Outlook stops syncing AOL email

Last Updated: December 06, 2018

ISSUE

Starting in September 2018 some Outlook users with AOL accounts found that email stopped syncing.  This issue is caused by a change in the AOL service.  Please contact AOL to report this issue and ask that it be investigated further.

STATUS: FIXED 

As of November 2018 AOL has confirmed that the issue is fixed.

Workaround:  

For most affected users renaming or removing folders under the Inbox mitigates the issue.

Method 1: Rename folders (recommended method)

1. Open Outlook and make note which folders are under the Inbox

2. Close Outlook

3. Go to https://www.aol.com and log into web mail

4. Rename each folder under the Inbox folder (e.g. for a folder named “Recipes” rename it to “Recipes1”)

5. Launch Outlook, allow a few minutes to allow sync to complete before confirming if the issue is now resolved

Method 2: Create new folders and move mail

1. Open Outlook and make note which folders are under the Inbox

2. Close Outlook

3. Go to https://www.aol.com and log into web mail

4. Create one or more new folders and move the email that is under the Inbox folder to these folders

   1. Make sure you get all your email moved before removing the old folders.  After deleting the folders, the email that was in them may not be recoverable.

5. In web mail delete the folders that are listed under the Inbox in Outlook

6. Launch Outlook, allow a few minutes to allow sync to complete before confirming if the issue is now resolved

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