outlook freezes

Question

Outlook freezes when I attempt any function; ie open new message, open message, send message; and people who receive messages complain they take a very long time to open so the messages are freezing for others also. A freeze can be 15 seconds or 1,2,3 minutes.

Answer 1

I look forward to your feedback!

Answer 2

Hi! Your Outlook crashing might be a problem with the app. But recipient emails crashing or taking a long time to arrive could be a problem with the sending server.

Are your email addresses and the recipients' emails from your own domain, like @yourname.com, @companyname.com? Or are they Microsoft or Google emails, like @Outlook.com, @Hotmail.com, @Gmail.com?

If it's a custom domain email, it could be a problem with your provider's email server, or your incoming and outgoing mail server.

To test your server, reconnect your Outlook account. You might need some information.

1. Press Windows + R > type control > Under View By, select Icons > Click Mail (Microsoft Outlook).
2. Click Add Account (or Add Profile if there is no profile).
3. Select Manual setup or additional server types > POP or IMAP > Fill in the requested fields with your account information.
4. Click More Settings > Fill in more information under Outgoing Server and Advanced.
5. Click OK > Next.

Some email providers require an application code instead of a password. If the problem persists, try generating an application code in Yahoo and using it in place of the password.

Answer 3

Outlook freezing for 15–180 seconds when opening, sending, or reading messages is typically caused by add-ins, large mailboxes, external content, outdated components, antivirus integration, or data/profile corruption. Use the following steps in order (stopping when the issue is resolved):

1. Confirm Outlook and Windows are fully updated

• Install all important and recommended Windows updates.
• Install the latest Outlook/Office updates as described in How to install the latest applicable updates for Microsoft Outlook (US English only).

2. Check if Outlook is busy with a long operation

• Look at the status bar at the bottom of Outlook.
• If it shows actions like processing many items, syncing, or archiving, Outlook may appear frozen while it completes the task. Allow it to finish before testing again.

3. Disable automatic download of external content External images or content in messages can cause delays.

• Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Automatic Download.
• Enable:
  • Don’t download pictures or other content automatically in HTML e-mail
  • Warn me before downloading content when editing, forwarding, or replying e-mail
• Restart Outlook and test.

4. Start Outlook in Safe Mode and disable add-ins Add-ins are a common cause of freezing.

• Close Outlook.
• Start Outlook in safe mode:
  • Press Start, type Outlook.exe /safe, press Enter.
• If Outlook works normally in safe mode:
  1. In Outlook, go to File > Options > Add-Ins.
  2. At the bottom, set Manage: COM Add-ins and select Go.
  3. Clear all check boxes to disable all add-ins, select OK.
  4. Restart Outlook normally and test.
  5. Re-enable add-ins one at a time, restarting Outlook each time, until the freezing returns to identify the problematic add-in.

5. Reduce mailbox size Very large mailboxes can slow Outlook and cause long pauses.

• Archive or move older mail to separate .pst files.
• Empty Deleted Items and Junk Email folders.
• Compact data files if appropriate (after archiving and cleanup).

6. Repair Office installation Corrupted Office binaries can cause freezing.

• Close all Office apps.
• Open Control Panel > Programs and Features.
• Right-click the Microsoft Office installation and choose Repair (or Change then select a repair option, depending on version).
• After repair completes, restart the PC and test Outlook.

7. Repair Outlook data files (.pst/.ost) Corrupt data files can cause delays for both sending and opening messages.

• Close Outlook.
• Run the Inbox Repair Tool (SCANSPST.EXE) as described in Repair Outlook Data Files (.pst and .ost).
• Repair each .pst/.ost file used by the profile.
• Reopen Outlook and test.

8. Check antivirus integration with Outlook Antivirus add-ins or email scanning can significantly slow Outlook.

• In the antivirus product, disable Outlook/email integration or the Outlook add-in (do not disable real-time file protection unless explicitly needed and understood).
• Alternatively, disable the antivirus add-in from File > Options > Add-Ins > COM Add-ins.
• Test Outlook. Important: Changing antivirus settings can increase exposure to malicious content; adjust only as needed and consider vendor guidance.

9. Recreate the Outlook profile A corrupted profile can cause freezing and slow message handling.

• Close Outlook.
• Open Control Panel > Mail.
• Select Show Profiles.
• Select the existing profile and choose Remove (if appropriate), or leave it and create a new one.
• Select Add, name the profile, and reconfigure the email account.
• Set Always use this profile to the new profile and start Outlook.

10. Check for conflicting startup programs or services (Selective Startup) If freezing persists system-wide, another program may conflict with Outlook.

• Open Control Panel > System and Security > Administrative Tools > System Configuration.
• On General, select Selective startup, clear Load startup items.
• On Services, select Hide all Microsoft services, then select Disable all.
• Re-enable Load system services, click OK, and restart.
• If Outlook works, re-enable services and startup items one by one (with restarts) to find the conflicting component.

If the environment uses POP accounts and the issue started after a recent Windows 11 update (for example KB5074109), there is a known bug that causes Outlook profiles with POP accounts to hang and freeze. In that case, uninstalling the specific Windows update (via Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates) has been used as a temporary workaround.

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References:

• Outlook not responding error or Outlook freezes when you open a file or send mail
• Outlook not responding, stuck at "Processing," stopped working, or freezes
• Outlook Freezing and Not Responding and Not saving changes when ending the task - Microsoft Q&A
• Outlook keeps crashing - Microsoft Q&A