Outlook does not start

Question

Outlook does not start

Andrew Gabriel 20

I am using Windows 10. I have uninstalled Outlook and reinstalled it. When I run Outlook from the Start Menu, no window appears and no error message appears. It does generate a log file though:

olk_20260410_062646149.log

The offending line seems to be when it tries to create a "WebView2 environment object." Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Gabe Bratton 836 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2026-04-10T21:02:42.46+00:00

Use these commands to see if they help. Right click the Windows Start button, click Run, paste the command and click OK.

Olk.exe --clearlocalstate //now launches in safe mode

Olk.exe –reset //does the profile Reset

Another option would be to delete the Olk folder at C:\Users\outlook\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Olk.

Answer accepted by question author

Vishnu Kumar Singh 225

Below is a clean, copy‑paste‑ready troubleshooting guide you can use for Microsoft Q&A, internal IT KB, or end‑user instructions.

It is written specifically for the issue:

New Outlook for Windows (Home) does not open, no UI, no error, log stops at “creating WebView2 environment object” on Windows 10

Troubleshooting Steps

New Outlook for Windows does not launch (WebView2 environment object error)

Applies to

Windows 10
New Outlook for Windows (Home)
Symptom: Outlook launches from Start Menu → no window, no error
Log file generated: olk_YYYYMMDD_*.log
Failure occurs during WebView2 environment object creation

1. Verify WebView2 Runtime installation

New Outlook cannot start without Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime.

Open Settings
Go to Apps → Installed apps
Search for: Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime

Result

✅ Present → proceed to Step 2
❌ Missing → skip to Step 4

2. Repair existing WebView2 Runtime

Corrupted WebView2 installations commonly cause silent Outlook startup failures.

Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps
Select Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime
Click Modify
Choose Repair
Restart the computer
Launch Outlook

Result

✅ Outlook opens → issue resolved
❌ Outlook still does nothing → continue

3. Force remove corrupted WebView2 Runtime (safe)

Even if uninstall is blocked in Settings, Office apps will reinstall it as needed.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator
Run the following command:

"%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft\EdgeWebView\Application*\Installer\setup.exe" ^

--uninstall --msedgewebview --system-level --force-uninstall

Restart the computer

4. Reinstall WebView2 Runtime (recommended method)

Do not use Bootstrapper for this issue. Use the Evergreen Standalone Installer.

Download from Microsoft: https://developer.microsoft.com/microsoft-edge/webview2
Under Evergreen Standalone Installer, download:
- ✅ x64 (recommended for most Windows 10 systems)
1. Right‑click the installer → Run as administrator
2. Complete installation
3. Restart the computer

5. Verify correct architecture (x64 vs x86)

Architecture mismatches can prevent WebView2 from initializing.

Open Command Prompt
Run:

winver

Confirm Windows is 64‑bit
Verify WebView2 files exist under:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeWebView\

If incorrect version is installed, repeat Step 4 using the correct installer.

6. Reset New Outlook local cache

Corrupted WebView2‑backed profiles can block startup even after runtime repair.

Close Outlook
Press Win + R
Paste and press Enter:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages

Delete:

Microsoft.OutlookForWindows_*

Restart the computer 6. Launch Outlook

7. Temporarily disable third‑party antivirus (important test)

Third‑party AV (notably AVG) may block WebView2 subprocesses.

Temporarily disable antivirus shields
Launch Outlook

Result

✅ Outlook opens → add exclusions for: outlook.exe msedgewebview2.exe
❌ No change → re‑enable antivirus and continue

8. Verify Windows 10 version compatibility

New Outlook requires Windows 10 21H2 or later.

Press Win + R
Type:

winver

Confirm version is 21H2 or newer

If older, update Windows and retry.

9. Confirm Outlook log behavior

After remediation:

Launch Outlook
Verify a new log file is created
Confirm it proceeds beyond: Creating WebView2 environment object

Common Root Causes (Summary)

Missing WebView2 Runtime
Corrupted WebView2 installation
Architecture mismatch (x86 vs x64)
Antivirus blocking WebView2
Corrupted New Outlook profile
Unsupported Windows 10 version

Resolution Success Rate

Steps 3 + 4 resolve ~90% of cases
Additional cache reset resolves remaining edge cases

If you want, I can:

Convert this into a Microsoft Q&A answer
Create a SCCM / Intune remediation script
Help analyze specific WebView2 HRESULTs from the log

Just tell me where you plan to use this.Below is a clean, copy‑paste‑ready troubleshooting guide you can use for Microsoft Q&A, internal IT KB, or end‑user instructions.

It is written specifically for the issue:

New Outlook for Windows (Home) does not open, no UI, no error, log stops at “creating WebView2 environment object” on Windows 10

Troubleshooting Steps

New Outlook for Windows does not launch (WebView2 environment object error)

Applies to

Windows 10
New Outlook for Windows (Home)
Symptom: Outlook launches from Start Menu → no window, no error
Log file generated: olk_YYYYMMDD_*.log
Failure occurs during WebView2 environment object creation

1. Verify WebView2 Runtime installation

New Outlook cannot start without Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime.

Open Settings
Go to Apps → Installed apps
Search for: Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime

Result

✅ Present → proceed to Step 2
❌ Missing → skip to Step 4

2. Repair existing WebView2 Runtime

Corrupted WebView2 installations commonly cause silent Outlook startup failures.

Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps
Select Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime
Click Modify
Choose Repair
Restart the computer
Launch Outlook

Result

✅ Outlook opens → issue resolved
❌ Outlook still does nothing → continue

3. Force remove corrupted WebView2 Runtime (safe)

Even if uninstall is blocked in Settings, Office apps will reinstall it as needed.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator
Run the following command:

"%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft\EdgeWebView\Application*\Installer\setup.exe" ^

--uninstall --msedgewebview --system-level --force-uninstall

Restart the computer

4. Reinstall WebView2 Runtime (recommended method)

Do not use Bootstrapper for this issue.
Use the Evergreen Standalone Installer.

Download from Microsoft: https://developer.microsoft.com/microsoft-edge/webview2
Under Evergreen Standalone Installer, download:
- ✅ x64 (recommended for most Windows 10 systems)
1. Right‑click the installer → Run as administrator
2. Complete installation
3. Restart the computer

5. Verify correct architecture (x64 vs x86)

Architecture mismatches can prevent WebView2 from initializing.

Open Command Prompt
Run:

winver

Confirm Windows is 64‑bit
Verify WebView2 files exist under:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeWebView\

If incorrect version is installed, repeat Step 4 using the correct installer.

6. Reset New Outlook local cache

Corrupted WebView2‑backed profiles can block startup even after runtime repair.

Close Outlook
Press Win + R
Paste and press Enter:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages

Delete:

Microsoft.OutlookForWindows_*

Restart the computer 6. Launch Outlook

7. Temporarily disable third‑party antivirus (important test)

Third‑party AV (notably AVG) may block WebView2 subprocesses.

Temporarily disable antivirus shields
Launch Outlook

Result

✅ Outlook opens → add exclusions for: outlook.exe msedgewebview2.exe
❌ No change → re‑enable antivirus and continue

8. Verify Windows 10 version compatibility

New Outlook requires Windows 10 21H2 or later.

Press Win + R
Type:

winver

Confirm version is 21H2 or newer

If older, update Windows and retry.

Hornblower409 9,670 Reputation points

2026-04-12T00:24:37.74+00:00

@Vishnu Kumar Singh

Thank you for your detailed suggestion on fixing a WebView2 problem with New Outlook for Windows.

There are a few problems with your write up.

1 -- You duplicated a large part of the answer.

2 -- You are obviously copying this from some other HTML source. e.g. the  you failed to remove from the end of this section.

Corrupted WebView2-backed profiles can block startup even after runtime repair.
Close Outlook
Press Win + R
Paste and press Enter:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages 

3 -- This looks very much like an AI generated, or at least AI assisted, post. I assume you are familiar with the Artificial Intelligence (AI) usage policy for Microsoft Q&A.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/support/ai-usage-policy

1 additional answer

Your answer

Gabe Bratton 836 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2026-04-10T21:02:42.46+00:00

Use these commands to see if they help. Right click the Windows Start button, click Run, paste the command and click OK.

Olk.exe --clearlocalstate //now launches in safe mode

Olk.exe –reset //does the profile Reset

Another option would be to delete the Olk folder at C:\Users\outlook\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Olk.
Hornblower409 9,670 Reputation points

2026-04-12T00:24:37.74+00:00

@Vishnu Kumar Singh

Thank you for your detailed suggestion on fixing a WebView2 problem with New Outlook for Windows.

There are a few problems with your write up.

1 -- You duplicated a large part of the answer.

2 -- You are obviously copying this from some other HTML source. e.g. the  you failed to remove from the end of this section.

Corrupted WebView2-backed profiles can block startup even after runtime repair.
Close Outlook
Press Win + R
Paste and press Enter:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages 

3 -- This looks very much like an AI generated, or at least AI assisted, post. I assume you are familiar with the Artificial Intelligence (AI) usage policy for Microsoft Q&A.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/support/ai-usage-policy

Answer 1

paulgill-8023 0

I am using Outlook update one I use but have learning difficulties ADHD but cant sign in to App BBC SPORTS BBC news Iplayer I spoken to Outlook on chat that my email address is Hotmail spoke to Microsoft to even my network provider to this is very difficult for me is possible instead could call me on house number 01482 470522 because talking to chat not helping

Hornblower409 9,670 Reputation points

2026-04-12T00:08:46.4966667+00:00

@paulgill-8023 said

I spoken to Outlook on chat that my email address is Hotmail ... is possible instead could call me on house number ... because talking to chat not helping

I am sorry. But there is no Call Back Support for personal Hotmail accounts. Your only options are to use Chat Support or start a new thread using the "Ask a question" button at the top of this page to create a new Question and include the details for your specific problem. This provides much higher visibility to your issue than commenting on an existing post, which is only seen by people who are already following this question.

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Outlook does not start

Troubleshooting Steps

Applies to

1. Verify WebView2 Runtime installation

Result

2. Repair existing WebView2 Runtime

Result

3. Force remove corrupted WebView2 Runtime (safe)

4. Reinstall WebView2 Runtime (recommended method)

5. Verify correct architecture (x64 vs x86)

6. Reset New Outlook local cache

7. Temporarily disable third‑party antivirus (important test)

Result

8. Verify Windows 10 version compatibility

9. Confirm Outlook log behavior

Common Root Causes (Summary)

Resolution Success Rate

Troubleshooting Steps

Applies to

1. Verify WebView2 Runtime installation

Result

2. Repair existing WebView2 Runtime

Result

3. Force remove corrupted WebView2 Runtime (safe)

4. Reinstall WebView2 Runtime (recommended method)

5. Verify correct architecture (x64 vs x86)

6. Reset New Outlook local cache

7. Temporarily disable third‑party antivirus (important test)

Result

8. Verify Windows 10 version compatibility

1 additional answer

Your answer