Teams Add-in locking .msg files on share drives in Outlook

Question

How do I resolve an issue with Teams Add-in in Outlook that locks .msg files saved on share drives and throws an error message "We can't open 'path'. It's possible the file is already open, or you don't have permissions to open it. To check your permissions, right-click the file folder, then click Properties." I have identified Teams Add-in as the cause of the issue, but disabling it for everyone is not a permanent solution. The Outlook versions tested are 2305 build 16501.20242 and 2301 16026.20238. Do you have any ideas on how to resolve this problem?

Answer 1

MS seems to be aware EX648854 service health

Title: Users can't open email messages saved as a file more than once in the Outlook desktop client User impact: Users can't open email messages saved as a file more than once in the Outlook desktop client. More info: This may affect users that have enabled the Microsoft Teams Meeting Add-in for Microsoft Office. Impacted users can close and reopen the Outlook desktop client to open email messages saved as files. Once an email message saved as a file has been opened, it can’t be opened again until the Outlook desktop client has been closed and reopened. Current status: We've identified that a recent update introduced a code regression that causes email files to be locked by the Microsoft Teams Meeting Add-in for Microsoft Office if an email saved as a file is opened more than once in the Outlook desktop client, resulting in impact. We've deployed a code fix to our internal environment for validation before deploying it to the impacted environment. We expect it will completely deploy and remediate impact by our next scheduled update. Scope of impact: Any user with the Microsoft Teams Meeting Add-in for Microsoft Office enabled that attempts to access an email from a file more than once in the Outlook for desktop client may be impacted. Start time: Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 3:36 PM EDT Estimated time to resolve: We expect that the issue will be fully resolved by Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Root cause: A recent update introduced a code regression that causes email files to be locked by the Microsoft Teams Meeting Add-in for Microsoft Office, resulting in impact. Next update by: Monday, July 24, 2023 at 5:00 PM EDT

Answer 2

I installed the latest MS updates for patch Tuesday Aug. 8 2023 which includes "Update for Microsoft Windows (KB5028951)", along with "Servicing Stack 10.0.19041.3266", and "Security Update for Microsoft Windows (KB5029244)", and I'm now able to open .msg files more than once without getting any error messages, as opposed to before applying the update whereby I got the error consistently. My Teams add-in is enabled in Outlook. Reboot was required after applying the update.

So I think the latest MS Updates has addressed and fixed this issue? I will do some more testing with my users. Additional info. and downloads for the updates can be found on Microsoft Update Catalog: https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=Windows%2010%20Version%2022H2%20for%20x64%202023

Answer 3

I am also experiencing this issue. When the "Microsoft Teams Meeting Add-in for Microsoft Office" add-in is enabled, Outlook fails to release email files. If a user has Outlook running and opens a .msg file and then closes it, they will not be able to edit or open that file again until they restart Outlook (or disable the add-in). The error message that is displayed is "This action can't be completed because the file is open in Microsoft Outlook. Close the file and try again." Unfortunately as you stated, the add-in will get enabled after each reboot

Answer 4

same issue Teams just updated to 1.6.00.18681. doesnt matter where .msg file is saved to (onedrive or local directory) if you try to open more than once, you get permissions error. Disabled Teams mtg add in in Outlook and issue goes away. Seems MS has some work to do.

Answer 5

Any update on this bug?