You might need to set Windows Update to automatically download and diagnose Office activation conflicts install recommended updates. Installing any important, recommended, and optional updates can often correct problems by replacing out-of-date files and fixing vulnerabilities. To install the latest Windows and Office updates, click the link below.

• Until you can install the Windows Update fix release, you can set a registry key that will cause Outlook to stop using the local Windows Search service.
• If you typically use an Outlook.com account for email, this issue can occur if there are multiple aliases on the account and the 3rd party email address is the primary alias.
• Many users encounter startup freezes, profile loading loops, and crashes following major Windows patches or Office updates.
• Installing any important, recommended, and optional updates can often correct problems by replacing out-of-date files and fixing vulnerabilities.
• The platform validates SMTP, IMAP, and POP3 settings against verified databases to identify version mismatches or broken profiles introduced after system updates.
• Following the above steps—from safe mode diagnostics to repairing data files—will restore functionality in most cases.
• The loading of unregistered MAPI services has been disabled by default to make Outlook more secure.

Outlook Known issues in October 2020 updates

If you can't open Outlook, or Outlook disappears or crashes, one of your add-ins may be to blame or you may need to update Outlook. Right-click the folder, and then click Properties to check your permissions for the folder. See guide to Office 365 sign-in errors the folder owner or your administrator to change your permissions. There is currently no option to revert to the prior behavior, but we would love to hear your feedback to help us with future designs.

Outlook known issues in the January 2019 updates

Auto-archive, sending and receiving a very large attachment, or running FixTechGuide email error solutions some of the other mailbox tools can all be done in the background. Check the status bar at the bottom of the screen to see if another process is running. If so, wait a short time (usually two or three minutes) to see if Outlook starts working again. To access the calendar shared with your Microsoft 365 for business account, you'll need to accept the invitation from Outlook on the web, iOS, or Android.

Troubleshoot Outlook for Windows issues

To learn more about how to send us feedback, please see How do I give feedback on Microsoft Office. Note that you can quickly tell how your mail is currently sorted, by the presence of a small triangle on the field headers. Outlook 2016 freezes when you try to preview an Excel file that's attached to an email. This issue affects all Outlook versions on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10.

Outlook Known issues in March 2025 updates

My computer (running Windows 11 Pro) forced an update about two weeks ago. Since the update, my Outlook will not return to "new" Outlook, it deleted my email signature, and is incredibly delayed in getting messages. I am opening the "classic" Outlook app on my computer because the one labeled new seems to not actually be a functioning app (no icon, nothing happens when I click on it).



The issues documented in this section have been reported after installing the recent updates listed below. We're investigating the issues and will update this page when a fix is available. In the meantime, please use the workarounds suggested for each issue. If you manually type in the secondary connected account email address in the "From" field, the email is sent as "On behalf of" your primary Outlook.com account. If you can't choose any of the menu options, type inside an email message, calendar event, or contact, Outlook may have frozen. There are three steps you can take to try to get Outlook working again.