Microsoft Outlook Has Stopped Working? – Fix it Fast!

If you use Microsoft Outlook, you might have seen a message saying, “Outlook stopped working.” As a result, it happens when Outlook has a problem and suddenly doesn’t work right. Here, we have a few reasons why this can occur, and we’ll talk about those in this post.

We’ll also talk about a helpful tool you can use to fix Outlook when it stops working. Sometimes, you’ve just changed a few settings, which can make Outlook start working again when it’s not responding or showing an error. So, if you’ve ever had trouble with Outlook suddenly not working appropriately, this post will explain why it might happen and show you some simple things you can do to make it work again.

Understanding the ‘Outlook App Stopped Working’ Problem

“A problem caused the problem to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available. ”

Many people using Microsoft Outlook might see the “Outlook Stopped Working” message, and it can be annoying. This message pops up when Outlook suddenly faces a problem it didn’t expect, causing it to stop working as it should. It’s like when a computer program suddenly breaks down or crashes.

Also Read: Why Outlook is Closing

Why Has My Outlook Stopped Working? – Common Causes?

Sometimes, different versions of Microsoft Outlook, like 2016, 2013, 2010, or newer ones, can stop working or crash. As a result, this can happen because of a few things:

• Lost or damaged DLL files
• Faulty add-ins
• Corrupt, damaged, or inaccessible Outlook data file (OST or PST)
• Incorrect Outlook configurations
• Damaged Outlook installation
• Corrupt or orphaned Outlook profile
• Outdated Windows

Here, we have discussed some possible reasons for Outlook to stop working. Now, we will discuss how to do that.

Top 7 Ways to Fix Microsoft Outlook Has Stopped Working Issue

Here are seven ways to resolve the problem. Now, you just need to understand each concept in depth. After that, you can choose accordingly.

#1. Create a New Outlook Profile:

• First, close the Outlook application completely.
• After that, depending on your Windows version:
  • For Windows 10: Click on Start, type Control Panel, press Enter, go to User Accounts, then select Mail, and click on Show Profiles.
  • For Windows 8: Open the Apps menu, click on Control Panel, then Mail, and select Show Profiles.
  • For Windows 7: Click on Start, go to Control Panel, select Mail, and then Show Profiles.
• Then, choose Add and type a name for your new profile. Click OK.
• Further, enter your email address and password for the email account you use in Outlook. Follow the steps to create the profile.
• Once the profile is made, choose Prompt for a profile to be used in the Show Profiles dialog.
• Open Outlook and select your new profile.
• If making a new profile solves the issue, you can go back to the Show Profiles menu and delete your old profile.

Creating a new profile helps reset some settings in Outlook that might be causing problems. If Outlook still isn’t working appropriately, we have other steps to fix the Outlook Stopped Working issue.

#2. Repair Outlook Data File:

Fixing an Outlook data file can help if Outlook isn’t working right.

• First, close the Outlook application completely.
• Afterwards, go to the location on your computer where Outlook is installed. Depending on your version of Outlook, it might be in different folders like “Office16,” “Office15,” or “Office14.”
• Look for a file SCANPST.EXE and open it.
• You’ll need to choose the Outlook Data File (.pst) you want to check. If you aren’t sure where this file is, you can find help to locate it.
• Click on Start to begin checking the file.
• If any problems are found, click Repair to try and fix them.

Keep in mind:

• The checking process creates a backup of your file. You can change the name or where this backup is saved if needed.
• You might need to run this tool a few times to fix your Outlook Data File.
• Sometimes, items that were deleted permanently or too damaged might not be recovered.

After the completion, open Outlook again with the existing profile that you just fixed. If this process doesn’t solve the problem with Outlook, you may need to try something else to fix it.

#3. Optimize Office Programs for Improved Outlook Performance:

Sometimes, repairing the programs in Office can solve problems like Outlook freezing or not working right. If there are mistakes in the Microsoft 365 files, the repair tool can fix them automatically.

• Close any Microsoft 365 programs that are open.
• Go to your computer’s Control Panel.
• Look for Programs and Features.
• Find either Microsoft Office 2016 or Microsoft Office 2013 in the list of installed programs.
• Right-click on it and choose Change.

It will open a window where you can repair the Microsoft Office programs. If fixing your Office programs didn’t solve the problem with Outlook, then it’s time to try the next step.

#4. Ensure Your Computer and Outlook Are Up to Date:

Outlook works better when it’s all fresh and updated. It’s like giving it a little tune-up to ensure it runs smoothly. We suggest you to set up your computer to get the newest updates. These updates can fix problems, add new stuff, and make Outlook work faster.

To get the latest updates for your computer and Outlook, you can check for updates using a feature called Windows Update. As a result, it helps keep everything on your computer, including Outlook, in good shape.

If updating your computer and Outlook didn’t fix the Outlook App Stopped Working issue, then it’s time to try the next step to solve the problem.

#5. Check if Outlook is Busy in the Background:

Sometimes, when you’re trying to do multiple things in Outlook at once—like deleting or moving a ton of emails—Outlook might look stuck or frozen. But actually, it might be working on all those actions behind the scenes. You can see what Outlook is doing at the bottom of the screen in the status bar. If it’s busy handling hundreds or thousands of emails, it might seem like it’s stuck.

Just give Outlook some time to finish what it’s doing. After a few minutes, it should start working normally again.

If Outlook isn’t stuck on something big, it’s time to try the next thing to fix the problem.

#6. Open Dialog Box:

Sometimes, while using Outlook, a small prompt may appear asking for confirmation. For instance, if you’re trying to do something important like dismiss all reminders, Outlook might ask if you’re sure you want to do that.

If you see this little box but haven’t given it an answer, Outlook mightn’t let you do anything else until you deal with it. You can check for these boxes by pressing Alt+Tab on your keyboard. As a result, it helps you switch between different open windows on your computer and find any boxes that might be stopping Outlook from working appropriately.

If you can’t find any of these little boxes open, it’s time to try the next step to fix the issue.

#7. Run Outlook Application in a Safe Mode:

• First, close the Outlook application completely.
• Then, you can open Outlook in a safe mode to help fix the problem.
• If you’re using Windows 10, click on the Start button, type “Outlook.exe /safe” (without the quotes), and press Enter.
• For Windows 7, click on Start, then in the search box, type “Outlook /safe” (without the quotes), and press Enter.
• In Windows 8, go to the Apps menu, select Run, type “Outlook /safe” (without the quotes), and then click OK.
• Once you’ve opened Outlook in safe mode, close it again.
• After that, open Outlook like you normally do.

If Outlook is still stuck on the “Outlook Stopped Working” screen or this method didn’t solve the issue, you might need to repair your Outlook Data files. It seems that your file has become corrupted. If you want to fix them, opt for the Cigati PST Repair Tool. It will recover the corruption without data loss.

The Verdict!

To sum it up, when Outlook Stopped Working, it can mess up your work. But don’t worry! These steps can usually help fix the problem. It is the best idea to regularly download a copy of your Outlook stuff to avoid losing anything important. Also, keep your software updated for better security and smoother use. If you follow these steps, you can usually fix most of the common issues that make Outlook stop working. This way, you can get back to doing your work without any problems.

You May Also Read: Outlook is Running Slow

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