Outlook emails missing text

Jason Anderson 11

Today when I opened outlook previously and newly received emails in all boxes, including the trash, are showing the first line and no other text. Attachments appear to be intact. For example I open an email and it says Hi Jason and nothing else after that. If I reply to that email, the reply contains no previous information at all.

I've disables all add ins and still getting this. Restarted my PC multiple times. Changed to plain text. Selecting text only allows me to select the Hi Jason so no other "white" text, etc.

My emails show up fine on my iphone mail app.

Any ideas?

Allan J. Ashinoff 531 Reputation points

2021-05-11T21:15:51.957+00:00

Thank God, I thought I was losing my mind. The same thing is happening to me.
John Starr 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T21:28:38.073+00:00

Count me in!
I restarted my computer for updates before I left work yesterday.
This morning Outlook will not display text or allow me to type text.
Any ideas?
Allan J. Ashinoff 531 Reputation points

2021-05-11T21:32:42.237+00:00

It appears that opening your email in a browser or on your cellphone (in a browser) is unaffected by this crap. If you attempt to use the desktop program it'll frustrate you to no end. To not lose productivity, a lesser concern of MS today no doubt, use the online Outlook365 interface temporarily. It's the only workaround that seems to work reliably, unless they try to fix it.
JGFan 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T21:37:23.143+00:00

Same problem here from the U.S.A.
David Miller 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T21:38:40.507+00:00

Did this just start happening today?

I tried both Repair options, disabled caching in the Account settings, and deleting and rebuilding the profile from Outlook settings. I also renamed the Outlook folder in Users/Username/AppData/local, and my emails rebuilt, but missing text.
Ali Woodley 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T21:39:01.143+00:00

Just happened to me this afternoon, here in ontario, canada. Phone is loading fine. I get like one line in the email on my computer. have shut down twice......anybody finding a solution- very frustrating
Ali Woodley 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T21:39:20.86+00:00

Just happened to me this afternoon, here in ontario, canada. Phone is loading fine. I get like one line in the email on my computer. have shut down twice......anybody finding a solution- very frustrating
Allan J. Ashinoff 531 Reputation points

2021-05-11T21:43:17.653+00:00

use a browser to view emails or online Outlook365. It's only a a workaround, but it does allow for productivity.
Denise Muha 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T21:59:29.933+00:00

This just happened about 45 min ago. My outlook installed updates and now this. I assume MS will fix?
Steve Williamson 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T22:09:22.58+00:00

I have the same problem since installing (KB5003173) today
Brian Carter 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T22:12:44.79+00:00

Thought it was my computer same problem here in Canada
Nanette Fliesser 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T22:18:17.817+00:00

I have the same problem. Interesting though that the first three lines show up in the preview. If I open the message - select all and copy into word all the text is there, but you just cannot see it in Outlook. If I forward the e-mail to another account and view it on my work Outlook it is all there. All messages are fine on the web server app or on the phone.

Conclusion - the message is there but you just cannot see it.

I tried disabling all add ins
I reinstalled Office.
I deleted accounts and set them up again but it is doing it for all e-mail accounts.

HELP this problem makes outlook useless.
Brad Johnson 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T22:28:09.913+00:00

The same problem just hit me an hour ago (Outlook on Office 365). All the texts are missing after the first line or so. But I do have access to the texts of my messages on webmail. I tried reset too, but to no avail. Strange that so many are having the same problem at almost the same time. I checked my updates, and nothing was updated today on my Windows 10 laptop. I too hope this problem get solved quickly.
duck9000 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T22:29:50.74+00:00

I'm having the same problem. KB5003173 is pending, and has not been installed. Last windows install 4/29 - KB4023057.

Just today had Defender install definition updates KB2267602.

This is 64bit desktop version running on windows 10.
Barbara Gaskin 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T22:32:43.713+00:00

Wasted hours trying to fix this today only now to find it's not my computer but Microsoft. Very frustrating. When is the fix coming?
Vivian Pisano 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T22:34:23.963+00:00

Same thing is happening to me. I forwarded one of the blank messages to another computer (that uses another email client) and it appeared, text and all!
gary merrifield 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T22:46:49.973+00:00

Just started to happen to me.
Christina Cullen North Yard 6 Reputation points

2021-05-11T22:59:35.487+00:00

I have just tried to send an email and the text starts writing part way down the screen, I had to re-start what I wrote for it to appear. Just checked receiving email (gmail address on google) and only part of the message has been received.
Christina Cullen North Yard 6 Reputation points

2021-05-11T23:42:21.063+00:00

Woo Hoo!!! I have just re-started Outlook on my laptop ant it is working again.

Thank you to whoever fixed this problem, much appreciated!
David Miller 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T23:47:40.39+00:00

Thanks for reporting success. It's resolved on my end, too.
Mr D 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T23:54:00.197+00:00

Seems to be an update issue. This is what worked for me: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-outlook-bug-prevents-viewing-or-creating-email-worldwide/
Hope this is helpful.
Riaan Coetzee 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T23:54:08.413+00:00

My outlook client is still not working. Uninstalled office + email account earlier today until I came across this thread - wasted a couple of hours :)
Brian Carter 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T23:54:22.953+00:00

8 pm Eastern standard time here in Canada Microsoft just did a big upgrade e-mail now working.
Riaan Coetzee 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T23:55:25.007+00:00

Issue still exist.
Riaan Coetzee 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T23:58:51.88+00:00

I wasted a good couple of hours early this morning uninstalling office and removing my account - only to realize it's a global issue :)
Ali Woodley 1 Reputation point

2021-05-12T00:03:01.087+00:00

mine is fixed now,,,,,,,,,all emails loading fully, ontario canada 8:00 pm :)
Denise Muha 1 Reputation point

2021-05-12T01:25:16.163+00:00

mine is working now
Jade Liang-MSFT 9,956 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2021-05-19T07:49:43.21+00:00

Hi @Jason Anderson ,

Just checking if your issue is resolved now, if you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to post back. Thanks!
Rainer Aulich 1 Reputation point

2022-08-01T13:45:05.31+00:00

Auf meinem S21 habe ich jetzt einen Workaround gefunden: Die Email, wrlche angeblich keinen Inhalt hat. lösche ich einfach. Danach diese Aktion umgehend wieder rückgängig machen und die komplette Email ist bei mir, wieder vollständig lesbar, vorhanden.

On my S21 I have now found a workaround: The email, which supposedly has no content. I just delete it. After that this action immediately undo and the complete email is available to me, again completely readable

8 answers

Richard Baker 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T21:33:35.89+00:00

Same problem here. Just started about 40 minutes ago. Both on Exchantge online inbox and IMAP inbox on different host. Only first two words or so appear whether in preview or when the email is opened
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Allan J. Ashinoff 531 Reputation points

2021-05-11T21:34:59.387+00:00

It appears that opening your email in a browser or on your cellphone (in a browser) is unaffected by this crap. If you attempt to use the desktop program it'll frustrate you to no end. To not lose productivity, a lesser concern of MS today no doubt, use the online Outlook365 interface temporarily. It's the only workaround that seems to work reliably, unless they try to fix it.
Sign in to comment
Mr D 1 Reputation point

2021-05-11T23:56:22.837+00:00

Seems this is an update issue: This is what worked for me.: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-outlook-bug-prevents-viewing-or-creating-email-worldwide/
Hope this is helpful.
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Jade Liang-MSFT 9,956 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2021-05-12T03:01:37.663+00:00

Hi all,

As I know, Microsoft engineer team has recognized this issue and is working hard to fix it. If you are a Microsoft 365 admin, it's recommended to follow the relevant information in message center of admin portal to get the latest update.

I will continue to monitor them, and if there are any updates, I would post back.

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Outlook emails missing text

8 answers