Outlook Not Working After Reinstall? Complete Recovery Guide

If Outlook stopped working, won't sync, or you reinstalled it and can't get back in, follow these steps.

After Reinstalling Outlook

1. Open Outlook and enter your @redlandschristian.org email address.
2. When prompted, enter your password.
3. You will likely be prompted for two-factor authentication. Approve the notification in Microsoft Authenticator.
   • If Authenticator doesn't send a prompt, close Outlook, restart it, and try again.
   • If you're stuck in a 2FA loop, see Locked Out? Complete Guide to Recovering Your Account When 2FA Fails.
4. Wait 5–10 minutes for Outlook to sync your mailbox. Larger mailboxes take longer.

Outlook Won't Sync or Runs Slowly

1. Check your internet connection. Outlook needs network access to sync.
2. Restart Outlook. Close it fully (check the system tray) and reopen.
3. Clear the Outlook cache:
   • Close Outlook.
   • Press Windows + R, type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook, press Enter.
   • Delete the .ost file for your account (Outlook will rebuild it on next launch).
   • Reopen Outlook and let it re-sync.
4. Remove and re-add your account:
   • Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
   • Select your account and click Remove.
   • Then click New to re-add it with your @redlandschristian.org email.

See also: What to Do When Outlook Won't Sync or Is Running Slow

Setting Up Email Forwarding

To forward your RCS email to another address (or set up rules to forward specific emails):

1. Open Outlook on your computer.
2. Go to File > Manage Rules & Alerts.
3. Click New Rule and choose a template (e.g., "forward messages from someone to...").
4. Set the conditions and the forwarding address.

See also: Turn On or Off Automatic Forwarding in Outlook.com

Gmail vs. Outlook — Which to Use

Not sure whether to check Gmail or Outlook? See Gmail vs. Outlook: Which Email Account to Use for What at RCS.

RCS Information Technology · IT Help Center