How to Fix It When Outlook Won’t Open in Windows
Outlook is a widely used email client that can sometimes run into issues, such as not opening on a Windows system. This can be frustrating, but there are multiple troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve this problem. Here’s how to fix it when Outlook won’t open in Windows:
1.Check for Updates: Ensure that your Outlook and Windows are updated to the latest version. Sometimes bugs are fixed in newer updates which might resolve your problem.
2.Open Outlook in Safe Mode: You can open Outlook in Safe Mode by pressing the `Win + R` keys, typing `outlook.exe /safe`, and hitting Enter. If it works, you may have a problematic add-in that needs to be disabled.
3.Disable Add-Ins: With Outlook open in Safe Mode, go to `File -> Options -> Add-ins`. At the bottom of the window, there is a ‘Manage’ dropdown; select ‘COM Add-ins’ and click ‘Go’. Uncheck all the add-ins and restart Outlook normally.
4.Repair Office Programs: Go to ‘Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.’ Find your Office installation and click ‘Change’ above the program list. Select ‘Quick Repair’ or ‘Online Repair.’
5.Create a New Profile: Sometimes, a corrupted Outlook profile could be the culprit. Go to Control Panel, find ‘Mail’, and select ‘Show Profiles’. Click ‘Add’ for a new profile and follow prompts to set it up.
6.Repair PST Files: Use the Inbox Repair tool (scanpst.exe) to fix corrupted PST files. This tool is usually found within your Office installation directory.
7.Run SFC Scan: Use Windows’ built-in System File Checker tool by opening Command Prompt as administrator and running the command `sfc /scannow`.
8.Update Drivers: Outdated system drivers might also cause issues with Outlook. Make sure all drivers, especially graphics and sound drivers, are up to date.
9.Uninstall and Reinstall Outlook/Office: If none of the above methods work, uninstalling and reinstalling Office might do the trick.
10.Check if Disk Space is Full: Sometimes Outlook won’t open because the system disk is full; ensure there’s enough space available on your drive.
If after all these steps Outlook still won’t open, it could indicate a more serious issue with your system, possibly hardware-related or an operating system issue which might require professional help.