800CCCD2-0-0-733]
20:44:57 Terminated in error
20:44:57         [800CCCD2-0-0-733]

...with 'spam', 'sent', and 'trash' being listed as the error folders. Those are the folders that seem to be working. Folder size isn't changing for the Inbox, so I don't think they're being downloaded.

I've tried:

• renaming the .ost, forcing Outlook to recreate the ost
• changing the "mail to keep offline" option from and to "all"
• starting Outlook in safe mode
• deleting and recreating my mail profile
• repairing Office
• uninstalling Office (with this tool) and reinstalling it
• booting in clean boot
• disabling the firewall
• resetting the view in Outlook

No options available through my email provider's cpanel web interface seem related to this.

I'll keep an eye on this thread, and am happy to provide more details or perform whatever steps are recommended.

Solution 1

I think I might have found the solution. I cannot explain why, but it seems to work at my end at least. I started looking at folders, and seeing that Outlook had created its own Sent, Draft, Trash folders. But in my search to clear this up, I came across this website: http://www.msoutlook.info/question/736 So I tried to set the 'Root folder path', which made Outlook create new Sent, Draft and Trash folders again, but also, it started downloading the Inbox! I just typed 'Inbox' as the path. The nested folders disappeared (as folders other than the Inbox had been nested before. Now they appear just under the Inbox, just like my Exchange account above it...

Maybe this works for you as well...?

Solution 2

I see this several times a week with various clients on Outlook 2013.

(MOST COMMON)
1. Disable or uninstall 3rd party plug-ins (especially AntiSpam)

(LESS COMMON)
2. Change Send/Receive Settings to only load the Inbox folder

(EVEN LESS COMMON)
3. Make sure you are subscribed to the Inbox folder

(WORKAROUND THAT ALWAYS WORKS)
4. If all above fails, add the IMAP account again so you have two instances on the same profile. Set the newly added IMAP instance as the default (this also changes the default data store). Allow Outlook time to move data to the new instance, then remove the old account instance. This is a workaround but it works. It's better than creating a new profile if you need contacts, calendar and tasks. Alternatively, you could back up to .pst, create new profile, then import, but that's more work unless you only use Outlook for email.

Warning!!!: Outlook 2013 attaches all data to your account loaded on Outlook. If you delete the data file/pst before setting it up you won't be able to open it as a .pst like earlier versions of Outlook! You will lose all Contacts, Calendar, Tasks if you remove the account before setting it up again.

Solution 3

I fixed it by setting the IMAP root folder in Outlook to "Inbox" pressing OK, and then going back into the settings and removing the IMAP root folder I just set. It seemed that setting it and then removing it fixed it.

Comments

[Aron Foster]

My "solution" has been to install Thunderbird. I'm still happy to try any suggestions offered.

[userfuser]

I had the same issue (in TheBat email client). Fixed it by going into IMAP account management (in TheBat) and manually registering the INBOX folder. Only the subfolders of the Inbox folder were already subscribed, and the Inbox itself was not, not sure why. I used many other IMAP accounts and it always worked good (this erratic one was with t-online.de).

[Aron Foster]

Yep, I had tried combinations of port numbers, but in the end Outlook just needed "Inbox" to be typed as the path.

[ganesh]

That is because you client was busy (and possibly failing) to download the large email. The OP's does receive new emails though.

[Squish]

Setting the Send/Receive to only the Inbox solved the issue with our install of Outlook 2013 not syncing secondary accounts. Thanks :) (To clarify, only accounts that were currently being looked at were syncing during the auto send/receive.)

[Danny Beckett]

Per this Technet thread, the word INBOX needs to be in All Caps.

[CWilson]

Agreed. Modifying the Root Folder Path in Outlook 2016 to INBOX manually was sufficient to pull the Inbox for the first time on this device, yet still 'retained' (by pulling again) all other 'folders', such as 'Sent', 'Trash', etc.