my classic outlook keep freezing and i cannot send emails.

Dan Smith 40 Reputation points
2026-01-24T09:03:43.89+00:00

my classic outlook keep freezing and i cannot send emails.

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For business
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Answer accepted by question author
Jayden-P 26,275 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-01-24T09:49:39.56+00:00

Hello Dan Smith

Thank you for reaching out to our Q&A forum.

Based on what you have described, it seems that you are experiencing a known issue affecting classic Outlook for Windows that started occurring after the Windows Update (KB5074109) on January 13, 2026.

Microsoft's official announcement can be found here: Classic Outlook POP account profiles will be discontinued and stopped after updating KB5074109 Windows 11

To better understand your situation, could you please check if the account you are using is a POP account and if you have Windows Update KB5074109 installed on your device?

If you have an update installed, you may want to consider uninstalling the KB5074109 and restarting your computer. Here's how:

  1. Open Settings → Windows Update
  2. Select Update History
  3. Scroll to Uninstall Updates
  4. Find KB5074109
  5. Click Uninstall and restart your PC

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Note: Uninstalling updates may temporarily reduce your security posture, so consult your IT administrator if you are in a managed environment. You can also try pausing automatic Windows updates to prevent the affected KBs from being reinstalled. Pause updates in Windows

Also, if the PST file is synced with OneDrive, it may cause instability and corruption issues, so please remove the Outlook .pst data file from OneDrive or move it to a different location.

You can also use webmail as a temporary method until the issue is resolved.

Try this method and let us know the result. I look forward to hearing from you.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

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  1. AI answer

    2026-01-24T09:04:24.2833333+00:00

    If your classic Outlook keeps freezing and you cannot send emails, it could be due to several reasons. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

    1. Check for Updates: Ensure that you have the latest updates installed for Outlook. Not having the latest updates can cause performance issues.
    2. Close Other Processes: Make sure that Outlook is not in use by another process, which can cause it to freeze.
    3. Disable Add-ins: A previously installed add-in may be interfering with Outlook. Try disabling any add-ins to see if that resolves the issue.
    4. Repair Office Programs: You can automatically repair your Office program files. To do this, exit any running Microsoft Office programs, open Control Panel, go to Programs and Features, right-click on Microsoft Office, and select Repair.
    5. Use the Inbox Repair Tool: If your Outlook data files are corrupted, you can use the Inbox repair tool (scanpst.exe) to fix them. This tool is installed with Outlook and can help resolve issues with your data files.
    6. Antivirus Software: Ensure that your antivirus software is up-to-date, as outdated antivirus software can conflict with Outlook. You may also want to check if your antivirus software is integrating with Outlook and causing performance issues.
    7. Create a New User Profile: If the issue persists, consider creating a new user profile in Outlook. Sometimes, a corrupted user profile can lead to freezing issues.
    8. Selective Startup: For advanced users, performing a selective startup can help identify if other applications or services are interfering with Outlook.

    By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the freezing issue in Outlook and regain the ability to send emails.

    References:

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

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