1 Top Common Outlook Problems and How to Fix Them
Thorsten McGovern edited this page 2025-10-20 12:20:30 +08:00
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If you're tired of different bugs slowing things down or dealing with corrupted files, we are happy to show you how Mailbird can give you a better experience. In typical Microsoft fashion, there are also additional rules for certain older platforms that Outlook not opening on Windows 10 will make you feel very confused about 2FA. We'd be remiss to not tell you there are certain accounts (like Xbox 360) that always require 2FA as well as a special app password.

There are different steps to take if you are on Windows (you'll need to locate the Search Index) or Mac (use Spotlight). First, let's read about how to check if Outlook is indexing on Windows. A laggy search is one of the most common Microsoft Outlook problems. It may arise at different times, depending on your platform or device. Sometimes, it may be your Outlook app itself that is damaged. Not to worry, you can use the built-in Microsoft Office repair utility to get it back in order.

One of the failed sign-in windows showed a long string under a field labeled Microsoft Information Protection API. Running that value through the Entra admin portal revealed what we needed. At that point, the focus shifted to what was happening during authentication. The answer came from a closer look at the Microsoft Entra sign-in logs and a hidden dependency that I wasnt aware of.

If repairing your Microsoft 365 programs didn't resolve your issue, move on to the next step. When you start Windows normally, several applications and services start automatically and then run in the background. These applications and services can interfere with Outlook. A Selective Startup or "clean boot" process can help you identify problems that are caused by application conflicts. Sometimes you have to run scanpst multiple times on the same pst until it corrects all the errors.

Follow the steps below to reset the navigation panel and fix the loading profile issue. Dealing with Outlook stuck on loading Profile can be frustrating, but there are various troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the issue. Start with the simpler solutions and gradually move to more advanced ones if necessary.

Most of these crashes come down to one thing problematic data files. When they get too large, go corrupt, or are poorly configured, things start to break. You can use the Inbox Repair tool (SCANPST.EXE) to diagnose and repair errors in your Outlook data file. The Inbox Repair tool checks the Outlook data files on your computer to see if they're in good shape.

From time to time Microsoft Outlook adopts quite an annoying habit to hang around even if the user persistently attempts to shut it down. This problem existed in earlier versions and it may occur with recent Outlook 2013 and 2010. If your user profile or folder is stored on a network drive, Outlook will be Outlook not opening on Windows 10 slower to respond and might become a hanging outlook problem. Your user profile is a collection of settings that let you customize the computer appearance and performance. It contains settings for desktop backgrounds, screen savers, sound settings, and other features. User profiles help make sure that your personal preferences are used when you log on to Windows.

Your profile stores a variety of settings that control Outlook not opening on Windows 10 how Outlook looks and feels. You can create a new profile and then add your email accounts to the new profile. If repairing your Microsoft 365 programs didn't resolve your issue, move on to the next step. If installing the latest updates didn't resolve your issue, move on to the next step. For example, the first time you try to Dismiss All on a list of reminders, Outlook asks you if you're sure you want to do that. If you don't choose an option on that dialog box, Outlook won't let you do anything else.

If your internet is slow or spotty, Outlook might struggle to sync data. Outlook freezing or becoming unresponsive isnt just frustrating—it can derail your entire day. Lost work, missed deadlines, annoyed colleagues… Its the kind of headache no one needs. Find solutions to common problems or get help from a support agent. If Outlook is in use by another process, this information is displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the screen. If you try to perform other actions while Outlook is in use, Outlook may not respond.

If you don't choose an option on that dialog box, Outlook won't let you do anything else. Pressing Alt+Tab will help you switch from window to window and help you see what dialog boxes might be stopping Outlook from responding. If Outlook isn't stuck at a screen that says "Processing," or this didn't resolve your issue, continue to the steps below. There are a number of possible reasons for Outlook to behave this way. We've presented the potential solutions in order from quickest to most time consuming.

Download the latest updates by visiting your antivirus software vendor's website. Are Outlook not opening on Windows 10 you having trouble starting Outlook or receiving "Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window" error messages? We can fix the problem for you, or you can use the troubleshooting steps we're providing below to help resolve these startup issues.