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Can only receive emails using a VPN

Ephraim 0 Reputation points
2025-12-05T17:50:54.8866667+00:00

I can't receive any emails on my computer. the only way I receive them is by using a VPN, and for sending emails i can only do it if the VPN is off. I have an UOL email account which is managed by Outlook. I've tried asking AI for help and it told me to change some configurations in the outlook entrance and exit port for example the POP and SMTP but it did not work. The weird thing is that when I try sending/receiving emails using my phone everything works perfectly. I have tried everything already but nothing has worked. the only thing a can do now is ask the outlook support but there is no number i can call.

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For home
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  1. Q&A Assist
    2025-12-05T17:51:20.92+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    It sounds like you're experiencing a connectivity issue with your Outlook email account that is affected by your VPN settings. Here are a few steps you can try to troubleshoot the problem:

    1. Check Firewall Settings: Ensure that your firewall is not blocking Outlook when the VPN is off. Sometimes, firewalls can restrict access to certain applications based on their network configurations.
    2. Verify Email Account Settings: Double-check your POP and SMTP settings in Outlook. Make sure they are configured correctly for your UOL email account. You can refer to the email provider's documentation for the correct settings.
    3. Repair Outlook: Consider repairing the Office application. This can resolve issues caused by corrupted files. You can find instructions on how to repair an Office application here.
    4. Registry Permissions: If you suspect that registry permissions might be causing issues, you can verify and adjust them as needed. This involves using the Registry Editor to check permissions for specific keys related to Outlook.
    5. Run Windows Update: Ensure that your Windows operating system and Outlook client are up to date. Sometimes, updates can fix underlying issues that affect connectivity.
    6. Check for Third-Party Applications: If you have any third-party applications that might be interfering with Outlook, consider disabling them temporarily to see if it resolves the issue.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, contacting Outlook support may be necessary for further assistance.

    References:

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  2. Rez 10,615 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-12-05T19:34:30.8+00:00

    Hi Ephraim,

    That sounds tough. If email needs a VPN to get stuff but not to send, your network or ISP probably limits ports for your email. UOL uses POP/IMAP for getting mail and SMTP for sending. Some ISPs block SMTP ports like 25 or 587 to stop spam, which explains why sending works without a VPN. Also, getting mail might be blocked by a firewall or DNS issue on your network, and the VPN skips that.

    First, are you using POP or IMAP in Outlook? Plus, is the incoming server set to pop.uol.com.br or imap.uol.com.br and outgoing to smtp.uol.com.br with SSL/TLS on?

    Try these SMTP ports: 587 or 465 and POP/IMAP: 995 or 993. If that doesn’t work, turn off your antivirus or firewall to see if they mess with things.

    Also, are you on a home or work network? This helps see if it’s an ISP or local policy issue.

    Best,

    Rez

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