How to Fix “Emails Showing in Outbox on the Server but Not Visible in User’s Outbox in Outlook Client” Error

Ritu Roy | Email Conversion file conversion File Repair fix How to's Outlook | 5 minutes read | Modified on: 20-05-2025
Outlook Outbox not showing Emails

Summary – If your local Outlook folder appears empty, even though you can see emails on the Outlook server, you might be encountering the issue where emails show in the Outbox on the server but are not visible in the user’s Outbox in Outlook client. This error” email stuck in outbox but not showing, can occur due to various reasons, including syncing issues, corrupt profiles, or incorrect settings in Outlook.

Bugs and issues are quite common in any software, and Microsoft Outlook is no exception. Some errors are rooted in the software itself, while others may stem from external factors or a lack of system resources. One such issue that Outlook users may encounter is: “Emails Showing in Outbox on the Server But Not Visible in the User’s Outbox in Outlook Client”.

This issue indicates that although there are emails present on the Exchange Server in the Outbox folder, these emails are not visible when viewing the Outbox in the Outlook client on the local machine. This can create confusion and prevent users from managing or sending their emails properly.

Possible Causes of the Issue – User Outlook Outbox not showing Emails

  • Syncing Problems Between Outlook Client and Server: If Outlook isn’t syncing properly with the Exchange server, emails may be stuck on the server but not reflected in the local Outlook client. This could be due to network issues or problems with the mail server’s connection.
  • Corrupt Outlook Profile: A corrupted Outlook profile can cause synchronization issues, leading to missing or unviewable emails in the local Outbox folder. The Outlook client may fail to display emails that are already stored on the server.
  • Outlook in Offline Mode: If Outlook is working in offline mode, it won’t sync with the server and show real-time data, which could lead to missing emails in the Outbox. Offline mode can sometimes be activated unintentionally.
  • Cached Exchange Mode: Cached Exchange Mode can sometimes cause discrepancies, where local data does not match the data on the server. Emails might show on the server but won’t sync properly in the local Outlook folder.
  • Email Stuck in Outbox Due to Connection Issues: If Outlook has connection problems with the mail server (due to network issues or server downtime), emails may get stuck on the server, and the local Outbox folder might appear empty.

Solutions to Fix the “Emails Showing in Outbox on Server but Not Visible in User’s Outbox in Outlook Client” Issue

If you are encountering the problem where emails appear in the Outbox on the server, but are not visible in the Outlook client’s Outbox, here are several solutions you can follow to resolve the email stuck in Outbox but not showing issue.

Check Network and Server Connection

Ensure Outlook has a stable connection to the mail server. A poor internet connection or server downtime may prevent Outlook from syncing properly with the server, leading to missing Outbox emails.

Try restarting your router or checking with your IT department to verify if there are any ongoing server issues.

Disable the Antivirus Program

Sometimes, an antivirus application can interfere with the synchronization of emails between Outlook and the server. If your antivirus is blocking Outlook’s access to the server or messages, it can cause the issue where emails are stuck on the server but not visible in the local Outbox.

Solution:

  • Temporarily disable the antivirus program.
  • Try to sync and download emails from the server again.
  • After Outlook successfully downloads the emails, re-enable the antivirus software.

Alternatively, check your antivirus settings to ensure that Outlook is allowed to access messages even when the antivirus is running.

Turn Off Cached Exchange Mode

Cached Exchange Mode can sometimes cause synchronization issues, resulting in discrepancies between the local Outlook client and the Exchange server. Disabling this mode may resolve the issue.

Solution:

  • Open Outlook and go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
  • Select the Exchange account and click Change.
  • In the Offline Settings section, uncheck the option for Use Cached Exchange Mode.
  • Restart Outlook to apply the changes and check if the emails in the Outbox are now visible.

Rebuild the OST File

A corrupted or oversized OST file can often cause syncing issues, leading to emails being visible on the server but not in the local Outbox. Rebuilding the OST file can help resolve this issue.

Solution:

  • Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
  • Under the Data Files tab, locate the OST file.
  • Take note of the file’s location and copy the OST file to a different location for backup.
  • Delete the OST file from its original location.
  • Restart Outlook, which will automatically create a new OST file at the default location.
  • Verify if the issue is resolved by checking if the Outbox now displays emails correctly.

Learn More: How to Find OST File Location in Outlook

Create a New Outlook Profile

Sometimes, an issue with your Outlook profile can cause emails to fail to sync correctly. Creating a new profile can help fix such issues.

Solution:

  • Go to File > Account Settings > Manage Profiles.
  • Tap the Show Profiles and choose Add to create a new profile.
  • In the Profile Name window, enter a new name for the profile and click OK.
  • Set up your email account again using the new profile.
  • Restart Outlook and check if the Outbox issue is resolved.

Leverage the SaRA Tool (Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant)

The SaRA (Support and Recovery Assistant) tool from Microsoft is a diagnostic tool that helps identify configuration issues in Outlook. It can detect problems with Outlook and suggest steps to fix them.

Solution:

  • Install and open the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) tool.
  • The tool will analyze your Outlook setup, report any issues, and provide detailed steps to resolve the problem.
  • This tool can also recommend solutions for common problems, including issues with syncing emails or accessing folders in Outlook.

You can download the SaRA tool from Microsoft’s official website.

Using Pro Solution to Fix “User Outlook Outbox not showing Emails” Issue

If your OST file is damaged or inaccessible, you may not be able to recover the data by simply rebuilding the file. In such cases, using a third-party OST Converter tool can help extract data from a corrupt or orphaned OST file.

Solution:

  • Download and use an OST File to PST Converter tool.
  • The tool will extract the data from the corrupt or inaccessible OST file and save it in a PST file format.
  • You can then import the PST file into Outlook, restoring your emails and resolving the syncing issue.

Conclusion

The issue where emails appear in the Outbox on the server but are not visible in the local Outbox in Outlook can be caused by several factors, such as syncing issues, corrupted OST files, or even antivirus interference. By following the above solutions, like disabling antivirus, turning off cached mode, rebuilding the OST file, or creating a new profile, you should be able to fix the email stuck in Outbox but not showing. If the issue persists due to a corrupt OST file, third-party tools like CubexSoft OST to PST Converter can help recover the data and resolve the email stuck in Outbox but not showing error.