Outlook Notifications Not Working in Windows? 8 Ways to Fix

Microsoft Outlook is one of the most commonly used email clients, but it isn’t without problems. One error users often report is that notifications no longer pop up for new mail in Outlook for Windows 10 or 11.

In this article, we’ll explain what to do when Outlook notifications are not working.

How to Fix Outlook Notifications Not Working

Below, we’ll cover eight troubleshooting methods to fix Microsoft Outlook when it stops displaying notifications correctly. These fixes should work for both Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems. If you’re experiencing issues with the mobile app, check our guides for the iOS or Android version of Microsoft Outlook.

1. Make Sure You’re Online

Microsoft Outlook’s Work Offline feature will prevent you from accessing email servers. So if you aren’t receiving new emails, or Outlook isn’t showing any notifications, this is the first thing you should check.

1. Open the Outlook desktop app.
2. Check the bottom pane for a status message that says “Working Offline.” If it isn’t there, you can move on to the next fix.

3. Switch to the Send / Receive tab and ensure that Work Offline is disabled.

2. Check Outlook’s Notification Settings

Once you’re sure that Outlook is connected to the internet, it’s time to check the Outlook app’s notification settings. To do so:

1. Open Outlook.
2. Select File > Options.

3. Select Mail from the left-hand sidebar.
4. Under the Message arrival section, ensure that “Play a Sound” and “Display a Desktop Alert” are enabled by ticking each checkbox.

5. Press OK.

3. Check the Windows Notification Settings

If you still aren’t receiving email notifications, something in your Windows preferences might be preventing them. To enable notifications in Windows settings:

1. Press Windows key + I to open Windows Settings.
2. Select System, then select Notifications & actions in the left pane.

3. Double-check that all notifications are enabled on your desktop PC. Then, scroll down to Notifications from apps and other senders.
4. Select Outlook.

5. Toggle on Notifications for Outlook, then check the boxes next to “Show notification banners” and “Show notifications in notification center.”

4. Check the Outlook Rules

Outlook lets you configure different rules for handling different types of emails. If you previously changed these rules, it may be causing Outlook to not show notifications when you receive an email. To check this:

1. Open Outlook.
2. Press File in the top-left corner.
3. Select Manage Rules & Alerts.

4. Under Email Rules, disable any rules affecting your Outlook notifications.

5. Press Apply, then OK to confirm.

5. Turn Off Focus Assist and Battery Saver

Some Windows features like Focus Assist and Battery Saver can interfere with notifications. Focus Assist blocks all notifications so that you can stay distraction-free while you work. Battery Saver, however, may prevent apps like Outlook from running in the background. This will stop Outlook from syncing data while it isn’t open, meaning you will receive no emails.

To disable Focus Assist, select the Action Center at the bottom-right corner of the Taskbar. If Focus Assist is turned on, select it to disable it.

To disable Battery Saver:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Select the System tab, then select Power & sleep.
3. Select Battery saver.

4. Select Turn off now.

6. Clear Outlook’s Cache

Like other apps, Outlook stores temporary files in a cache. If these files become corrupted, they can cause glitches in Outlook — like preventing notifications from appearing correctly. To fix this:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook and press Enter.

3. Select all of the files in the RoamCache folder and delete them. Next time you run Outlook, these files will be recreated.

7. Update Outlook

If your Outlook app has become outdated, performing the latest update could fix any notification problems that you’re having. To do so:

1. Open Outlook.
2. Press File > Office Account.
3. Select Update Options. In the drop-down menu, select Update Now.

4. Wait for the update to complete, then check whether your notifications work.

8. Repair the Microsoft Office Suite

Microsoft has provided a repair tool that helps identify and fix issues with the Microsoft Office apps. To use this:

1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Select Programs > Programs and Features.

3. Find Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365.
4. Right-click it and select Change.

5. Select Quick Repair and then press Repair.

Wait for the troubleshooter to complete, then check whether you get notifications in Outlook.

Stay Connected

When you stop receiving notifications on your email account, it can cause you to miss essential emails vital to your work. Hopefully, this article has helped fix your notification problems so you can return to work without worry.

If nothing works, you can consider switching to Microsoft’s Mail app for Windows.