new mail message

Question

I am unable to open and create a new mail message

I click on it but nothing happens and is not opening

Any ideas please

[moderator's note: moved from Windows for home | Other | Email and communications]

Answer 1

Hello karen cross,

Thank you for posting to Microsoft Q&A. I understand that you're having trouble opening and creating new email messages in Outlook. I appreciate you sharing your concern here, and I would be happy to help you get your mail flowing again. 

When the "New Email" button not responding, it often means the window is either opening off-screen or a background process has become stuck. Please try these steps to bring your message window back into view: 

Step 1: Locate a Potential Hidden Window 

If you use a second monitor or recently disconnected from a docking station, Windows might be opening your new email on a screen that is no longer visible. 

• Open Outlook and click New Email once. 
• Hover your mouse over the Outlook icon on your Windows Taskbar at the bottom of your screen. 
• Look for two small preview thumbnails: your main Outlook window and a blank "Untitled - Message" window. 
• Right-click that "Untitled" thumbnail and select Maximize or Move. If you select Move, tap any arrow key on your keyboard once, then move your mouse around until the window pops back onto your main screen. 

Step 2: Clear Stuck Background Processes 

If you don't see a second thumbnail, a hidden part of Outlook might be frozen in the background, preventing new windows from launching. Save any open work and Restart your computer. 

Step 3: Test in Safe Mode 

Sometimes an external add-in (like an antivirus scanner or a grammar tool) can block new windows from opening. We can test this by temporarily disabling all add-ins: 

• Close Outlook completely. 
• Hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard and click your Outlook icon to open it. 
• A box will appear asking if you want to start in Safe Mode. Click Yes. 
• Try clicking the New Email button. If it works perfectly in Safe Mode, one of your add-ins is the cause, and you can disable it in your settings. 

I hope this information helps you get back to sending your emails normally. Please let me know if the "New Email" window still won't appear after these steps, or if you receive any specific error messages. 

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Answer 2

Based on similar Outlook issues, try these steps depending on how email is being accessed:

1. If using Outlook on the web (Outlook Web App / Outlook.com)
   • First, confirm that replying/forwarding existing messages still works. If reply/forward works but clicking New mail does nothing, the issue may be with the email signature.
   • Remove the signature:
     1. Open Outlook on the web.
     2. Go to Settings → view all Outlook settings → Mail → Compose and reply.
     3. Delete the existing signature content completely and save.
   • After removing the signature, try clicking New mail again.
   • When recreating the signature, keep it simple and avoid special characters (for example, stray backslashes \ in HTML or copied formatting), as these can prevent the new message window from opening.
2. If using Outlook.com in a browser
   • Ensure a new message is being created correctly:
     1. At the top of the page, select New message.
     2. If nothing happens, again check and simplify/remove any signature configured in settings, then try New message once more.
3. If using Outlook on Android or iOS
   • On iOS: tap the + icon at the bottom-right of the inbox to start a new message.
   • On Android: tap the pen and pad icon at the bottom-right of the inbox.
   • If tapping these icons does nothing after a recent app update, install the latest Outlook app update from the app store, as a newer build may contain a fix for issues where taps do not respond.

If the problem persists after removing/simplifying the signature and updating the app or browser session, further troubleshooting in the Outlook community or with Microsoft support is recommended.

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References:

• You can't create a new message from Outlook Web App in Microsoft 365
• Create, reply to, or forward email messages in Outlook.com
• How do I write/create/compose a new email message?
• Mail in Outlook Web App