Get started with Outlook
Welcome to the new Outlook
- Get started
- Set up new Outlook
- Import settings
- Changes to Mail, Calendar, People apps
- Run side-by-side
Add and manage accounts
- Add an email account
- Add a Gmail account
- Add an iCloud account
- Add a Yahoo! account
- Sync your account
Use and manage add-ins
- Use an add-in
Troubleshoot
- Troubleshoot Outlook email setup
- Troubleshoot Outlook for Windows
- You may need an app password
About Outlook
- Versions of Outlook
- Keyboard shortcuts
Learn more
- More to explore
Outlook for Microsoft 365 Outlook 2021 Outlook 2019 Outlook 2016 Outlook 2013 New Outlook for Windows More...Less
If you are having problems with Outlook, there are a few thingswe can help with to get you back to sending and receiving your email.
Important:Steps may be different betweennewand classic Outlook for Windows. To determine which version of Outlook you're using, look forFileon the ribbon. Ifthere's noFileoption,follow the steps under the New Outlook tab. If theFileoption appears, select the tab for Classic Outlook.
For information on emerging or known Outlook issues, go toFixes or workarounds for recent issues in Outlook for PC.
New OutlookClassic Outlook
Restart new Outlook
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Right-click Start and select Task Manager.
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Select Microsoft Outlook, then End task.
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Check to make sure that new Outlook is closed, then close Task Manager.
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After new Outlook closes, reopen the app as you normally would.
Uninstall and reinstallthe new Outlook for Windows
To uninstall new Outlook:
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From the Start menu, select new Outlook for Windows.
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Select the arrow to expand the list option in Start.
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Select Uninstall to begin the uninstall process.
To reinstall new Outlook:
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Open classic Outlook for Windows.
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In the top corner, you'll see a toggle to Try the new Outlook
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Select this toggle to download the new app and you will switch to the new Outlook for Windows.
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.
You might need to set Windows Update to automatically download and 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.
Keep Windows up to date with the latest Updates
Did that work? Great. If not, you can contact support.
You can start Outlook in safe mode, disable your add-ins, and then try to open Outlook normally.
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In Windows 10, click Start.
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Type Outlook /safe, in the Search programs and files and then click OK.
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Close and re-open Outlook.
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If the issue is resolved, you can keep working, or if you have time, take the following steps to find out what COM Add-in is causing the problem.
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Open the File menu, click Options, then click Add-ins.
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Select COM Add-ins and click Go.
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Clear all the check boxes in the list to disable the Add-ins and click OK.
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Restart Outlook.
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If the issue does not occur, go back to the COM Add-ins screen and enable them one at a time until the error occurs. (Be sure to close and restart Outlook after each Add-in is enabled.)
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Did that work? Great. If not, you can contact support.
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.
Occasionally, Outlook tries to run a process in the background. Auto-archive, sending and receiving a very large attachment, or running 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.
Did that work? Great. If not, you can contact support.
If you can't open a particular set of folders, you can try to repair your personal folders file or create a new profile.
Try following the steps outlined here to create a new profile:
Create an Outlook profile
Did that work? Great. If not, you can contact support.
Try following the steps outlined here to repair your .pst file:
Repair Outlook Data Files (.pst and .ost)
Did that work? Great. If not, you can contact support.
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