Not able to reply on emails

Question

The Reply or forward option on my email has been disabled. I need to get this issue sorted.

Answer 1

Hi Dixit, Aishwarya,

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

To better understand the issue you are experiencing and to provide more accurate guidance, could you please share more information?

• Does this happen only with specific email messages, or are you unable to reply/forward all emails?
• Did this issue start recently, or have you experienced it before?
• Have you tried signing in to Outlook on the web (OWA) to check whether the Reply / Forward buttons work normally there?

Additionally, I previously tested a scenario where a member of a Microsoft 365 Group sent an email using delegated permissions (Send As or Send on behalf of the group). In that case, the recipient was unable to reply or forward the message (the buttons were greyed out). If possible, could you also verify whether your situation matches a similar scenario?

Looking forward to your input so we can narrow this down further.

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Answer 2

If the Reply or Forward option in your Outlook email is disabled, there are a few potential causes and solutions you can try:

1. Check for Add-ons: Sometimes, third-party add-ons or extensions can interfere with Outlook's functionality. If you're using a web browser, try disabling any add-ons and see if that resolves the issue.
2. Browser Compatibility: If you're using Outlook on the web, ensure that you are using a compatible browser. Some features may not work correctly in outdated or unsupported browsers.
3. Restart Outlook: Close and reopen the Outlook application or refresh the web page if you're using Outlook on the web.
4. Check for Updates: Make sure that your Outlook application is up to date. Sometimes, updates can fix bugs that may be causing issues with features like replying or forwarding emails.
5. Antivirus Software: If you have antivirus software installed, it may be blocking certain functionalities in Outlook. Try temporarily disabling it to see if that resolves the issue.

If these steps do not resolve the problem, you may want to consider reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance.