You may occasionally try to open a file and find that it won’t open. If so, you probably see a dialog box instead. Before you go surfing around the dialog box, bear in mind a couple of things. First thing to note: The reason the file doesn’t open is that your computer lacks the software to open it.
Most of our daily social media interactions consist of cute cat pictures on Instagram and mid-night birthday wishes on Whatsapp. However, people would never have been able to communicate with each other in a real formal manner if it were not for the e-mail. On Internet terms, an Email Client (EC) is a computer program that is used to manage and access a user’s email. These come in different varieties based on the platform being used (such as Ubuntu, Windows, Mac OS), the kind of graphical interface the user expects from the software as well as the user’s personal preference. However Microsoft Outlook is one such important application, this article will help you with Microsoft Outlook Won’t Open error.
MS Outlook, however, has been a prime EC since its first stable release in 1997. This fact stems from its highly intuitive user-interface and excellent background assembly making it seamless and smooth in function and design.
Outlook is also the most connected EC out there, with cross-platform services across almost every OS in the market as of today. So it’s no surprise why people always turn to Outlook for professional and personal work spaces.
But just like every other software out there, MS Outlook does have its bugs. Several users have reported problems of a dialog box that says “Microsoft Outlook Won’t Open” when they try to open it. Are you facing the same problem? Well here are some methods to solve it.
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Contents
- 1 5 Ways to Fix Microsoft Outlook Won’t Open Error
5 Ways to Fix Microsoft Outlook Won’t Open Error
Restart your Computer
Seems simple right? Well, believe it or not, most bugs and errors are because the system just didn’t turn on the right way, very much like how we get up on the wrong side of the bed some days. Rebooting also makes the system install any necessary updates for Outlook.
If a simple switch-off and switch-on weren’t enough, move to the next method.
Re-installing Outlook
Just like how your PC might not switch on the right way sometimes, applications tend to mess up their “temp” files in their installation directories.
If you’re running MS Outlook on a Windows platform, head over to Control Panel and uninstall Outlook. In Mac OS, search for the “Uninstaller” app in your installation directory and double-click to start the uninstallation process.
Give your system a reboot after this and clean install the software again.
If this doesn’t make the “Microsoft Outlook Won’t Open” error go away, jump to the next method.
See also: 10 Methods to Fix Google Chrome Won’t Open Error
Check if Outlook is up-to-date
Microsoft rolls out regular updates for its software regularly, but sometimes the programs aren’t able to update themselves. This can occur due to minor registry conflicts, or internet issues and related problems. Carry out a manual update of Outlook by
- Going into the Settings > Update and Recovery page in Outlook.
- Selecting the option to turn on “Automatic Updates” and give Outlook a restart.
Still getting the “Microsoft Outlook Won’t Open” error? Don’t give up yet, move over to the next method.
Cleaning system files
A quick way to clean out any system file errors on your PC is by using the Disk Clean-up program in Windows. One can do this by following the steps below.
- Clicking the Win+R key combination.
- Typing in ‘cleanmgr’ and hitting Enter.
- Select the drive in which you installed MS Office (most likely C:) and clicking OK.
- Finally, click on “Clean System Files.”
If the first four methods haven’t solved your problem yet, crack your knuckles and get ready for the next option.
SFC /SCANNOW
A familiar command prompt line that most computer enthusiasts should know is the sfc scan function of cmd (command prompt). It was inbuilt into Windows to carry out a quick and thorough system file scan to find any anomalies or conflicts deep-rooted into the system. To carry out an sfc scan follow the instructions given below:
- Open a cmd window with Admin Rights enabled (also called an elevated cmd prompt). A quick shortcut is to click the Win+X key combination and find the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option. Otherwise just click the Start tile (Win8 and above) and search for “cmd.” Right-click and select “Run as Administrator.”
- Type in the line “ sfc /scannow “ into the command line window and hit Enter.
- The cmd window should now show a scan being carried out (this will take a while, so have a snack while you’re waiting).
Once the system is finishes scanning, give your PC a reboot and try opening MS Outlook again.
See also: 6+1 Best PC Cleaner Software to Boost Your System
Conclusion
Let’s face it. Windows has had its share of bugs since Win10 was announced in 2015. From an un-responsive desktop screen to crashing programs, the computer community has finally reached a point where we aren’t surprised when a bug (not literally) pops up on our screen.
The “Microsoft Outlook Won’t Open” error is just another such occurrence.
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If the methods we told you about haven’t worked then our last piece of advice to you is this: contact Microsoft and let them know what your problem is. Nine out of ten issues faced by users have already been discussed and solved by experts in Microsoft’s online forums.
Did our methods do the trick for you? Or did you manage to get rid of the “Microsoft Outlook Won’t Open” error message in some other way that we haven’t mentioned? Let us know in the comments below!
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