Over the years, Microsoft's mail service has been able to, Outlook , building a dedicated user base in this email market dominated by Gmail. Although, like any other piece of technology, it has its own share of problems. One of the most common problems most users encounter is the app not opening. Outlook For the issue in Windows 10. In most cases, an application may not launch if its instance is already active or the previous session was not terminated properly. We'll show you how to fix Outlook not opening in Windows 10.
How to Fix Outlook Not Opening on Windows 10 PC
called Outlook Mail Service Originally named Hotmail, it appeals to many organizations for internal communications and, as such, boasts approximately 400 million users. This massive user base can be attributed to the following:
- Provides Additional features Such as calendars, web browsing, note taking, task management, etc. that Outlook offers.
- that it Available as a web client An application included in the MS Office suite on multiple platforms.
Sometimes, double-clicking an application shortcut icon doesn't do anything at all, and you encounter various error messages instead. In this article, you'll find the answer to your question: How do I fix Outlook not opening?
The underlying causes of Outlook not opening issue
Reasons that prevent your Outlook application from opening are:
- Due to corrupted/broken local AppData and .pst files.
- Your Outlook app or Outlook account needs to be repaired,
- There is an add-in with certain issues that is preventing Outlook from starting,
- Your computer is having problems running in compatibility mode, etc.
Method 1: Kill the MS Outlook task
There may be a simple answer to how to fix Outlook, but that's not the opening question. Before we move on to specific solutions, let's make sure that your Outlook instance isn't already running in the background. If it is, simply terminate it and see if that resolves the issue.
1. Press the keys Ctrl + Shift + Esc Together to open Task Manager.
2. Locate Microsoft Outlook process Within applications.
3. Right click on it and choose finish the job From the menu, as shown.
4. Try launching Outlook now, and hopefully the application window will open without any problems.
Method 2: Start Outlook in Safe Mode and Disable Add-ins
Microsoft allows users to expand Outlook's functionality by installing a number of useful add-ins. These add-ins work similarly to web browser extensions and complement the already impressive user experience. However, sometimes these add-ins can cause the application itself to crash. An outdated or corrupted add-in can cause a number of issues, including Outlook not opening in Windows 10.
However, before we begin the process of uninstalling add-ins, let's confirm that one of them is indeed the culprit. This can be done by running Outlook in Safe Mode, a mode in which no add-ins are loaded, the Reading Pane is disabled, and custom toolbar settings are not applied. Here's how:
1. Press the . key Windows + R At the same time to open Run . dialog.
2. Write outlook.exe /safe and press the key Enter To start Outlook in Safe Mode.
3. A pop-up window will appear asking you to choose a profile. Open Drop-down menu and choose an option Outlook and press the key Enter.
Note: Some users may not be able to start Outlook in safe mode using the method above. In this case, read our guide on how to start Outlook in safe mode.
If you successfully start Outlook in safe mode, confirm that the problem is indeed with an add-in. Then, uninstall or disable it as follows:
4. Turn on Outlook From the tape Search Windows As shown below.
5. Click on the tab a file As shown.
6. Select "Options" As shown below.
7. Go to the tab Add-ins On the left then click GO… located next to Manage: COM Add-ins , as shown.
8a. Here, click the “Remove” button to remove the required add-ons.
8 b. Or specify Add-on box Required and click "OK" To disable it.
Method 3: Run the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter
The Outlook app was primarily designed to run on Microsoft Windows 10 and has been optimized accordingly. If your computer is running any older version of Windows, such as Windows 8 or 7, you need to run the app in compatibility mode for a smoother experience. To change Outlook's compatibility mode and fix the Outlook not opening issue, follow these steps:
1. Right-click the shortcut. Outlook and select an option "Characteristics" , As shown below.
2. Switch to the Compatibility tab in the Outlook Properties window.
3. Uncheck the option. “Run this program in compatibility mode” And click “Apply” > “OK”.
4. Right-click on the application. Outlook And choose Troubleshoot compatibility issues , as shown.
5. Now, the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter will try to detect any potential issues.
6. Click Try the settings Recommended
Method 4: Delete the LocalAppData folder
Another solution that has worked for a few users is to delete the Outlook app data folder. Apps store custom settings and temporary files in the AppData folder, which is hidden by default. If this data becomes corrupted, it can cause a variety of problems, such as Outlook not opening in Windows 10.
1. Open the dialog box "employment" As before.
2. Write%localappdata% And press Enter To open the desired folder.
Note: Alternately, follow the path to the C:\Users\username\AppData\Local folder in File Explorer.
3. Go to Microsoft folderRight-click on the Outlook folder and choose delete , As shown below.
4. Restart your computer once and then try opening Outlook.
Method 5: Reset the Navigation Pane in Outlook
A number of reports indicate that Outlook won't open, a problem that's more prevalent among users who have customized the navigation pane in the app. If your app is having trouble loading the customized navigation pane, you're likely to experience launch problems. To fix this, simply return the Outlook navigation pane to its default state, as follows:
1. Launch the dialog box. "employment" As before.
2. Write outlook.exe /resetnavpane and press the key Enter لReset Navigation pane in Outlook.
Method 6: Repair MS Outlook
Moving on, it's entirely possible that the Outlook application itself has become corrupted. This could be due to a number of reasons, from malware/viruses to a recent Windows update. Fortunately, there's a built-in repair tool for most Windows applications. Try repairing Outlook with this tool and see if the Outlook won't open issue is resolved.
1. Press Windows key , And type Control Panel And click to open.
2. Set View by > Large icons And click programs and features of Selected options.
3. Locate MS Office Suite Installed on your computer, right click on it and click A change , as shown.
4. Choose Quick fix and click the . button fix To follow, as shown.
5. Click "Yeah" In the pop-up window User Account Control that appear.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions toEnd the repair process.
7. Try running Outlook Now. If the Outlook app doesn't open, choose Online repair In How do you want to repair the Office programs window in step 4.
Method 7: Repair Outlook Profile
Besides corrupt add-ins, the chances of a corrupted profile causing Outlook not to open are very high. Some common issues related to a corrupted Outlook account can be fixed using the native repair option, as described below:
1. Turn on Outlook in Safe Mode As shown in the second method.
Note: If you are logged in to multiple accounts, choose the account with the problem from the drop-down list first.
2. Go to File > Account Settings And choose Account settings ...from the list, as shown.
3. Then, in the tab "e-mail" Click on the option "repair ...”, as shown.
4. The repair window will appear. Follow the on-screen instructions to repair your account.
Method 8: Repair .pst and .ost files
If the original repair function was unable to repair your profile, it's likely that the .pst file or the personal storage table and the .ost file associated with the profile are damaged. This should definitely fix the Outlook not opening issue. If it doesn't, try the next solution.
Method 9: Create a new Outlook account (Windows 7)
Furthermore, you can create a completely new profile and run Outlook using it to avoid all sorts of problems altogether. Here's how:
Note: The steps specified have been verified on Windows 7 and Outlook 2007.
1. Open Control Panel From a list Start.
2. Set View by > Large icons and click Mail (Microsoft Outlook).
3. Now, click on Show profiles ...the option shown.
4. Then click the button "addition" in the tab "general".
5. Next, type in a profile name and click OK.
6. Then enter the required details. (Your name, email address, password, and retype the password) In section Email account. Then click Next > Finish.
7. Again, repeat steps 1-4 and click Your new account from the list.
8. Next, select an option Always use this profile.
9. Click Apply > OK To save these changes.
Pro Tip: How to Locate SCANPST.EXE on Windows 10
Note: For some, the required Microsoft Office folder will be located in Program Files instead of Program Files (x86).
Version a path
| Version | path |
| Outlook 2019 | C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 |
| Outlook 2016 | C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 |
| Outlook 2013 | C: \ Program Files (x86) \ Microsoft Office \ Office15 |
| Outlook 2010 | C: \ Program Files (x86) \ Microsoft Office \ Office14 |
| Outlook 2007 | C: \ Program Files (x86) \ Microsoft Office \ Office12 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Q1. How do I fix my Outlook app not opening on Windows 10?
answer. Depending on the exact culprit, you can fix your Outlook not opening issues by disabling all add-ins, repairing your Outlook profile and application, resetting the application navigation pane, disabling compatibility mode, and repairing PST/OST files.
Q2. How do I fix Outlook not opening issue?
answer. Outlook may not open if one of its add-ins has a problem, the .pst file associated with your profile is corrupted, or the profile itself appears damaged. Follow the solutions in this guide to resolve the same issue.
Hopefully, implementing any of the solutions above will fix your Outlook not opening issue on Windows 10. Other common fixes include updating Windows and Microsoft Office, running a System File Checker scan to repair system files, checking for viruses and malware, and contacting Microsoft Support. We'd love to hear your suggestions and questions in the comments section below.
