5 Fixes To Resolve IMAP Sync Issues With Outlook 2019/2016/2013

5 Fixes To Resolve IMAP Sync Issues With Outlook

Are you also facing the same IMAP sync issues with Outlook? Well, it’s a very common issue among Outlook users after the recent Microsoft update.

If you don’t have any idea of how to get rid of this IMAP sync issues with Outlook then also you don’t need to worry.

Just follow the fixes I have provided in this post.

About IMAP Sync Issues With Outlook:

Microsoft Outlook 2013 is the latest version of Microsoft Outlook is the component of MS Office suite and the most preferred email client across the globe. MS Outlook supports IMAP/POP3 and Exchange accounts that help you to enable the configuration of your Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, AOL, Exchange, and other email accounts.

With the help of this, you can set up the multiple email accounts on Outlook for accessing your mailboxes right from the desktop.

Many of the Outlook 2013 and Office 365 users are getting issues while synchronizing their IMAP folders recently. This happens in all hosts due to recent updates that Microsoft has pushed out for all its users.

What Are The Causes Of IMAP Sync Issues With Outlook?

The main reason behind IMAP folders not syncing in Outlook is security update (KB2837618 or KB2837643).

If you are also planning to try this new update then please avoid the update for a while until Microsoft provides fixes for the bugs. If you are not able to avoid this issue then update it, you will get further steps for fixing this issue temporarily.

When the user installs this update, they start facing IMAP Sync Issues With Outlook 2016/2013/2019 and Microsoft 365.

You won’t get any issue in configuring the IMAP account but you will definitely encounter IMAP sync issue in outlook.

What Are the Impacts Of Outlook IMAP Folder Synchronization Issue?

Multiple issues rendered once the IMAP Folder Synchronization Issue encountered in the Outlook. Here are some of it listed down.

  • After encountering this IMAP sync issue the very first negative impact it puts on the inability of receiving or sending new mail in your inbox.
  • The Outlook frequently undergoes crashing or freezing.
  • You will start receiving the following error message You do not have appropriate permission to perform this operation”. Or You do not have permission to move items in this folder”.
  • If your outlook is connected with Exchange Server then also you will encounter several issues.

The Outlook will give this error while you configure automatic replies- Your automatic reply settings cannot be displayed because the server is currently unavailable. Try again later.

After knowing about the reasons and outcomes of Outlook IMAP Folder Synchronization issue. It’s time to move onto our next very important section i.e how to fix IMAP sync Issues with Outlook.

How To Fix IMAP sync Issues with Outlook 2019/2016/2013?

Here are some best fixes listed down to fix IMAP synchronization issue in Outlook 2016/2013/2010.

Fix 1# Uninstall The Recent Updates (KB2837618 Or KB2837643)

For removing the recent updates that have been pushed out by Microsoft to Outlook 2013 and Office 365 users. You need to follow the steps as following:

  1. Firstly you need to open your Start menu and click visit your Control Panel.
  2. Then you need to click Programs and Features
  3. Then you need to click on the View Installed Updates
  4. Then you need to locate either the KB2837618 or KB2837643 updates and remove them.

Fix 2# Disable The “Show Only Subscribed Folders” Option From Outlook

There are many reports that show this problem can also be resolved for removing the setting that states to show the subscribed folders of Outlook. For this follow the steps mentioned:

  • Right-click on the name of your account that contains this issue, then click the IMAP Folders… link.

Disable Show Only Subscribed Folders Option 1

  • This will open the Outlook box with IMAP folders. There is a checkbox that says, “When displaying hierarchy in Outlook, show only the subscribed folders.” You need to Uncheck that box.

Disable Show Only Subscribed Folders Option 2

  • Force sending/receiving within Outlook and everything should synchronize up properly.

Fix 3# Changing Of Root Folder Path

Firstly you need to visit the Account settings then to the Advanced mail account with which you are having trouble with. This can be located at one of the following.

  • Firstly you need to Go to File>info>Account Settings>Account settings.

change the root folder 1

  • Now choose the IMAP account and press the Change> More Settings…>Advanced
  • On the same Windows Folders section, look for “Root folder path” and enter “INBOX” (with all caps).
  • Press Ok> Next >Finish the option to save all the changes you have performed.

Changing Of Root Folder Path 2

Either Restart your Outlook application or press the F9 button from your keyboard. After that hit the Send/Receive option from the menu bar to check whether you are able to send or receive the mails now.

Fix 4# Sync groups

To fix IMAP folders not syncing issue you can approach for the next solution i.e sync groups in Outlook.

  • Hit the tab “Send/Receive”.
  • After that tap to the “Send/Receive Groups”>”Define Send/Receive Groups.”
  • Now hit the “New…” tab and assign a name for your group. After that click the ok.

Send/Receive Groups

  • Select the IMAP account.
  • Put a check across “Include the selected account in this group” box.
  • After that check whether the following is selected or not.“Get folder unread count for subscribed folders,” “Receive mail items” are checked”, “Send mail items,” “Download complete items including attachments for subscribed folders”. If all these options are not selected then put a checkmark across all these.
  • If you are having more than one IMAP account then repeat from steps 7 to 9 in each of your IMAP accounts.
  • Hit the OK option.
  • Choose the new Group Name and don’t forget to select the “include this group in send/receive (F9)”.
  • You can also schedule automatic/send receive after every 30 minutes.
  • Within the “When Outlook is Offline” option check “Include this group in send/receive (F9.)”
  • Finally, tap on the “Close” option.

Send AND Receive Groups 1

With the help of these settings changes, Outlook 2013 should start synchronizing with IMAP server.

Experts Recommended Option To Fix Outlook IMAP Folder Not Syncing Issue

With these above listed manual fixes, your Outlook IMAP folder not syncing issue must have been resolved. But still, if you are getting IMAP folder not synch issues in Outlook then for such a situation you must try the Outlook PST Repair Tool.


It is specially designed for fixing Outlook PST corruption and synchronization issues instantly. It helps you to recover and restores Outlook mailbox items like emails, contacts, calendars, notes, attachments, and journals completely and accurately. It lets you fix the PST size limitation errors, and to recover deleted Outlook items. It is a user-friendly interface and descriptive screens, users can fix the PST corruption issues very quickly and easily.

Steps For Using Outlook PST Repair Tool Are Shown Below:

Step 1: You need to download, install, and run the Outlook PST repair tool. Then click on ‘select outlook file’ to choose the PST file where you want to work or you may find the specific PST file also.

outlookpsterror1

Step 2: Press “start” to begin scanning, once you have selected the PST file.

outlookpsterror2

Step 3: After completion of scanning, all recovered mailbox folders and other data appear on the left side of the window. You can select the files of your choice from those.

outlookpsterror3

Step 4: After selecting items of your choice you can press “save recovered file” to recover the files on your PC.

outlookpsterror4

Step 5: When your files are saved, a dialogue box appears that confirms that files are saved and also shows the “recovered file size” and “destination path”.

outlookpsterror5

Wrap Up:

I Hope, you must have found all the above fixes quite useful to fix Outlook 2019/2016/2013 imap sync issues,

Always maintain proper backup of your mailbox in order to avoid data loss situations.

If in case you face issues like inaccessibility of your mailbox. Or when you fail to access data present in folders of your mailbox then approach for Outlook PST repair tool. As chances are also that you may be getting this error due to PST file corruption.