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Outlook Error 0x800ccc0d is simply a failure to connect - that's in the error message. How to fix Outlook Error 0x800ccc0d involves a little investigation.

I am unable to get my e-mail from outlook express - I keep getting this error: 0x800ccc0d. What does it mean, and what do I do about it?

Outlook and Outlook Express both report that error number when they can't find or connect to your mail server.

Understanding what's happening is fairly easy. Fixing requires some additional information.

I'll focus here on Outlook Express, but similar steps are appropriate for Outlook as well.

Typically you'll see an error message much like this:

Outlook Express error 0x800ccc0d box

Unfortunately, many people seem to fixate on the error number at the end - 0x800ccc0d. While that can be useful, and it's easy to search on, they're missing all the additional information that Outlook is providing in the error. Specifically, this:

The host 'wrongmailserver.com' could not be found.

That's a big clue as to what's going on. Your email account is configured to retrieve email from the server 'wrongmailserver.com' (a fictitious server I made up for this example), and Outlook Express cannot connect to that mail server.

Step one? Make sure you can connect to anything else on the internet - any web page will do. Error 0x800ccc0d can occur because you're not connected to the internet at all, and visiting any random web page simply verifies that your internet connection is working.

If your internet connection is not working, that has nothing to do with Outlook, Outlook Express or error 0x800ccc0d. Your mail failure is just one symptom of not being connected to the internet.

If you are connected, step 2 is to validate your Outlook Express account configuration. Specifically, if you click on the Tools menu in Outlook Express, then click on the Accounts menu item, and then in the resulting dialog box click on the Mail tab, you should see something like this:

Outlook Express Accounts Dialog

"If the Incoming Mail (POP3): setting is wrong, then error 0x800ccc0d can result."

If you have more than one account, you may see multiple items in the list. Click on the one with which you are having trouble and click on Properties. In the resulting dialog box, click on the Servers tab and you should see something like this:

Outlook Express Account Properties Dialog

Note the arrows pointing at the two instances of the mail servers you would be using: one for POP3 (incoming email) and one for SMTP (outgoing email).

If the Incoming Mail (POP3): setting is wrong, then error 0x800ccc0d can result. In fact, the error message you got originally, "The host 'wrongmailserver.com' could not be found." is telling you that the mail server specified here could not be contacted.

So, what do you do?

I can't tell you what this setting should be, because it varies from ISP to ISP. What I use is different from what you use. So, you'll need to double check the information you were given from your ISP to see what they said your mail server name should be. Make sure you've entered that exactly. In fact, it probably makes sense to double check your entire configuration while you're here.

It's also possible that your mail server may simply be down - the ISP could be having trouble, for example, or the ISP could have changed mail servers. You'll need to contact your ISP to determine if this is the case, and whether or not they have an alternative mail server you can use, or how long you might need to wait for things to be fixed.

Article C2796 - September 26, 2006

Leo Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed. After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.

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Recent Comments
38 Comments

How do I fix this error, I have went through my account and checked all enentries to make sure they were right but I still get this error message.

The host 'pop gmail.com' could not be found.
Please verify that you have entered the server name correctly.
Account: 'pop gmail.com', Server: 'pop gmail.com', Protocol:
POP3, Port: 995, Secure(SSL):
Yes, Socket Error: 11001, Error Number: 0x800CCC0D

Looks to me like you're missing a period between pop and gmail. I believe it should be pop.gmail.com
Leo
01-Dec-2011
Posted by: Alfred Sprouse at December 1, 2011 5:56 AM

I am unable to send mail from MSoutlook & same going through Outlook express.

I have check all setting are same in both (MSoutlook & Outlookexpress ) still unable to send mails.

Check firewall setting- Disable it
Check Antivirus setting- Disable it
Check ISP setting- Our 25 port is not blocked.
Check domain setting - Thier webservicess working fine.

Still i am face problem while sending mail thru MSoutlook only.Outlook express working fine.

Posted by: basant at January 9, 2012 7:58 AM

Hi kindly note my Office Outlook 2003&2007 & Otlook Express with Windows XP OS can receive & download all my acconts (9 Account) but can not transmit evean one please help me to solve my problem that is very importan. I'm waiting fo receive help soonestBest Regards.
Sadr - Tehran Iran
{email removed}

Posted by: Hassan Sadr at January 12, 2012 4:40 AM

Hi kindly note my Office Outlook 2003&2007 & Otlook Express with Windows XP OS can receive & download all my acconts (9 Account) but can not transmit evean one just i see the error number note please help me to solve my problem that is very importan. I'm waiting fo receive help soonestBest Regards.
Sadr - Tehran Iran
sadr@post.com

Posted by: Sadr at January 12, 2012 4:43 AM

@Sadr
More than likely you need to adjust your SMTP settings, which are the settings that send email. You can get the proper settings from your Internet provider. More in this article:
What about SMTP?

Posted by: Connie at January 12, 2012 8:42 AM
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