Quick Answer
Outlook 2013 cannot be updated anymore. Microsoft ended all support — including security updates — on April 11, 2023. You’ll see no options under File > Account > Update Options, because that menu doesn’t exist in Outlook 2013 at all. The only path forward is migration.Step-by-Step Walkthrough
- Confirm your exact version: Open Outlook 2013 → click File > Help. Look for the number after "Version" (e.g., 15.0.5147.1000). If it’s anything below 15.0.5196.1000, you’re already on the final build — and no newer one exists.
- Check for false hope: Some users open Control Panel > Programs and Features, right-click Microsoft Office 2013, and click "Change." Select "Online Repair." This runs diagnostics but never installs new Outlook code — it only restores corrupted files from your local install cache.
- Test Windows Update manually: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates. Even if KB5007253 or KB5022834 appear, those are Windows OS patches — not Outlook updates. They won’t change your Outlook version number.
- Verify Office Update settings (if you have Click-to-Run): Outlook 2013 was never distributed via Click-to-Run. So any attempt to use File > Account > Update Options > Update Now will fail silently — that menu simply doesn’t render in the 2013 UI. Don’t waste time hunting for it.
- Compare with modern versions: In Outlook 365, go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now — this works. In Outlook 2019, it’s the same path. But in 2013? No Account tab at all. Just Help and Options.
Common Pitfalls
- Assuming Windows Update delivers Outlook patches — it doesn’t. Office updates are separate and discontinued for 2013.
- Running Office Online Repair expecting new features or security fixes — it only fixes broken shortcuts or missing DLLs.
- Downloading "Outlook 2013 Service Pack 2" from third-party sites — SP2 shipped in 2014 and is already baked into every retail copy post-January 2015. Anything labeled "SP3" is fake.
- Using the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) — it detects Outlook 2013 as "end-of-life" and stops before offering fixes.
- Thinking Add-ins like Zoom or Adobe Acrobat trigger Outlook updates — they don’t. They run inside Outlook but don’t modify its core binaries.
Pro Tips
The beauty of this dead-end is how clearly it forces better habits. Here’s what seasoned admins actually do:
- Redirect auto-updates to Outlook 365 via Group Policy: If you manage 20+ PCs, deploy
UpdateBranch = MonthlyEnterpriseandUpdatePath = \\server\OfficeUpdatesvia gpedit.msc > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Office 2016 > Updates. Yes — the 2016 GPO templates work fine for deploying 365 to machines that previously ran 2013. - Preserve your folder structure during migration: Before switching, export your entire mailbox using File > Open & Export > Import/Export > Export to a file > Outlook Data File (.pst). Name it Outlook2013_FullBackup.pst. When setting up Outlook 365, import it *after* adding your account — otherwise, folders like Clients/Acme Corp and Projects/2024/Q3 get flattened into "Imported Folder."
- Rebuild your Quick Steps — don’t copy them: Outlook 2013 Quick Steps (like "Move to Archive/2023") don’t migrate. But you can recreate them faster: press Alt+H, then QS, then N to open New Quick Step. Type "Archive 2023", set action to "Move to folder", browse to Archive/2023, and hit Enter. Done in 8 seconds.
Troubleshooting
If you’re certain you need Outlook 2013 running *and* want the latest possible state, here’s what’s really happening:
| Problem State | What Happens | Result After Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Outlook 2013 shows version 15.0.4569.1506 | You’re missing SP1 (released 2013) and SP2 (2014). Windows Update won’t offer them. | Download SP2 standalone installer, run as Admin, reboot. Version jumps to 15.0.5196.1000 — the final build. |
| “Update Now” button grayed out in File > Account | That tab doesn’t exist in Outlook 2013. You’re looking at a screenshot from Outlook 365. | Close Outlook. Press Win+R, type outlook /safe, hit Enter. If the Account tab appears now — you’ve got a corrupted UI. Reinstall Office 2013. |
| Outlook Web App (OWA) prompts “Update required” | OWA is server-side. Your Exchange Server (2013/2016/2019) controls what OWA version loads — not your desktop client. | Contact your IT team. If they run Exchange Server 2013 CU23, OWA is current. If they run Exchange Online, OWA auto-updates daily — no action needed. |
| Add-in buttons disappear after “repair” | Online Repair strips add-ins. It treats them as third-party modifications. | Before repair: note add-in names under File > Options > Add-Ins > Manage: COM Add-ins > Go…. Re-enable each one manually after repair. |
| Calendar invites fail with “This message can’t be sent” | Not an update issue. Caused by cached mode + corrupt OST. Common on Outlook 2013 after 3+ years of uptime. | Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings… > Data Files tab, select your OST, click Settings > Compact Now. Then restart Outlook. |
Ready to move off Outlook 2013? Start here: Open Settings > Apps > Apps & features, find "Microsoft Office 2013", click Modify > Quick Repair — not to update, but to clean up before installing Outlook 365. Then download the Microsoft 365 installer. Your Archive/2023 folder, signature, and rules will carry over — if you follow the import order above.
