Outlook ‘Send/Receive Reported Error (0x80040115)’ Connection to Server: Fix

When you see the error “Send/Receive Reported Error (0x80040115)” in Outlook, it means your email client cannot connect to the mail server. This error typically appears during manual or automatic send/receive operations. The root cause is a network timeout or a corrupted connection profile. This article explains why the error occurs and provides step-by-step fixes to restore your Outlook connection.

Why Outlook Shows Error 0x80040115 During Send/Receive

Error 0x80040115 is a network timeout error. Outlook sends a request to the mail server but does not receive a response within the expected time. This can happen for several reasons:

Your internet connection may be slow or intermittent. A firewall or antivirus program might block Outlook from reaching the server. The Outlook data file (.pst or .ost) could be damaged. Or your email account settings might have changed on the server side without updating in Outlook.

The error is common with Exchange and Microsoft 365 accounts but also occurs with POP3 and IMAP accounts. The fix depends on identifying which of these underlying issues is present.

Network and Firewall Interference

Corporate networks often have strict firewall rules. If your IT department changed a policy or if you recently installed a security tool, Outlook may lose the ability to connect to the server. A VPN connection can also cause timeouts if the VPN server is overloaded.

Corrupted Outlook Data Files

Your offline Outlook data file (.ost) stores a local copy of your mailbox. If this file becomes corrupted, Outlook cannot synchronize with the server. The error appears when Outlook tries to send or receive and fails to read or write to the corrupted file.

Server-Side Configuration Changes

Your email administrator might change server addresses, SSL requirements, or authentication methods. Outlook continues using the old settings, which causes the connection to fail. This is common after a migration to a new email platform.

Steps to Fix the Send/Receive Error 0x80040115

Follow these steps in order. Test Outlook after each step to see if the error is resolved.

1. Restart Outlook and Check Internet Connection
   Close Outlook completely. Open your web browser and navigate to a known working website. If the site loads, your internet connection is active. Reopen Outlook and manually trigger a send/receive by pressing F9. If the error persists, move to the next step.
2. Run Outlook in Safe Mode
   Press Windows key + R, type outlook /safe, and press Enter. This opens Outlook without any add-ins. Try sending a test email. If it works, a third-party add-in is causing the conflict. Go to File > Options > Add-ins. Select COM Add-ins from the Manage dropdown and click Go. Disable all add-ins, then restart Outlook normally. Re-enable add-ins one by one to find the culprit.
3. Repair the Outlook Data File
   Close Outlook. Open Control Panel and navigate to Mail (Microsoft Outlook 2016 or similar). Click Data Files. Select your email account and click Open File Location. Note the path to your .pst or .ost file. Next, locate and run the Inbox Repair Tool (Scanpst.exe). The default path is C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 or similar. Browse to your data file, click Start, and allow the scan to repair errors. Restart Outlook.
4. Disable Antivirus Integration Temporarily
   Open your antivirus program. Look for settings related to email scanning or Outlook integration. Disable this feature temporarily. Restart Outlook and test. If the error disappears, add an exception for Outlook in your antivirus settings. Re-enable email scanning after adding the exception.
5. Create a New Outlook Profile
   Go to Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles. Click Add and give the profile a name like “Outlook New.” Enter your email account details or use the auto-account setup feature. Once the profile is created, select Always use this profile and choose your new profile from the dropdown. Click Apply and restart Outlook.
6. Check Server Settings Manually
   In Outlook, go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings. Select your email account and click Change. Verify the incoming and outgoing server addresses match the information from your email provider. For Microsoft 365 accounts, the server should be outlook.office365.com for IMAP or the Exchange server address provided by your IT admin. Ensure SSL/TLS is enabled under More Settings > Advanced. Click Next and then Finish.
7. Run Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant
   Download and install the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant tool from Microsoft’s website. Open the tool, select Outlook, then choose “I’m having trouble sending or receiving email.” Follow the on-screen prompts. The tool will diagnose and fix common connection issues automatically.

If Outlook Still Shows Error 0x80040115 After the Main Fix

Some scenarios require additional steps beyond the primary fixes.

Error occurs only on a specific Wi-Fi network

If the error appears only at work or on a public Wi-Fi, the network may block certain ports. Outlook uses port 993 for IMAP SSL, port 995 for POP3 SSL, and port 587 for SMTP. Ask your network administrator to unblock these ports. Alternatively, switch to a mobile hotspot to confirm the network is the issue.

Error appears after a Windows update

A Windows update can change firewall rules or network stack settings. Open Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > Allow an app through firewall. Ensure Outlook and Microsoft Office are listed and allowed for both private and public networks. If missing, click Change settings > Allow another app and browse to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\OUTLOOK.EXE.

Multiple Exchange accounts cause the error

Outlook can have difficulty connecting to more than one Exchange server simultaneously. Remove secondary Exchange accounts and test. If the error stops, reconfigure the secondary account using IMAP or disable it until your primary account connects.

Cached Exchange Mode vs Online Mode: Key Differences

Item	Cached Exchange Mode	Online Mode
Description	Downloads a local copy of the mailbox to an .ost file	Connects directly to the server without local storage
Performance	Faster access to cached data, slower initial sync	Slower response on high-latency networks
Error 0x80040115 likelihood	Higher if .ost file becomes corrupted	Lower but depends entirely on server connectivity
Offline access	Yes, to cached items	No, requires constant server connection
Disk space usage	Uses significant local storage	Minimal local storage

You can switch between modes in File > Account Settings > Account Settings > Change > Offline Settings. For troubleshooting error 0x80040115, temporarily switching to Online Mode can confirm whether a corrupted .ost file is the cause.

With the steps outlined in this article, you can resolve the 0x80040115 error by restarting Outlook, repairing data files, or creating a new profile. If the error persists, check your antivirus settings and verify server ports with your network administrator. For recurring issues, consider disabling Cached Exchange Mode and running Outlook in Online Mode to bypass local file corruption.