Fix Your IMAP Server Closed the Connection Outlook [2024]

Microsoft built Outlook to alleviate the complexity of managing multiple operations simultaneously and efficiently. Exchanging professional emails, keeping track of critical information, and scheduling different events are some of the brilliant features of Outlook.

Apart from all the positive traits, users often come across a spooky message like Your IMAP server closed the connection in conjunction with an error code of 0x800CCCDD.

It’s a nightmare when you see such a message out of nowhere on a tightly scheduled day.

In this article, I focused solely on the primary reasons and proven fixes. After reading this article, you will have one less thing to worry about in your usual day.

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Why Your IMAP Server Closed the Connection Occur?

The exact reason of appearing Your IMAP server closed the connection error message while exchanging emails in Outlook is the breaking of the server connection. Connection breaks with the server when the user leaves the connection inactive for an extended period. Outlook provides error code 0x800CCCDD along with the message.

Let’s have a look at some reasons for the 0x800CCCDD error:

Broken PST File

The PST file holds all the necessary information for the Outlook application. By any chance, if this file is broken or gets corrupted, it will cause Your IMAP server to close the connection problem.

Wrong Time and Date of the System

If the computer is set to the wrong time and date, Outlook may not work as expected. The server is always up to date with the correct date, regardless of your time zone.

Furthermore, an incorrect system time zone, such as the user lives in Europe, but his timezone is set to an Asian country, leads to a 0x800CCDD error.

Defective Outlook Profile

A defective profile in Outlook prevents establishing a connection to the server. As a result, your IMAP server closes the connection message appears.

Shorter Server Timeout Period

Outlook exchange data by sending and receiving to the server. Outlook is bound to complete the operation within a specific period in its vanilla configuration. Usually, this timeframe is 1 minute long.

For any reason, if Outlook can’t complete the operation within this period user will receive the error code 0x800CCDD.

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How to Fix IMAP Server Closed the Connection

Narrowing down IMAP server problem can be tricky. It can take hours to figure out the actual cause.

Here are all the possible fixes for IMAP server issue:

1. Update Date and Time

Correctly updating the date and time of the computer may seem a bit basic, but it’s one of the most effective solutions to fix the error 0x800CCCDD in Outlook.

Follow the steps to Update the date and time of your machine:

Right-click on the taskbar where time is visible.
Select Adjust date/time.
Check the time zone whether it’s correct or not.
Toggle the Set time automatically to disable it.
Click on the change button under Set time and date manually.
Populate the time and date input boxes with the correct value.
Click on the change button to save.

If your IMAP server is closed, the connection occurs due to incorrect date and time; changing the date with the correct value will fix it.

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2. Extend Server Timeout Duration

By extending server timeout duration, you are giving Outlook more time to receive emails and send them out. This helps eliminate your IMAP server closed connection problem.

Here’s what you need to do to Extend server timeout duration:

Launch Outlook on your system.
Click on File from the top left.
Go to Account Settings.
Click Account Settings again under its parent.
Click on the email that is causing the issue.
Click on More settings when a new window appears.
Navigate to the Advanced tab from the top.
Look for Server Timeouts.
Move the slider to the right to increase the time.
Set it to Long 10 Minutes and click OK.

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3. Employ SCANPST.exe File

Repairing the PST file fixes the error code 0x800CCCDD issue in Outlook. It’s a proven method for many users.

Here’s what to follow to fix the issue right away:

Quit Outlook and its associate programs from your computer.
Click on File Explorer from the taskbar.
Click on This PC.
Type SCANPST.exe in the search box.
Double-click on the exe file, and it will open the tool.
Select the Browse button.
Select the correct file in the Inbox Repair tool. Generally, you will find it in Microsoft > Documents > Outlook
Press on the Start button at the bottom this will start scanning for errors.
Start Outlook once again after the completion of the process.

This should fix the error code 0x800CCCDD problem.

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4. Enable POP instead of IMAP

This method is effective when you come across Your IMAP server closed the connection while logged in with a Gmail account.

Here are the actions to perform to enable POP:

Fire up a browser and log in to your Gmail.
Click on the Settings icon, which looks like a gear.
Navigate to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab from the top.
Select Enable POP for all mail (even mail that’s already been downloaded). You will find this option at the bottom half of the screen in line with the POP download heading left of the screen.
Select keep Gmail’s copy in the Inbox option for When messages are accessed with the POP menu.
Click the Save Changes button.
Open the Outlook application on your desktop.
Click on File at the top left.
Select Info.
Follow the sequence Account Settings > Account Settings…
Navigate to the Email tab.
Click on New.
Populate the Add Account window with your details, including Gmail.
Select POP and click Next.
Apply the following value:

Gmail POP server address: pop.gmail.com

Gmail POP username: xxxx@gmail.com

Gmail POP password: xxxxxxx

Gmail POP port: 995

Gmail POP SSL required: Yes

Click on the Next button. This will help Outlook to test the connection status and fetch the necessary credentials.

After a few moments, you will see a success message. And you have successfully fixed Your IMAP server closed the connection problem.

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5. New Outlook Account

Creating a new Outlook account fixed the Your IMAP server closed the connection problem for a large number of customers.

Here’s how you can create a new Outlook account:

Press Windows + S on your keyboard.
Type Control Panel.
Write mail in the search field at the top right corner.
Select Microsoft Outlook from the appearing search result.
Select Show Profiles.
Choose the profile you are currently logged in to.
Press the Remove button and confirm to delete.
Start Outlook again, and it will ask for a new account. Fill it up with the necessary information.