Outlook won’t Connect After Enabling VPN – Fix Issue Here

  

Nimisha Ramesh   
Published: Feb 27, 2019 • Error , Outlook • 5 Min Read

Microsoft Outlook email client is one of the most popular email clients among Windows as well as Mac OS users, from different corners of the world. While working on the MS Windows operating system, clients establish a VPN connection to gain online privacy and to bypass censorship or geo-restrictions on the internet. But, sometimes Microsoft users have to experience a downtime situation just after the establishment of VPN connection. Generally, this connection issue impacts the email operations thereby restricting Microsoft Outlook clients from performing the activities like forwarding, reading, deleting, and reading mail items on their mailing platforms. To help out users worldwide with dealing with this problem, Invorx team has found some technical measures to fix Outlook won’t connect after VPN. So let’s begin with them!

Workarounds to Resolve ‘Outlook Cannot Connect After VPN’

Follow the below-mentioned tips to resolve Outlook VPN connection problems.

Tip # 1: Restart Microsoft desktop-based Email Client

If users are facing the problem with VPN even after enabling it in MS Outlook, initially try to fix it by restarting the program. One can simply perform this by closing the MS Outlook program, including other apps that are opened currently on their system. After this, restart only Outlook 2019 / 2016 / 2013 app on your PC to solve the problem without any more complicated issues.

Tip #2: Reestablish The Internet Connection of PC

One of the simplest methods to fix Outlook won’t connect after VPN problem is to re-establish internet connection, before beginning with the VPN connection. One can consider switching web connection mode alternatively to use MS Outlook and VPN together in a conjoint manner. For example – you might consider the use of wireless web connection components or modems.

Tip #3: Enable VPN In Microsoft Windows Firewalls

When VPN client products are configured in an incorrect manner, it pauses the recent activity going on on the computer. This particular scenario prevents applications of the computer from establishing their connection with the web, especially MS Outlook. Another cause of internet interruption is because of the Windows firewall that restricts 3rd party programs from hijacking the web platform. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to enable VPN apps to execute in Windows firewall. If in case, someone is unaware of the guidelines to perform this then, go through the following guidelines :

• Click on the Windows icon key from your keyboard and then type ‘Allow a program through Windows firewall’ in the search box. Press Enter key to proceed with solving of Outlook won’t connect after the VPN issue.
• This opens an Allowed apps window in which you have to hit on the Change settings button

• Again, a screen pop-ups in which you have to click on Allow another program
• Either choose your VPN program from the displayed list or click on Browse button to address VPN software, locally saved on your PC. Click on OK to proceed further
• Afterward, initiate VPN connection and then, launch Microsoft Outlook email client.

Tip #4: Deactivate the Wireless Network Adapter

Another cause of this problem is that there exist some issues in wireless network adapter. Usually, it occurs due to the internet through a LAN cable and active wireless network adapter. You can deactivate this adapter by implementing the following instructions:

• Open Control Panel window on your PC and click on Network and Internet

• In the current section, click on Network and Sharing Center option

• This displays the list of web connections where you have to locate towards wireless network connection and then, click on it for launching the recent status of the connection.
• Now a connection status window gets opened in which you have to hit on Disable button to deactivate the wireless internet connection.

• Now its time to initiate your VPN connection and then, again launch Microsoft Outlook application

Tip #5: Configure DNS Settings on Windows Manually

Sometimes it has been observed that configuring DNS settings manually eliminates the problem of Outlook won’t connect after VPN. For this, you can refer following guidelines and begin configuring of DNS settings on Windows 10 in a manual manner :

• Press Ctrl+R key simultaneously from your keyboard
• Type ncpa.cpl command in the current text box and click on OK button

• This opens a Network Connections window where you have to determine your usual connection – either Wireless or LAN
• Right-click on the determined connection and select Properties option from the menu
• Perform double click on the IPv4 or simply on Internet Protocol
• Enable the radio button of Use the following DNS….. field
• Mention the following addresses of Google DNS server in their respective fields and click OK

1. Preferred DNS – 8.8.8.8
2. Alternate DNS – 8.8.4.4

• If Google DNS gets blocked, try to resolve the problem through the following recommendations :

1. Neustar DNS Advantage – 156.154.70.1 and 156.154.71.1
2. Level3 DNS – 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2

Tip #6: Update All the Microsoft Office Apps Regularly

Expired or unlicensed versions of MS Office are prone to various problems, including Outlook won’t connect after VPN. If you have applied all the recommended solutions but the problem is not yet fixed, it means that your Outlook app is outdated. Therefore, update your Microsoft Office suite with latest versions i.e., 2019, 2016, or 2013. Also, Microsoft regularly comes up with small features in the existing functionality of each product version. Therefore, users can use the following instruction to update their Microsoft Outlook app with those features:

• Open Microsoft Outlook mailing app and hit on File
• Click on Account from the left-hand side of the screen
• Finally, hit on Update options and then on Update Now

Its Time to Conclude

There are several causes due to which Outlook won’t connect after VPN has been enabled problem occurs. Users can fix outlook VPN connection problems by implementing the tips one-by-one, which are posted in this blog. If in case the respective problem does not get resolved, feel free to contact Invorx support team. We will try to your issue within the shortest time duration.