Microsoft Outlook is a great tool, but it’s not perfect. If you use it for an extended period of time, it’s extremely likely you’ll run into bugs or other issues. These are the most common problems you might run into. When that happens, try these Outlook fixes to get you back in business.
Outlook’s Stuck on the “Processing” Message
If Outlook’s having trouble handling what you’re throwing at it, close the app and launch it in safe mode by following these steps:
- Open the Run command (shortcut Windows key + R)
- Type “outlook.exe /safe” and click Enter. This will start Outlook in safe mode.
- Click the OK button.
- Launch Outlook again, normally this time.
You should be able to get past the “processing” message this time.
Outlook Keeps Freezing
When Outlook won’t stop freezing up on you, the first thing you should try is to update Outlook. A lot of the time, if you’re having issues, it’s because you’re on an outdated version of the app.
- On your computer, open Settings
- Click on Update & Security
- Click Windows Update
- Click “Check for updates.”
- If any updates show up, install them now
This method might put you out of commission for a little while, but having to take an extra-long coffee break while updates install is way faster in the long run than constantly having Outlook problems.
Outlook’s Behaving Strangely
If Outlook is just generally on the fritz, first try opening it in safe mode and then checking for updates. If that doesn’t work, try creating a new Outlook profile. Your profile has a lot of settings that can impact how the app functions. So if the app’s behaving strangely, that might be why.
- Close Outlook
- Open your computer’s Control Panel
- Click User Accounts, Mail, and Show Profiles
- Click “Add” and enter a new profile name and the necessary information
- Click “Finish”
- In the “Show Profiles” general tab, select “Prompt for a profile to be used”
- Click “Apply,” then “OK”
- Open Outlook and select your new profile name
Now you should be able to run Outlook without any problems.
Outlook’s Stuck on the Loading Profile
If you have this issue, the PST might be oversized. To reduce the file size, find the folder in Outlook called “Larger than 100KB.” Delete everything in it that you don’t need or want. Archive old emails. Particularly look out for things with big attachments. If you need a copy of a large file, save it to your computer and delete it from the PST. Then clear out the trash.
Outlook’s Not Responding
In this case, add-ins might be causing your problem. Disable add-ins by starting Outlook in save mode. If that solves the problem, go into the Trust Center and disable any suspect add-ins, then restart Outlook. If that doesn’t solve the issue, recreate your Outlook profile.
Next time you have one of these common Outlook problems, give these fixes a try. Your Outlook app should be back up and running in no time, which means you can get back to work!
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