There was an error reading the rules from the server. The format of the server rules was not recognized

Question

There was an error reading the rules from the server. The format of the server rules was not recognized

wchrisb 31

****NOTE:** I originally posted this in the standard MS Community Forums. They redirected to TechNet that redirected me here.**

I have recently been upgraded by my email provider (GoDaddy) to a new email server which requires using MS Exchange. In making that change, my rules began to have problems. I recreated all "receive" emails on the server via Outlook.com in both email accounts affected by the move to Exchange. Once created, I deleted the same rules I had created locally (client only). The system worked great for about a week. Then, earlier this week, I began getting the message "There was an error reading the rules from the server. The format of the server rules was not recognized" on one of my email accounts. I have been unable to get this to stop since. I completely disabled the rules no the one account to see if that would do anything and it did not. It should be noted that the rules are running on the server. They have disappeared locally and I get the error message anytime I log into my local version of Outlook or try to manage the rules from my desktop.

Is there a way to resolve this issue?

wchrisb 31 Reputation points

2020-08-05T19:10:58.633+00:00

Sorry for the confusion. All of my issues revolve around RULES. I had created all my rules locally. When I was upgraded to Exchange by GoDaddy the rules did not migrate. I first restored them from a backup I had made of the rules. They did not work in one of my email accounts. I then recreated the RULES from within Outlook.com (server side) and deleted the locally created version of the rules. This worked great for about a week. Now, I can't access the rules from my desktop version of Outlook (they no longer appear in the dialog box), only Outlook.com. This only affects one of the email accounts that was migrated to Exchange; the other continues to work fine. I am using this version of Outlook 365 MSO (16.0.13001.20338) 64 bit.

Regarding the upgrade, this was required of me by GoDaddy who hosts my email. They ran a conversion which moved all of my email, calendar and tasks to a new Exchange server. Now I must use Outlook.com on the internet versus their former proprietary webmail tool. The conversion also connected my local Outlook 365 program to the Exchange server.

I hope this clarifies my problem.
Michael Poor 1 Reputation point

2021-02-06T14:39:14.477+00:00

I can't get rid of one client-only rule. No matter how many times I exit, delete etc...
Joe 101 Reputation points

2021-02-21T19:21:07.16+00:00

Same here.
accept it it total empty.
Delete it and it comes back.

Support had the never to ask why I created, as she watched me delete it and MS put it back.
Chris B 1 Reputation point

2021-03-13T14:00:00.467+00:00

What amazes me about all of this is there is clearly a problem with Outlook based on the number of people I have seen with this same problem between this post and a bunch of others. Microsoft seems to have determined there is no reason to correct it and is putting the solution on us finding work-arounds. What a great company!
Nohkul 61 Reputation points

2022-04-10T15:39:15.833+00:00
I had the same issue with the client-rule error. The method to export rules and clean won't work because export rules also failed.

The solution that worked for me:

Close Outlook app in Windows.

Open Outlook web in a browser.

Select "Settings" gear button at the top.

Type "Inbox Rules" in "Search Outlook settings".

Delete the corrupt rule. It should be the first rule in the list.

After the rule was deleted I was able to see my rules in the Outlook app again.
J-G 171 Reputation points

2022-05-15T19:34:03.123+00:00

Had this after adding a rule.

None of other solutions worked :(

Went to outlook.com and logged in to the mailbox
Deleted newest created rule
All worked ok :)

Good luck
Sachin Maruti Jori (UK) 1 Reputation point

2022-06-22T17:53:12.547+00:00

Thanks it worked for me :) you are great
Jo 6 Reputation points

2022-12-19T05:08:04.397+00:00
Login to your account @harsh.com .com

Under settings Gear button on the right top

Search for 'Inbox rules

Delete the rules which have warnings as below --> This rule can't be edited or viewed in Outlook on the web.

This solved the issue for me.
Sabrina Mapp 10 Reputation points

2023-04-17T14:33:03.9666667+00:00

This is the only thing that worked for me. This was driving me crazy. Thanks!
Umair Chohan 0 Reputation points

2023-11-14T23:00:08.6166667+00:00

Perfect. Working for me as well Thanks
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Aditya Prabowo 0 Reputation points

2023-12-26T08:01:12.2433333+00:00

Thanks it worked for me :) you are great Nohkul
Terrell Barnes 0 Reputation points

2024-02-05T18:44:20.4533333+00:00

I have no idea what deleting rules is. I'll research that first.
Ben Lawless 0 Reputation points

2024-02-06T13:42:25.2333333+00:00

This worked for me as well!
Levy, David 0 Reputation points

2024-03-06T03:37:34.14+00:00

Perfect! thanks.
Donna D 0 Reputation points

2024-05-07T14:27:10.1066667+00:00

Solved - thanks!
Charles Shumard 0 Reputation points

2024-05-29T19:07:24.33+00:00

Same fix for me. I deleted the last rule I created in Outlook from settings O365 and all was well in Outlook.
Chikkakempanna, Vidyasree 0 Reputation points

2024-09-27T19:11:07.0366667+00:00

Amazing trick, that worked for me!!! Thank you so much
Radovan Vrana 0 Reputation points

2024-10-16T15:00:32.4733333+00:00

Creation of 4 new rules in online Outlook (Webmail) created a problem for me. I noticed a few rules with the exclamation mark in online Outlook (Webmail). After that I received an error message in Outlook 365 on PC about server rules. I did everything from one of the initial comments here (deleted local rules on PC and imported them from backup). After that, I saw AGAIN two rules in online Outlook (Webmail) with the exclamation mark. Deleted them. Now both PC and online Outlook work. Incredible.
Johnny Huynh 0 Reputation points

2024-11-08T14:16:07.5566667+00:00

This worked. Thank you!
Vijaya Krishna Bhat 0 Reputation points

2024-12-05T07:49:49.11+00:00

thanks this only worked
Ganesh Mohite 0 Reputation points

2025-01-07T15:29:38.82+00:00

Thanks :)

6 answers

Your answer

wchrisb 31 Reputation points

2020-08-05T19:10:58.633+00:00

Sorry for the confusion. All of my issues revolve around RULES. I had created all my rules locally. When I was upgraded to Exchange by GoDaddy the rules did not migrate. I first restored them from a backup I had made of the rules. They did not work in one of my email accounts. I then recreated the RULES from within Outlook.com (server side) and deleted the locally created version of the rules. This worked great for about a week. Now, I can't access the rules from my desktop version of Outlook (they no longer appear in the dialog box), only Outlook.com. This only affects one of the email accounts that was migrated to Exchange; the other continues to work fine. I am using this version of Outlook 365 MSO (16.0.13001.20338) 64 bit.

Regarding the upgrade, this was required of me by GoDaddy who hosts my email. They ran a conversion which moved all of my email, calendar and tasks to a new Exchange server. Now I must use Outlook.com on the internet versus their former proprietary webmail tool. The conversion also connected my local Outlook 365 program to the Exchange server.

I hope this clarifies my problem.
Michael Poor 1 Reputation point

2021-02-06T14:39:14.477+00:00

I can't get rid of one client-only rule. No matter how many times I exit, delete etc...
Joe 101 Reputation points

2021-02-21T19:21:07.16+00:00

Same here.
accept it it total empty.
Delete it and it comes back.

Support had the never to ask why I created, as she watched me delete it and MS put it back.
Chris B 1 Reputation point

2021-03-13T14:00:00.467+00:00

What amazes me about all of this is there is clearly a problem with Outlook based on the number of people I have seen with this same problem between this post and a bunch of others. Microsoft seems to have determined there is no reason to correct it and is putting the solution on us finding work-arounds. What a great company!
Nohkul 61 Reputation points

2022-04-10T15:39:15.833+00:00

I had the same issue with the client-rule error. The method to export rules and clean won't work because export rules also failed.

The solution that worked for me:

Close Outlook app in Windows.

Open Outlook web in a browser.

Select "Settings" gear button at the top.

Type "Inbox Rules" in "Search Outlook settings".

Delete the corrupt rule. It should be the first rule in the list.

After the rule was deleted I was able to see my rules in the Outlook app again.
J-G 171 Reputation points

2022-05-15T19:34:03.123+00:00

Had this after adding a rule.

None of other solutions worked :(

Went to outlook.com and logged in to the mailbox
Deleted newest created rule
All worked ok :)

Good luck
Sachin Maruti Jori (UK) 1 Reputation point

2022-06-22T17:53:12.547+00:00

Thanks it worked for me :) you are great
Jo 6 Reputation points

2022-12-19T05:08:04.397+00:00

Login to your account @harsh.com .com

Under settings Gear button on the right top

Search for 'Inbox rules

Delete the rules which have warnings as below --> This rule can't be edited or viewed in Outlook on the web.

This solved the issue for me.
Sabrina Mapp 10 Reputation points

2023-04-17T14:33:03.9666667+00:00

This is the only thing that worked for me. This was driving me crazy. Thanks!
Umair Chohan 0 Reputation points

2023-11-14T23:00:08.6166667+00:00

Perfect. Working for me as well Thanks
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Aditya Prabowo 0 Reputation points

2023-12-26T08:01:12.2433333+00:00

Thanks it worked for me :) you are great Nohkul
Terrell Barnes 0 Reputation points

2024-02-05T18:44:20.4533333+00:00

I have no idea what deleting rules is. I'll research that first.
Ben Lawless 0 Reputation points

2024-02-06T13:42:25.2333333+00:00

This worked for me as well!
Levy, David 0 Reputation points

2024-03-06T03:37:34.14+00:00

Perfect! thanks.
Donna D 0 Reputation points

2024-05-07T14:27:10.1066667+00:00

Solved - thanks!
Charles Shumard 0 Reputation points

2024-05-29T19:07:24.33+00:00

Same fix for me. I deleted the last rule I created in Outlook from settings O365 and all was well in Outlook.
Chikkakempanna, Vidyasree 0 Reputation points

2024-09-27T19:11:07.0366667+00:00

Amazing trick, that worked for me!!! Thank you so much
Radovan Vrana 0 Reputation points

2024-10-16T15:00:32.4733333+00:00

Creation of 4 new rules in online Outlook (Webmail) created a problem for me. I noticed a few rules with the exclamation mark in online Outlook (Webmail). After that I received an error message in Outlook 365 on PC about server rules. I did everything from one of the initial comments here (deleted local rules on PC and imported them from backup). After that, I saw AGAIN two rules in online Outlook (Webmail) with the exclamation mark. Deleted them. Now both PC and online Outlook work. Incredible.
Johnny Huynh 0 Reputation points

2024-11-08T14:16:07.5566667+00:00

This worked. Thank you!
Vijaya Krishna Bhat 0 Reputation points

2024-12-05T07:49:49.11+00:00

thanks this only worked
Ganesh Mohite 0 Reputation points

2025-01-07T15:29:38.82+00:00

Thanks :)

Answer 1

Amit Dodake 206

This worked for me.

Export the rules out to local file.
Delete all the rules.
Restart outlook.
Open Rules again, if you see (client-only) rules again delete them all.
Create any simple rule and save it.
Restart Outlook
Open Rules, this time you will be asked to choose which rules you want to use "client" or "server" choose client.
Import the saved rules from step 1.

Hope this helps.

Doug Warren 1 Reputation point

2020-12-02T16:35:13.247+00:00

Thanks for posting this. I repeated your steps with success.
Brigadier Abhay Bhargava 1 Reputation point

2021-01-08T05:37:53.263+00:00

Had the same issue and the steps outlined worked well for me as well. Sincere thank you Amit.
Vivian Wu 1 Reputation point

2021-03-31T21:13:06.36+00:00

Hello!

I'm facing the same issue here, but I don't understand how you could export the rules to a local file if the rules were all gone from the desktop app, and only visible and functional on the web.

Could someone explain those first steps, please?

Thank you!
Samitov, Maksym 1 Reputation point

2021-06-15T14:21:02.573+00:00

Thanks, it works!!!
Mohamed Ali 1 Reputation point

2021-06-16T07:40:03.683+00:00

thanks , it help me and solve the problem. :)
Danita Hickson 1 Reputation point

2021-06-30T21:52:11.53+00:00

Worked like a charm! Thank you!!
Janene Graham 1 Reputation point

2021-08-17T13:22:50.883+00:00

Thank you for posting - this worked well for me today after a week of getting this error and trying to use other resolutions with no sucess.
Zbonikowski Kacper 1 Reputation point

2021-09-15T07:27:14.643+00:00

Thanks, this works!
Sandeep Ashok Deshpande 1 Reputation point

2021-10-01T16:19:53.6+00:00

Hello Amit,

have one doubt, what if webmail has 17 rules and on uotlook app shows only 3.
and when we try to check rules getting error: there was an error reading the rules from the server outlook 365
we are unable to export rules from webmail.
reinstalled complete office.
created a new profile.
nothing works.
Drew Matson 1 Reputation point

2021-10-04T14:29:20.343+00:00

Thank you for sharing these steps. They worked for me.
Justin W 1 Reputation point

2021-12-15T16:55:55.473+00:00

Thank you so much. Just found this thread from a google search, and this was the exact fix that I needed!
Marvin Spydr 1 Reputation point

2022-02-11T12:57:03.927+00:00

@Amit Dodake This worked for me, thank you. If you hit server button you'll have to do the steps again xd
Heather Whilden 1 Reputation point

2022-03-07T19:56:28.027+00:00

This solution worked! Thank you :)
Andrew Wilkins 0 Reputation points

2023-03-24T07:30:20.4733333+00:00

Very helpful,

I found that once you get down to a single corrupt rule you can carry on with 5. and it will still work
c0ld_bu9 0 Reputation points

2023-08-09T08:59:41.0633333+00:00

Saw this and didn't feel like it would work. Backing up rules resulted in a file 130bytes in size. Did this against my gut feeling and now just have no rules at all. Here is a morning of recreating them all ...
Farouk Sulaman 0 Reputation points

2023-10-12T20:45:14.1533333+00:00

Thank you so much - brief to the point instructions. This help me fix my issue. I have many rules for managing inbound system alert emails. My issue was operational impacting in a support role for a SaaS company.
Dan Hartford 0 Reputation points

2023-11-27T17:12:30.5966667+00:00

The @Amit Dodake solution worked except for step 1. I was not able to export the rules from computer A as there were some client side rules related to computer B that were marked as being in error as well as having a corrupt rule from the server present (which is what started my whole problem) that could not be deleted. Fortunatly I hade an exported rules file from several months ago (before the corruption) that I could use in place of step 1 even though some of the rules in that backup needed to be updated.
Cherry Kool-aid 0 Reputation points

2023-12-01T14:57:38.7266667+00:00

Could someone please explain what is meant by a simple rule in step 5?

This has happened to me many times over the past few years, and depending on whether the "simple rule" is considered to be a client or a server rule, sometimes it doesn't work. But I can never remember which one.

Update

When I created a messages received from person, move it to Inbox rule, I wasn't prompted where to save when I restarted and opened rules.
Envolve Technical Solutions 0 Reputation points

2024-03-06T21:50:08.3766667+00:00

THANK YOU! This fixed my issue.
Steve Dubrava 0 Reputation points

2024-09-25T18:11:49.55+00:00

PERFECT!
I did get the error after exporting, and deleting rules. I closed open and picked server, error continued. Removed all rules, and this time picked client. Removed all the rules, found a broken rule, fixed it. Don't forget to hit apply after each delete process.
Error was cleared and imported my rules again.
badda bing badda boom!
THANK YOU
Chikkakempanna, Vidyasree 0 Reputation points

2024-09-27T19:11:44.88+00:00

Amazing trick, that worked for me!!! Thank you so much
Alex Def 0 Reputation points

2024-10-02T13:13:46.15+00:00

Thanks Amit, worked like a charm.
Vijaya Krishna Bhat 0 Reputation points

2024-12-05T07:49:01.29+00:00

did not work for me. going through outlook.com and deleting is better
MatjekPavel-0932 0 Reputation points

2025-03-06T08:01:15.0933333+00:00

With Office365 mailbox instead of point 3 and 4 I had to go to https://outlook.office.com > clear any remaining (one) rules there > then I could start Outlook locally and import rules back.

Without this I kept getting an error and there was always a single rule I had to be deleting and it kept coming back with every restart.

Answer 2

Marco 71

The following worked for me:

Export the rules to a local file
Close Outlook
Run outlook.exe /cleanrules (This command will open Outlook and clean the rules) Thanks @Eric Yin-MSFT !
Import the saved rules from step 1

Hope this helps.

Nick Krueger 6 Reputation points

2021-05-17T16:20:35.707+00:00

This worked for me when the steps above didn't work for me. In between step 2 and 3 I restarted my computer as well. Though I'm not sure that was necessary.
Boyong Shen 6 Reputation points

2021-11-03T14:43:17.977+00:00

It works for me, you save me day! Huge appreciate that
Huiling Wu 1 Reputation point Microsoft Employee

2021-12-09T02:34:52.65+00:00

Huge thank u ! The only way that worked!
Mike052287 1 Reputation point

2022-03-18T15:12:11.69+00:00

Thanks a lot !, this worked for me as well. :)
mi7chgo 0 Reputation points

2023-03-09T13:19:50.12+00:00

Worked for me. Thanks.
Dunne, Friedrich (RIS-DBN) 0 Reputation points

2023-06-28T08:29:47.9+00:00

Simplest and most effective answer
Liam Plested 5 Reputation points

2023-09-20T14:34:44.9033333+00:00

Worked for me when other methods didn't!

Be aware, if you have multiple or additional mailboxes in your Outlook profile, running the /cleanrules command line switch deletes the rules from all connected mailboxes. I then had to re-create the rules in both my primary mailbox, and all connected mailboxes.
Gribi, Stefan 0 Reputation points

2023-11-15T18:01:34.69+00:00

Be warned that this command has a far reaching impact if you have additional mailboxes linked to your Outlook profile.

Even though you cannot access rules from linked mailboxes in the Outlook client, "/cleanrules" will remove all rules from all mailboxes. I assume you do need full access to these mailboxes.

For me, this meant several mailboxes that integrate into CRM systems were left without forwarding rules. Not good.
Emile Rasoloniaina 0 Reputation points

2024-01-03T06:52:55.07+00:00

This worked for me. Thank you.
LaKesha Raynor (Dallas College) 0 Reputation points

2024-02-19T14:59:32.8266667+00:00

This worked when nothing else did. Thank you so much!!
lazeraz 0 Reputation points

2024-08-27T01:26:25.89+00:00

This works
Matt From Boston 15 Reputation points

2024-11-03T15:38:17.77+00:00

blowing out the rules worked for me but I didn't realize it would wipe out the rules on the server. Wasn't worried as the rules were mostly just moving emails to folders.

Answer 3

I wonder on which step have you been in order to "upgrade your email provider to a new email server which requires using Exchange"? Can you see your mailbox in EAC now?
What you do mean about "recreated all "receive" emails on the server via Outlook.com in both email accounts affected by the move to Exchange"? Could you explain how you did it and what is the final situaltion?

You can try running outlook.exe /cleanrules to reset the rule engine and rebuild the rules on server again.(If you have multiple or additional mailboxes in your Outlook profile, running the /cleanrules command line switch deletes the rules from all connected mailboxes. Therefore, it is recommended that you only run this command when your Outlook profile only contains the one, target mailbox.)
Also, which version of Outlook are you using? See if the error exists when using other versions of Outlook.

Answer 4

Eric Yin-MSFT 4,396

You can try removing the rules and recreate them via Exchange Management Shell for those mailboxes who migrated to Exchange, see if the issue persists.
For detailed steps, refer to this blog:https://www.codetwo.com/admins-blog/managing-outlook-rules-powershell/
Please Note: Since the web site is not hosted by Microsoft, the link may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this information.

Eric Yin-MSFT 4,396 Reputation points

2020-08-24T01:42:13.91+00:00

I am writing here to confirm with you how the thing going now?
If you need further help, please provide more detailed information, so that we can give more appropriate suggestions.

Answer 5

G.Komatsu_CL 1

Go to https://outlook.office365.com/mail/ check the rules from web GUI after you removed all the rules locally. If there is any left out rules there from web, remove them. Then restart local Outlook, those empty "Client Only" rules disappeared. This work for me.

Share via

There was an error reading the rules from the server. The format of the server rules was not recognized

6 answers

Your answer