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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87 additional answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-05-10T19:43:50+00:00

    I have reinstalled LM having settled the online issue.  It installed gmail and the current messages and contacts downloaded.  However, I cannot send.  Messages stall in the Outbox with no error message. I installed my primary ISP POP3 based email service and this will neither receive, send or import message or contact files from Outlook.  This is basic stuff.   All of the server etc settings are the same as appear on my Outlook email account and one would expect them to work in the same way again. Why is it so difficult?

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-05-10T19:33:39+00:00

    This solved the problem for me too. You may have to right click in the tool bar to expose the "menu bar." I had to then close and re-open mail and now it is working.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-05-10T18:40:29+00:00

    Live Mail is put out there with no warnings or restrictions.  It is clear from the many posts that there is a great deal of trouble for the user in setting up Live Mail for use.  It is a shame.  I would much prefer to use it because of the integrated approach that it takes to the basics of PIM.  The only other that comes even close is Thunderbird and that has omissions relative to Outlook/Live Mail.  However Thunderbird's set up is a dream by comparison.  Your excuse sounds more like the complaint of a cash strapped start up than a  mature multi billion corporation.

    I will try again after your note to use Alt-F.  How is a non user to know about hidden menus?  And wouldn't Alt-M be a better acronym? All I saw was the File menu under Tools.  I'm all for keeping the work space uncluttered, but IE is clutter beyond imagination with trivia and the controls are hidden from view?

    Believe it or not, I am actually a  Microsoft OS supporter.  I think Win8 is the greatest, but these inconsistencies and irritations detract from the overall effectiveness.

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