How to fix the error of not being able to start Microsoft Outlook on Windows

Outlook can’t open, what should I do? Below is the reason why Outlook cannot open and how to fix it.

Each application has its own advantages and disadvantages. The Microsoft Outlook app has many useful features to help manage email and other tasks. However, it is also prone to errors and crashes that can prevent users from sending emails or accessing mailbox items.

One error that Outlook users may encounter is the error “Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open Outlook window” when opening the application. There are many causes of this error in Outlook. In this article, we will discuss the causes of the error and methods to resolve it.

What causes the error ‘Unable to start Microsoft Outlook. Unable to open Outlook window’
This Outlook error may occur due to one or more of the following reasons:

• Outlook account is corrupted or corrupted
• Outlook add-ons are incompatible or corrupted
• Navigation drawer settings are incorrect
• The Outlook data file (PST) is damaged or corrupted
• Outlook startup settings are misconfigured
• Outdated Outlook version

When you depend on Outlook to manage your email, calendar, contacts, and tasks, fishc error like “Cannot start Microsoft Outlook” – “Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook” can disrupt your workflow. This guide will provide a solution to get Outlook back up and running on your Windows PC when encountering the above problem to help everyone continue using this email client smoothly.

Run Outlook in Safe Mode

Third-party add-ins can sometimes interfere with the Outlook app and prevent it from opening on your PC. To test this possibility, you can open Outlook in Safe Mode. This action allows the app to run without any add-ons or custom settings, helping you determine if the problem stems from them.

To open Outlook in safe mode:

1. Press Win + R to open the dialog box Run.
2. Enter Outlook.exe /safe into the text field and press Enter.
3. If Outlook opens and works as expected in Safe Mode, it’s possible that one of your add-ins is causing the error of not being able to start Microsoft Outlook on Windows.

To determine the cause of the problem, you need to disable all your add-ins and then enable them one by one. Here’s how:

1. In the Outlook app, go to File > Options.
2. Select tabs Add-ins in the Outlook Options window.
3. Click the button Go edge COM Add-ins.
4. Clear all the check boxes to disable your add-in, then click OK.

Restart the Outlook app, then enable each add-in in turn until the error appears again. From there, you will be able to identify the add-in that is causing the problem. Now the best option is to get rid of them.

Reset navigation panel on Outlook

The Outlook navigation panel serves as a control center for switching between different tabs, such as Mail, Calendar, People, and Tasks. Problems with the navigation panel can sometimes prevent the Outlook app from starting properly.

You can try resetting the navigation panel to remove all customizations and see if that helps. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box. Type Outlook.exe /resetnavpane in the box and press Enter.

Create a new Outlook account

Your Outlook account contains all settings related to your email account, including server configuration, signatures, rules, and many other options. If the current account is corrupted or inaccessible, Outlook may not open and display an error. In most cases, you can fix such problems by creating and switching to a new Outlook account.

To create a new Outlook account:

1. Press Win + R to open the dialog box Run.
2. Type control in the box and press Enter to open Control Panel.
3. Click Mail (Microsoft Outlook).
4. In Profilesselect Show Profiles.
5. Click the button Addenter a name for your profile and click OK.
6. Enter account details, then click Next to create profile.
7. Select new configuration in When starting Microsoft Outlook and press Apply.

Run the Office repair tool

The Microsoft Office repair tool on Windows can help you fix many different Outlook errors.

Here’s how to fix the error of not being able to open Outlook on Windows:

1. Press Win + R to open the dialog box Run.
2. Type appwiz.cpl in the text box and press Enter.
3. Select the Microsoft Office suite in the list, then click Change at the top.
4. Select Online Repair and then click Repair.

Fix data file errors on Outlook

Another reason why you encounter the error of not being able to start Microsoft Outlook is because the data file is corrupted. Luckily, Microsoft has included an Inbox Repair Tool that can help you repair these files. Here’s how to run it.

1. Right click on the shortcut Outlook and choose Properties.
2. In tabs Shortcutsclick Open File Location.
3. Determine location SCANPST.EXE and double click on it.
4. In the window Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair Toolclick Browse then navigate to the following folder:

C:\Users\*username*\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

Replace *username* at the link above with your own username.

5. Select the configuration you want to repair, then click Start.

6. After completing the scanning process, try opening the app again Outlook.

Turn off compatibility mode for Outlook

Compatibility Mode on Windows is a useful feature that helps users run older programs and software on Windows PCs. However, because Microsoft Outlook is fully optimized for Windows, running in compatibility mode can cause strange errors.

To turn off compatibility mode for Outlook, click Right-click the Outlook shortcut and choose Properties. Switch tabs Compatibility and uncheck the option Run this program in compatibility mode. Then click Apply then press OK. Outlook will then open on your Windows computer.

Applying one of these solutions will fix the error of not starting Microsoft Outlook and help this email client work as expected.