Outlook Web & Application Adding Second Draft to "Reply" emails.

Question

I need help eliminating a problem with outlook duplicating a draft email popping up when "reply" is pressed. It seems to be inconsistent and happens to a handful of users in my company. Users report that this occurs on web and desktop app as well. I have attempted to clear cookies for web users with no success. All web outlook users are using Microsoft Edge.

Answer 1

Hello

I've the same problem

@Peyton Palmer are you using CodeTwo in your tenant ? If you open the browser's developer tools, does the issue still occur ?

In my case, it happens very frequently, but as soon as I enable the browser’s developer tools, it never happens.

Answer 2

Hi @Peyton Palmer,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.

I understand how disruptive it can be when replying to an email unexpectedly opens an additional draft or compose window, especially when it interrupts your workflow.

To help narrow down the cause, could you please try the following steps, ideally with one of the affected users, and test the reply behavior after each step:

• First, open Outlook on the web in Microsoft Edge using an InPrivate window and then try replying again. If the duplicate draft does not appear in InPrivate mode, this usually indicates that cached site data or a browser extension may be interfering with the reply or compose experience.
• If the issue persists, the next step is to clear Edge’s browsing data for “All time,” making sure to include both “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.” After clearing the data, sign back in to Outlook and test again. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Del, selecting the options mentioned above, and then choosing Clear now.

• Alternatively, if you’d prefer a more targeted approach, you can remove cookies for Outlook‑related sites only. This can be done directly in Edge settings by searching for the relevant sites and deleting their stored entries.

For additional guidance, you may find this reference helpful: How to manage and clear your cache and cookies.

I hope these steps help move things forward. Please let me know how it goes, and if the issue continues, I’ll be happy to work with you further to get it resolved.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

I look forward to continuing the conversation.

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Answer 3

The issue of duplicate draft emails appearing when users press "reply" in Outlook can be caused by several factors, including synchronization issues or settings within the Outlook application itself. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the problem:

1. Clear Browser Cache: Since users are experiencing this issue in the web version of Outlook using Microsoft Edge, ensure that they clear their browser cache. This can help eliminate any cached data that might be causing conflicts.
2. Check for Duplicate Rules: Sometimes, duplicate rules in Outlook can lead to unexpected behavior. Ensure that there are no duplicate rules set up in the users' Outlook settings.
3. Update Outlook: Ensure that all users are running the latest version of Outlook, both on the web and desktop. Updates often include bug fixes that can resolve such issues.
4. Disable Add-ins: If users have any add-ins enabled, try disabling them to see if the issue persists. Sometimes, third-party add-ins can interfere with Outlook's functionality.
5. Test in Different Browsers: If the issue is primarily occurring in Microsoft Edge, consider testing the web version of Outlook in another browser (like Chrome or Firefox) to see if the problem persists.
6. Check for Mobile Device Sync Issues: If users are accessing Outlook on mobile devices, ensure that there are no synchronization issues between the mobile app and the desktop/web versions.

If the problem continues after these steps, it may be beneficial to reach out to Microsoft support for further assistance, as they can provide more tailored troubleshooting based on the specific environment and configurations of your users.

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References:

• Deleted recipients still appear in the list view of the Drafts folder in Outlook Online mode
• Understanding and troubleshooting Out of Office (OOF) replies