one drive keeps saying imnot connected to internet and emails wont populate

OneDrive and Outlook both need a working internet connection and access to Microsoft services. When they report that there is no connection, either the device is offline, the network is blocked, or the Microsoft services cannot be reached from the current connection.

Use these steps to troubleshoot:

1. Confirm internet access
   • Open a browser and go to any public website (for example, a news site) to verify that the device is online.
   • If pages do not load, fix the network first (Wi‑Fi/cable, router, or ISP) before troubleshooting OneDrive/Outlook.
2. Check for general connectivity issues to Microsoft services
   • If other websites work but OneDrive/Outlook still say “not connected” or emails do not populate, there may be a connection problem between the network and Microsoft services.
   • If using a work/school network, VPN, or a restricted Wi‑Fi (hotel, public hotspot), sign in through any captive portal page and, if needed, temporarily disconnect VPN to test.
3. Check OneDrive sign‑in and connection
   • If the OneDrive icon in the taskbar is gray or has a line through it, it indicates that OneDrive is not signed in.
   • Select the OneDrive icon and, if prompted, sign in again with the account email and password.
   • If sign‑in works but OneDrive still reports connection issues, test whether the network or firewall is blocking OneDrive by:
     • Temporarily connecting via a different network (for example, using a mobile hotspot).
     • If OneDrive works on the hotspot but not on the main network, contact the internet provider or network admin to ensure Microsoft 365 services and OneDrive endpoints are allowed.
4. Fix OneDrive “cannot connect to Windows” / Files On‑Demand issues
   • If the message mentions “OneDrive cannot connect to Windows” or Files On‑Demand:
     1. Open Windows Update and install all available Windows updates.
     2. Download and install the latest OneDrive client.
     3. Restart the computer and test OneDrive again.
   • While this is unresolved, files can still be accessed via the OneDrive website or the OneDrive mobile app.
5. Check Outlook (new Outlook for Windows) connectivity
   • After confirming that the device and browser can reach the internet and Microsoft sites, open Outlook and wait a few minutes to see if emails start to populate.
   • If Outlook still shows no new mail while the browser can reach Outlook/OneDrive, the issue is likely transient service connectivity; continue to use Outlook on the web until the client reconnects.
6. If the message is specifically “troubleshoot your internet connection”
   • This message appears when Office apps cannot reach Microsoft’s online services.
   • Verify the network connection as above, then try again later in case of a temporary service outage.
   • While offline or when service is unreachable, locally installed Office apps and any content already synced to the device remain available.

If, after these steps, OneDrive and Outlook still both report no connection while the browser can reach other sites, contact the ISP or network administrator to check for blocking of Microsoft 365 endpoints, or contact Microsoft Support using another device/network.

References:

• Can't sign in to OneDrive
• "OneDrive cannot connect to Windows" error when accessing files in OneDrive
• Why am I getting a message that says to troubleshoot my Internet connection?
• Fix OneDrive sync problems