Outlook not working with VPN: try these QUICK fixes (walkthrough)

Outlook is one of the most popular email clients around, but it can get buggy when running alongside location-spoofing software. If your VPN isn’t working with Outlook, work your way through our list of simple fixes.

A broken VPN can cause Outlook to become unresponsive, which is no good if you need to send important emails. Our research shows that troubleshooting methods, such as updating your VPN or swapping servers, can really help.

Which VPNs work with Outlook?

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Outlook fixes

1. Check your VPN is up to date

If your VPN doesn’t work alongside your Outlook account, check you’re using the most recent version.

To update your VPN from a computer, load up the VPN and then choose Settings. You should be able to find an Update option in there.

If you’re using Android, open the Play Store, tap your profile and then choose Manage apps and device. Select Update. From an iPhone, open the App Store and tap your profile in the top-right corner of the screen.

2. Try using a different server

VPN servers can die every so often – it’s fairly normal. If the email client isn’t letting you send and receive messages, the issue may lie with your VPN server. Swapping to an alternative could be the answer.

Try disconnecting from the server that you’re using with Outlook. Precise steps will vary, but ExpressVPN users can select the three dots icon to see a list of alternative servers in the same country.

3. Message Customer Support

Access your VPN provider’s website and head to the Support or Contact Us pages. Some VPNs even provide a 24/7 live chat service for their members, which is great if you’re reaching out late in the day.

4. Reset your VPN

Restart your PC or phone and then launch your VPN again. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, completely uninstall and reinstall your VPN. Open your VPN and then your Outlook account to see what the results are.

5. Check your internet connection

To do this, disconnect from your wi-fi entirely and reconnect. Once your connection is back, try your VPN once more and consider restarting your internet router for a full reset – you’ll spot a button on the back.

You should also run a free internet speed tool and compare results alongside your ISP’s ‘minimum guaranteed speed’ promise. Contact your ISP if your connection is unstable outside of VPN use.

More Outlook fixes:

Make sure you aren’t the victim of a DNS leak. Ineffective VPNs fail to conceal your actual IP address and location while accessing Outlook. To verify this, disable your VPN and navigate to the IP Address Lookup tool. Record your usual IP address, then activate your VPN, rerun the test, and observe whether those details change. If there is no obvious difference, your VPN isn’t operating correctly.

If you’re on a phone, clear your cache and cookies. From an iPhone, you need to choose Settings > General > iPhone storage, then choose the Outlook app. Select Offload app. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Outlook > Storage > Clear cache.

If you’re on Outlook on desktop, clear your cache and cookies. On Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. On Safari, go to Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data.

Re-enter your VPN username and password. Double-check your credentials. If you can’t remember your details, choose the ‘Forgot’ option on your VPN provider’s website. Then, try running the email client again.

Check the VPN servers are online. If you can’t connect to a server while you’re using Outlook, your provider might be experiencing an outage.

Check that your firewall allows VPN use. If you’re experiencing issues on desktop, make sure your VPN is mentioned in the ‘Allow’ list. On Windows, head to open Windows Security > Allow an app through the firewall. On Mac, try System Settings > Network > Firewall.

Best VPNs for Outlook

ExpressVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.53 per month
• 6-month subscription: £8.12 per month
• 1-year subscription + 3 months free: £5.42 per month (49% off)

🌎 Number of servers	160
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	5
⏱️ Our speed test results	-8.7% download, -5.5% upload (London)

To access your Outlook inbox from anywhere, use ExpressVPN. It’s user-friendly, fast and effective for accessing region-restricted content. With ExpressVPN, all you need to do is connect to a server and you can easily scroll through your inbox and send messages if needed.

ExpressVPN hides your IP address, making it impossible for websites to see that you’re accessing Outlook from a non-supported country. With servers available in more than 90 countries, every ExpressVPN user can benefit from global coverage. ExpressVPN is compatible with various devices including Mac, Android, and iOS smartphones.

Pros: Smartphone app lets you connect in seconds, 'favourite' most-used VPN servers for quick access, performed remarkably well in our chat support speed test

Cons: Rival VPNs are cheaper, can't use many devices at once

Try ExpressVPN today

Ivacy

• 1-month subscription: £8.62 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3 per month (65% off)
• 5-year subscription + FREE password manager: 80p per month (90% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,700
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

Ivacy is an excellent choice if you want an Outlook-compatible VPN. The service employs 256-bit encryption to ward off cybercriminals, also featuring public wi-fi security to safeguard your devices from malware when connected to hotspots in public areas.

With Ivacy, you can easily access your Outlook inbox abroad without anyone (including your ISP) being aware. This is due to Ivacy’s stringent no-logs policy, which prevents your sensitive personal information from being sold to nefarious third parties.

Pros: Connection is steady when using multiple devices, notifications mention if Ivacy is disabled, server locations split by country and city

Cons: We think the ExpressVPN mobile app is faster, below-average results in our chat support speed test

Try Ivacy today

NordVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.49 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3.99 per month (40% off)
• 2-year subscription: £2.79 per month (58% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,200+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	6
⏱️ Our speed test results	-14% download, -7% upload (London)

NordVPN is another exceptional VPN that lets you access your Outlook inbox. It has servers distributed worldwide, safeguarded by military-grade encryption. Furthermore, NordVPN’s advanced encryption technology allows you to stay secure on public Wi-Fi networks without compromising speed.

The servers on offer are highly secure, and you can connect without divulging your personal information. NordVPN doesn’t spy on you, either. Moreover, you can explore the CyberSec feature, which effectively blocks dubious websites and reduces the likelihood of your device being infected with data-stealing malware.

Pros: Built-in internet kill switch works well, profile page on app includes 'Security score' with privacy tips, takes less than a minute to reach a live chat agent (based on our tests)

Cons: Other VPNs tested are cheaper, some streaming services require multiple resets to work

Try NordVPN today

PureVPN

• 1-month subscription: $10.95 per month (12% off)
• 1-year subscription: $3.74 per month (70% off)
• 2-year subscription + 4 extra months: $1.96 per month (84% off)

🌎 Number of servers	6,500+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

PureVPN is one of our top recommendations for accessing Outlook around the world. With optimised servers designed to reduce load times, it’s easy to use and provides a great experience.

One of the best features of PureVPN is the encryption of data, which ensures complete anonymity while you’re using it. Additionally, there’s a 24-hour support team available to answer any questions you might have. Even if you’re not currently based in a supported country, PureVPN makes it easy to bypass geo-locked websites and apps.

Pros: Surprisingly affordable considering features, lots of UK and US-based servers, generous with simultaneous devices

Cons: Takes a couple of minutes to reach live chat agents (based on our tests), performs better on iOS compared to Android (in our experience)

Try PureVPN today

How to use a VPN with Outlook

1. Pick one of our suggested VPNs – we’ll use ExpressVPN for this example.
2. Once you’ve created your ExpressVPN account, sign in.
3. From your device, download and open the ExpressVPN app and select a server in a country that officially supports Outlook – the UK, for example.
4. Once you’re connected, head to Outlook.
5. Log in to your Outlook account.

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