FIX: Mail App is not working in Windows 10

Besides keeping your mail organized, the default Windows Mail app also sends notifications so you don't miss out on time-sensitive emails. Unfortunately, when the Mail app stops working properly, that also means these notifications stop coming and could cause you to miss an important event.

If the app doesn't sync, you can't receive any mail, or you keep crashing, you can manage your mail with an alternative web browser. However, if you want to return to using the application, the following guide from Quantrimang.com will help you fix the problem.

1. Try some common fixes for Windows systems

As always, when troubleshooting a computer problem, you should start by rebooting the system. Especially if you haven't turned off your computer for a long time. This way, you have a chance to close any background apps that are hogging RAM resources, clear the app cache, and install any available updates to keep apps running smoothly.

Also, check to see if you're running an outdated version of Windows, especially if you've paused updates. Open Settings and go to System > About to check if your system is up to date.

If these two simple fixes don't solve the problem, move on to the next solutions.

2. Update Mail app

Although Windows 10 installs available updates on its own, you should check to see if there are any pending updates for the Mail app. If your app is out of date, you may have sync issues.

Launch the Microsoft Store app and open the three-dot menu from the upper right corner. Then, select Downloads and uploads and search in the Mail and Calendar list. Click the Download icon next to it to download and install any updates it finds.

3. Run Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

Fortunately, Windows has a lot of built-in troubleshooting tools that you can use. So, if you're having trouble using the Mail app, you can run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter.

• Right click on Start and open Settings.
• There, go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.
• From the Find and fix other problem section, click Windows Store Apps > Run the troubleshooter.

4. Disable Location for Mail and Calendar

Sometimes location services interfere with the Mail app. To fix it, you should stop Mail and Calendar from using your location.

• Press Windows Keys + I to bring up the Settings menu.
• Open Privacy.
• On the left pane, click Location.
• Turn off the toggle for Mail and Calendar.

5. Allow Mail to access Calendar

The Windows Mail app is connected to the Calendar app. Therefore, if the Mail app stops working, you should look at your computer's security settings and double-check that Mail is allowed to communicate with Calendar.

• Open Settings > Privacy.
• On the left pane, go to App permissions and select Calendar.
• Under Allow access to calendar on this device, click Change and enable the toggle.
• Turn on the Allow apps to access your calendar switch.
• From Choose which apps can access your calendar, enable access for Mail and Calendar.
• Restart the computer and check if the application is now working.

6. Turn sync settings off and back on again

While it may seem like an odd trick, disabling and re-enabling syncing can fix problems with the Mail app.

• Open Settings and click Accounts.
• From the menu on the left, select Sync your settings.
• Turn off the toggle for Sync settings.
• Restart the computer.
• Go through the 1-3 steps and turn on Sync settings.

If you think you've solved the problem, try asking someone to email you. If this doesn't work, try another solution from this list.

7. Change location

In Windows 10, the Localization setting controls the location, date, and time. If you misplace it, the Mail app may have trouble syncing.

• Launch Control Panel.
• Open the View by drop-down menu and select Large icons or Small icons.
• Click Region.
• In the Administrative tab, click the Change system locale button.
• Use the current system language list to select the country and click OK.
• In the Region, click Apply > OK to save the new settings.

Also, check that your Windows 10 computer is displaying the correct date and time.

8. Run an SFC . scan

If the Mail application is not the only faulty application on your computer, you should look for corrupted system files. To do that, you can run System File Checker. SFC will search and automatically replace any corrupted files in your system.

• Press Windows Key + S to open the search tab and enter cmd.
• Select Run as administrator from the list to open Command Prompt as administrator.
• When Command Prompt opens,type in this line and press Enter to run it : sfc /scannow

The scanning process will now start. SFC scan can take 10-15 minutes, so be patient and don’t interrupt it.

9. Allow Mail to Communicate Through Windows Defender Firewall

Windows Defender is a built-in Windows tool that ensures the system is not infected with any virus or malware. While this keeps your computer safe, it can affect the Mail app. To fix it, you should allow Mail and Calendar to communicate through Windows Defender.

• Right-click on Start and go to Settings > Update & Security.
• Click Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
• From the left menu, select Firewall & network protection.
• Scroll down and click Allow an app through firewall.
• Click the Change settings button.
• Select both the Private and Public options for Mail and Calendar.
• Click OK to save the new settings.
• Check if Mail is currently syncing.

If your email is still not syncing, it could be due to a third-party virus bug. Try disabling it and check if the Mail app is working now. While you are reconfiguring your anti-virus settings, do not open any emails from unknown senders to prevent viruses or malware from infecting.

10. Clear Microsoft Store Cache

The system uses cache to run applications faster, protect or store data for later use. However, if the cache gets corrupted, it can cause apps to behave incorrectly. In this case, you should clear the Microsoft Store cache.

• Open Command Prompt as administrator.
• When Command Prompt opens, enter wsreset.exe and press Enter to run it.
• Wait for a couple of moments while Windows clears the cache.

11. Reset Mail app

Resetting an app is similar to uninstalling and reinstalling it. After the reset, the app will launch with default settings. So, if you think inappropriate settings are causing your problems but don't want to spend time configuring them, try resetting the app.

• Right-click the Start button and navigate to Apps > Apps & features.
• Select Mail and Calendar and click Advanced options.
• Scroll down and click Reset.

Determining the exact cause of the problem is a bit tricky so you'll have to try multiple solutions before getting the Mail app working again. If you've tried anything with no positive results, using an alternative third-party app might be the best solution.