How to Fix Outlook Cannot Synchronize Subscribed Folders Error?

Outlook may be sluggish when you have a lot of folders and messages with attachments, especially if you have a lot of IMAP accounts configured. When connecting IMAP emails to Outlook, many users encounter the problem “Outlook cannot synchronize subscribed folders.”

Reasons for This Error

This issue indicates that Outlook is not configured to detect that the server needs an Advanced IMAP configuration option to correctly read from the folder structure. So, in this section, we will discuss the strategies that may be employed to solve this error.

Methods to Resolve Outlook Cannot Synchronize Subscribed Folders Error

There are just a few options for resolving this problem. The most effective solutions are highlighted below.

Note: Please remember to backup your IMAP emails and Outlook folders before attempting any of the options listed below.

First Method: One solution to resolve the issue “Outlook cannot synchronize subscribed folders” is to choose the Define Send/Receive Groups option under the Send/Receive tab, followed by the Edit option. Select the Download headers for subscribed folders option and click OK.

Second Method: Attempt removing and re-adding email accounts – The first step in resolving this issue is to delete and re-add the IMAP account to MS Outlook. Follow the procedures below to do this:

Removing the configured IMAP account

• Launch the Microsoft Outlook programme.
• Navigate to the File menu. Click Account Settings>>Account Settings to see the Account Settings window.
• Select your account name under the Emails tab, and then click the Remove option.
• This would deactivate the previously setup email account.

Adding the IMAP account freshly

• Navigate to the File tab in MS Outlook.
• To add a new email account to Outlook, click Add Account.
• If you’re using Microsoft Outlook 2016, type the email address and choose Connect.
• After you’ve entered your login information, click Finish to complete configuring your email account.

Third Method: Perform a Clean Boot in Windows – If the issue persists, restart your computer in Safe Mode to see if any other software is interfering with Outlook.

1. Start your computer as an administrator and press the “Window + R” keyboard shortcut.
2. In the opening wizard, type msconfig.
3. Now, in the launched wizard, look for and choose System Configuration.
4. Go to the Services panel, select Hide all Microsoft Services, and then click Disable.
5. Navigate to the Startup tab and select Open Task Manager.
6. Now, choose each item in the task manager individually and click Disable, followed by closing the task manager.
7. Reboot your computer and reinstall Outlook.

Professional and Alternative Solution

If you’ve tried all of the previous ways and still have the same problem, it’s likely that the OST file is corrupted. When you set up an email account in Outlook, the email is saved as an OST file on your computer. As a result, you’ll need to repair and fix the OST file. We recommend that you use an efficient Outlook Repair application to fix damages in Outlook files. The tools are effective in resolving any difficulties with Outlook database files and are compatible with all versions of Outlook.