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Outlook Freezing and Not Responding and Not saving changes when ending the task

Angus Baumgardt 45 Reputation points
2026-01-16T10:01:26.8766667+00:00

I have multiple clients using POP email accounts who are experiencing an issue where Outlook freezes and becomes unresponsive. When this happens, Outlook must be forcefully closed via Task Manager. After reopening Outlook, none of the changes made to the mailbox are saved.

Troubleshooting steps already attempted (unsuccessful):

Local Office repair

Online Office repair

Started Outlook in Safe Mode

Created a new Outlook profile and re-added the email account

Additionally, Outlook frequently gets stuck on “Outlook is Closing” when being closed, both in normal mode and Safe Mode.

This issue is affecting multiple users across different machines. All of these clients are completely seperste entities. Please can you provide a solution.

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For home

Answer recommended by moderator

Hornblower409 9,125 Reputation points
2026-01-17T14:31:06.78+00:00

If you have any POP email accounts, this is a know bug.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/classic-outlook-pop-account-profiles-hang-and-freeze-after-windows-11-update-to-kb5074109-590fe356-ecc2-49f4-b9e3-bd39fafa58f6

Temp fix is to uninstall the Jan 2026 Update KB5074109. If you can not uninstall this update thru normal means, see this thread for alternatives.

https://learn.microsoft.com/answers/questions/5707915/outlook-classic-not-opening-properly-or-recording

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  1. Peter Mangravite 5 Reputation points
    2026-01-20T06:16:40.58+00:00

    Very frustrating. Thankful I found this thread. Removing KB5074109 update seems to have resolved the issue. I was able to remove it via the Control Panel, not needing to go thru the command prompt.

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  2. Allen Mendelsohn 5 Reputation points
    2026-01-19T12:39:54.0133333+00:00

    I just want to dd my voice to say removing the KB5074109 update has worked for me (FOR NOW! KNOCK WOOD!), Windows 11 Office 2024 using Outlook Classic. Thanks to the user here who posted the way to uninstall via the command line. So happy to have found this thread.

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    1 person found this answer helpful.
  3. Kelly Arkell 0 Reputation points
    2026-01-16T18:02:04.3766667+00:00

    Mine is freezing up and deleting sent items for last three days.

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  4. AI answer

    2026-01-16T10:01:40.3633333+00:00

    The issue you are experiencing with Outlook freezing and not saving changes could be related to several factors. Here are some potential causes and solutions to consider:

    1. Outdated Software: Ensure that all users have the latest updates for Microsoft Office installed. Sometimes, freezing issues can be resolved by simply updating the software.
    2. Add-ins Interference: A previously installed add-in might be causing conflicts. You can try disabling all add-ins to see if that resolves the issue. This can be done by going to File > Options > Add-ins and managing them from there.
    3. Corrupted Outlook Data Files: If the Outlook data files (.pst or .ost) are corrupted, it can lead to freezing issues. You can use the Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe) to repair these files. Make sure to exit Outlook before running the tool.
    4. Antivirus Software Conflicts: Sometimes, antivirus software can interfere with Outlook's functionality. Check if the antivirus software is up-to-date and consider disabling any Outlook integration within the antivirus settings to see if that helps.
    5. User Profile Issues: Since you have already created a new profile, ensure that the new profile is set up correctly. Sometimes, user profiles can become corrupted, leading to performance issues.
    6. Selective Startup: Consider performing a selective startup to identify if any background applications are causing conflicts with Outlook. This can help isolate the problem.
    7. Repair Office Programs: Since local and online repairs have been attempted, ensure that the repair process was completed successfully. Sometimes, a complete uninstall and reinstall of Office may be necessary if issues persist.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, it may be beneficial to consult with Microsoft Support for further assistance, especially since this issue is affecting multiple users across different machines.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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