We can't connect to Outlook at the moment, please try later.

Hi,

I can only imagine how frustrating it is when you're unable to receive or send emails as you're being prompted with connection-to-Outlook error message. Let me help you.

Please provide us the neccessary information that are asked by Judith_C. as we'll start to investigate your account regarding this issue. Sign in here and click on You have a private reply to this messagelink to view the message. Post back to this thread if you've responded to the private message.

Thanks!

Still get 'We can't connect to Outlook at the moment. Please try again later', during use ie I start by using OE successfully then get the above message. It happens on both my computers.  If no fix is installed by Microsoft to this widespread problem, count me out after many years use.  I'm off!

Hi CliffSore,

It is possible that the server that hosts your account has undergone maintenance thus you have encountered the error. Please be informed that the server maintenance is temporary and that it depends on the server where the email account belongs.

As a basic troubleshooting step, kindly try signing in to https://status.live.com to check the status of your account and to ensure that the server isn't down. After that, try signing in to other Microsoft services (People, Calendar, and SkyDrive).

Furthermore, I recommend that you optimize your browser to make sure that your browser's settings don't contribute to the issue. Please visit the link below to know how to optimize your browser:

How to Clear Your Browser's Cache

After optimizing, please close your entire browser and try accessing your account again. If the issue persists, I suggest that you try to use other browsers, and try using another Microsoft account on your default browser and computer to isolate the issue. Please notify us for the result.

Thank you.

From where I stand, there appear to be massive inconsistencies in these suggested 'fixes' and 'routes to fixes'.   I wish to suggest that we're not even on the right track, and I'll say why.  (& thereafter Outlook can fix itself, thank you (I also, am sick of it and I'm seeing almost no sufferers unsubscribing to the thread or saying thanks, that fixed it!!)

Firstly, this 'browser maintenance' suggestion.

(Which it isn't anyway).  But alright, let's suppose it's that - well, how come Outlook sometimes operates for short periods (up to a whole day) as it should and then doesn't?  That's to say if a browser's not optimised then it would ALWAYS not be optimised.

Affected email address.

I'd bet all these other Outlook users, like me, didn't have an 'affected' email address when it was Hotmail, only since the Outlook rewrite.

Operating system.

Okay, can explain any problem, and (rarely) that's in there.  But I'm brand new out of the box Windows 8 and maintained and secured.  (Again, I'm sure there are few for whom that's gonna be the answer).

Status live.

So a good suggested check anyway, but it probably isn't going to help if my experience is anything to go by.  I checked - 100%, thanks.  It's not that either, for most.  What's gonna be the next guess.....?

Optimise.. check this, check that... Hey!..  whisper.. it couldn't be outlook.. after all.. could it.. ?

Hi,

Let me assist you with your concern. We understand that you are receiving an error message when accessing your Outlook.com. We apologize for the inconvenience that this has caused you.We are requesting you to do the following suggestions you've mentioned for initial troubleshooting steps and for us to isolate the issue whether it is a browser specific or account issue.

The reason why you received an error message "We can't connect to Outlook at the moment, please try later." is because of the server maintenance. However, this issue should be fixed now.   

If you are still encountering this issue, we are requesting you to provide the following information on the private message for investigation purposes.

• Impacted Account
• Type and version of the browser that you are using
• Operating system of your computer
• Account Server

You may refer to the private message area or you need to click the notification that states “You have a private reply to this message. Click here to read it on our secure private messages section.", be sure that you are signed in to view my message.

Thanks.