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outlook will not start

Don Banta 0 Reputation points
2026-02-05T14:52:46.2733333+00:00

I use Outlook Classic. For the first time on this PC, it will not open.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Other
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  1. John Oliver 11,595 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-02-05T15:38:40.4833333+00:00

    Hello Don Banta, thank you for posting in the community.

    To help narrow this down, please confirm whether you are using a work or school account (Exchange) or a personal account such as Outlook.com, POP, or IMAP.

    As an initial step, please try starting Outlook in Safe Mode to rule out add-ins. Press Windows + R, type outlook.exe /safe, and then press Enter. If Outlook opens successfully in Safe Mode, this indicates an add-in issue. In that case, go to File > Options > Add-ins, select COM Add-ins, click Go, uncheck all add-ins, and then restart Outlook normally.

    If Outlook does not open in Safe Mode, the next recommended step is to create a new Outlook profile. Close Outlook first, then open Control Panel and select Mail (Microsoft Outlook). Click Show Profiles, select Add, and create a new profile. Set the new profile as Always use this profile, then start Outlook and check if it opens correctly.

    Please let me know the results in the comments.

    Kind regards,

    John Oli

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  2. Q&A Assist
    2026-02-05T14:53:00.0033333+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    If Outlook Classic is not starting, it could be due to several reasons. One common issue is that Outlook may be running in compatibility mode for a different operating system. To resolve this, you can try the following steps:

    1. Locate Outlook.exe, which is typically found in one of the following directories depending on your Windows and Outlook version:
      • <disk drive>\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\
      • <disk drive>\Program Files(x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\
    2. Right-click on Outlook.exe and select Properties.
    3. Go to the Compatibility tab and ensure that the Run this program in compatibility mode for option is cleared.
    4. Select Change settings for all users and also clear the Run this program in compatibility mode for option there.
    5. Click OK twice to apply the changes.

    After performing these steps, try to start Outlook again. If the issue persists, consider checking for any recent updates or repairs that may be needed for your Office installation.

    References:

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