Outlook is a well-known personal information manager that provides its users with many features and added security. Through this, one can send and receive emails, create contacts, tasks, journal, notes, etc. It is easy-to-use and creates a profile based on IMAP and POP protocols. Some of the Outlook’s own mailboxes are created in Exchange server. Many times this server is unavailable due to connectivity problems of server downtime. A message is displayed saying Exchange Server is unavailable in Outlook 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003. There are ways to resolve this situation. Some of them have been described in this post.

Possible Reasons fo Microsoft Exchange Server is Unavailable

There are many reasons for what may be causing connectivity issue between Microsoft Outlook and Exchange Server. Some of them can be identified easily and rectified thereafter. Here are some of the main reason that caused error ‘Exchange Server in unavailable’.

  • Using an Earlier version of Exchange can cause error connection to Microsoft Exchange Server is unavailable to surface. Try updating and running the latest version of Exchange.
  • Some of the account credentials mentioned while making a profile may be incorrect. Check and verify before moving to manual approaches.
  • Outlook may be set to work offline. Remove that by going to Outlook menu>>Work Offline.
  • Exchange downtime may cause the error. If this is the case then, Exchange icon on the left pane of Tools >> Accounts must be orange in color.

These are preventive measures. Sometimes performing these checks can remove the error message your Microsoft Exchange server is unavailable. In Outlook 2013, 2010, 2007 and 2003. If these precautionary measures don’t work move to the next section.

Methods to Resolve Microsoft Exchange Server is Unavailable Error

There can be many solutions to resolving the error in connectivity to Exchange. Perform the below-mentioned solution step by step to figure out what caused the issue and then resolve it. Here are some of the possible solutions for removing the error message your Microsoft Exchange Server in unavailable.

Solution#1 Check permissions on OST and PST file.

Often permission on a storage file is changed to ‘Read-Only’ Mode by mistake or on purpose. To change the permissions follow the steps below:

  • Firstly, go to the folder location where the OST and PST files are saved on the user computer.
  • Then, locate the files and right-click on it. And click Properties.
  • Now, remove the tick from the box that says Read-Only. And then, save the changes made.

Solution#2 Remove any Unnecessary Applications

There may be multiple third-party application that may be causing Outlook error the connection to the Microsoft Exchange Server is unavailable. To remove this error message follow the steps below:

  • Firstly, close all the unnecessary application that may be accessing Exchange like an anti-virus program.
  • Also, try restarting the system in a safe mode and then check.

Solution#3 Change the Registry

This is a risky procedure and must be performed with full knowledge or in presence of an administrator. Any misstep can lead to data loss that cannot be recovered. Ensure that proper backup has been taken of the mailbox data before performing this step. This procedure will ensure that the error does not arise due to issue in the default gateway. In this step change the DWORD value to the sub-key of the registry. This is a highly technical task and system administrator needs to be contacted to complete this process.

Limitation of Manual Solution

There are advantages and disadvantages to every situation. So they are in performing a technical procedure to removing errors like Microsoft Exchange Server is currently unavailable. Some of the limitation to performing the manual steps have been displayed below:

  • Lengthy Process: It is a long and time-consuming method. It can take hours out of a business to reconfigure more than 500 systems in a company. Work and business both suffer.
  • Tiresome: Many users find working with a manual approach very strenuous and tiring. They look for alternatives to performing any technical step that they hardly know anything about.

Solution#4 Using A Third-Party Application

Disconnection from communication for a business can be very fatal. Many day-to-day activities are affected and hence, affects business. It is very crucial to have ways through which one can access their conversations without the Exchange Server. The manual methods explained in this article are quite lengthy and time-consuming. Any misstep can cause thousands of dollars of loss to an organization. Therefore, data center teams prefer professional solutions that cater to needs of the system that often face such errors. Some of the solutions include having a third-party software that can save an Exchange database file on a local system. This file is called OST and saved on a system with extension PST. One can easily refer to that PST file whenever exchange is having issues and user mailbox cannot be accessed. To perform this conversion an OST to PST converter tool can be used. It easily saves all OST data to a local PST file for safe keeping.

What is an OST to PST converter?

It is an efficient tool that Exchange data saved on an OST file to a local PST file. It is a relevant tool that scans as well as recovers any accidentally deleted mailbox items. It can work without Exchange and allows users to view their entire mailbox conversations, calendars, tasks, notes before performing any conversions. There are options to apply date based filter to further limit the size of the file that needs to be converted. Also, users can split the resultant PST file into many smaller-sized files of their choice. It needs MS Outlook for conversion and any of the versions are supported by this application.

How Does It Work?

Here is the product guide to allow users to simply download, install and start exporting their files. Follow the procedure step by step to make sure that the Outlook error the connection to Microsoft Exchange Server is unavailable is removed.

  • Step 1: Firstly, launch the application from its default location in C:/Program Files. Then, click Add File to load the OST file.
  • Step 2: Next, click Browse to find the OST file using the Windows file explorer.
  • Step 3: Now, set the Temp Folder Path to where the exported file will be saved. At times, the default path is on the primary drive. Exporting high volume file to this location may cause applications to hang or system to crash. Leaving the export process mid-way. Also, one can tick the box next to Advanced Scanning to scan OST files that are highly corrupt.
  • Step 4: Then, to export one file, simply right-click on it and click Export. Or for migrating multiple files or an OST files folder just check the box next to each item and click Export from the top pane.
  • Step 5: Now, an Export Options dialog box will appear. Choose from their the type of file needed after conversion. Also, date based mail filter can be applied in this step. This prevents needless conversion and saves time.
  • Step 6: Also, a PST split option is provided to reduce the size of a large OST into smaller parts. It is easier to access and go through if the OST contains more than 5000 emails accumulated over years.
  • Step 7: After this, click Export button and the transfer process will be initiated.

Wrapping It Up

There are a number of ways through which a connection to the Exchange server is unavailable. Many of those causes can be easily identified and the issue resolved. Other may require rigorous workings that may require advanced user knowledge and time. Often users look for a workaround to perform the manual procedure. It can be quite tiresome and lengthy. Many find that there are alternative solutions available in the market that works best for them. These are simple and relevant tools that can resolve many Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007 and 2003 related issues like Exchange Server in unavailable error.