Windows Live mail is stuck in 'working offline'

Anonymous
2013-04-02T10:57:39+00:00

Windows Live mail is stuck in 'working offline' and will not allow me to send or receive emails. 

No matter how many times I try to change it to working online, although I AM online and everything else works fine, I cannot receive or send emails.  The Globe at the bottom of the screen changes to online whne I click on it, but the option 'work offline' under 'File' in top left will not switch to online.  I am going mad as I cannot retrieve my emails or send any.

Windows for home | Other | Email and communications

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2013-04-04T00:09:08+00:00

Have a look at IE Tools | Work offline --- is it ticked? untick it, and WLM will be able to go online again.

For some idiot reason MS link IE and WLM Work on/offline settings.

This happened to me after upgrading to IE10 ... hours of frustration later (and I did not select to work offline in IE BTW!).

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Anonymous
2013-07-16T02:51:45+00:00

Hi everyone,

I know that you guys are having issues on:

Unable to send or receive emails, Windows Live Mail is stuck in ‘working offline’

We recommend that you follow the steps below as one of these steps may resolve your issue.

  1. Make sure that the default browser is IE. (Please see the link below)

Make Internet Explorer your default browser:

Internet Explorer 10

Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7

Internet Explorer 9

Internet Explorer 8

  1. You may try to reconfigure the account in Windows Live Mail:

How do I add an account to Windows Live Mail?

  1. Check your computer’s Internet Connection. Verify if Internet Explorer is offline.

a)    Open Internet Explorer browser.

b)    From the menu bar, click File. (If menu is not shown, press “Alt” + F button on your keyboard)

c)     Uncheck “Work offline” by clicking on it.

d)    From Windows Live Mail, click Send/Receive button. If you are being asked to go online, click Yes.

If you encounter the same issue even after following the steps in this thread, we recommend to create a new post under Windows Live Mail forum.

NOTE: I have locked this thread now since it's too long to manage. You may also find some workaround provided by the community on this thread.

Thank you.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-07-11T14:13:59+00:00

    You can only get "online" by going to Internet Explorer 10(if that is what you have installed) web page and on the top task bar select File/uncheck offline.  Now (if you are using Windows Live Mail) you will be back on line.

    If you read my other thread message you will see there are other issues that require you to reset the offline/online status by having to go to IE10.

    Have not found a reason yet why you cannot reset in WLM/File/uncheck offline other than removing the IE10 update that occurred in April 2013 and returning to IE9 which allows you to uncheck in WLM without the need to go to IE/File/uncheck offline.

    Some people say Chrome installed(or another browser) as your browser conflicts and you need to uninstall it and only use IE10.  Could be Microsoft up to tricks again.

    You cannot remove Internet Explorer but if you uninstall  IE10 then IE9 version will automatically install and works OK with Chrome.

    You will also need to set your updates to manual otherwise if set to automatic the IE10 will reinstall. You can of course uncheck the update after uninstalling IE10 and hiding it.

    Also awaiting comments from Microsoft

    Hope this helps . Let me know.

    Robin

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-07-11T11:47:02+00:00

    I can't get on line either. Why ??

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-07-10T19:39:24+00:00

    Windows live Mail with Internet Explorer 10(an update in April 2013) is the problem.

    If you keep going offline for any reason you cannot uncheck the File/offline/online in WLM. It will only be unchecked by going to IE10/File/uncheck then you will be back online in WLM.

    I uninstalled the update which automatically replaces it with IE9 since for some reason Internet Explorer is a default Windows setting and cannot be removed(easily).

    It also does not like you using Chrome but the reason behind this is difficult to find.

    To prevent IE10 re installing as an update you will need to change your update setting to manual instead of automatic.

    Some people do not like Chrome and only use IE10 and one has even said he would never use any browser other than IE.

    Have yet to find an answer from Microsoft why this problem occurs.

    If you wish to keep using IE10 then anytime you go offline in WLM (like switching off router or clicking bottom RH screen in WLM) you will need to uncheck the "offline" in IE10/File/untick offline.

    Let me know if this helps

    Robin

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