Outlook: The connection to the server has failed - Socket Error:

Knowledgebase

Outlook Socket Error 10061: Connection to Server Failed

Socket Error 10061 means Outlook is unable to establish a connection to the mail server on the specified port. The server is actively refusing the connection, which usually points to an incorrect port or SSL setting.

Most Common Fix: Enable SSL and Use the Correct Ports

This error frequently occurs when Outlook is configured to use non-SSL ports that our servers do not accept, or when SSL is enabled but the port number is wrong. Update your Outlook account settings to the following:

Incoming server (IMAP): mail.yourdomain.com, Port 993, SSL enabled
Incoming server (POP3): mail.yourdomain.com, Port 995, SSL enabled
Outgoing server (SMTP): mail.yourdomain.com, Port 465 (SSL) or 587 (TLS)
Outgoing server authentication: Enabled (use same credentials as incoming)

Other Causes

Firewall or antivirus blocking the connection - Your local firewall or antivirus software may be blocking Outlook from reaching the mail server. Try temporarily disabling email scanning in your security software to test.
ISP blocking mail ports - Some ISPs block port 25 and sometimes port 110. Using SSL ports (993, 995, 465) avoids this issue entirely.
IP blocked by server firewall - If you entered the wrong password several times, your IP may have been temporarily blocked. Visit my.ultrawebhosting.com and use the Unblock IP button.
Wrong server name - Double-check that you are using mail.yourdomain.com (your actual domain) and not a generic name like "mail" or "localhost."

If the error persists after verifying all settings, open a support ticket with your email address and a screenshot of your Outlook account settings so we can pinpoint the issue.