outlook attachment error

Question

outlook attachment error

Craig 10

9-1-2026 Outlook no longer allows you to download or view attachments. Just giver "error, try again later"

Craig 10 Reputation points

2026-09-01T15:41:11.2833333+00:00

stupid AI tries to direct as user error or to web.. they do the exact same this. this is not a user error, this is Microsoft

FIX IT
Alexis 0 Reputation points

2026-09-01T16:29:00.09+00:00

I am having the same issue - and this issue persisted right before the Exchange outage yesterday and is continuing. Just tried to do a repair install, reset cache, run as admin, nothing. Web version gets me the same error. I have over 100 emails with attachments I need to access and there is no way I am saving every single one to OneDrive to access them. This is ridiculous. I can access them just fine on the mobile app but not on web version or Windows app of Outlook.
Jayden-P 2,280 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-01T16:31:30.5566667+00:00

Hi @Alexis

Sorry to hear that, but as this is a server side issue, I do not have any other alternative solution to provide at the moment.
Alexis 0 Reputation points

2026-09-01T16:33:52.5833333+00:00

@Jayden-P I think the most frustrating part is that only some users are impacted more so than others. Other users in our office are having no issues.
Jayden-P 2,280 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-01T16:38:39.4633333+00:00

I get that, I recommend you to contact your IT admin and ask them to open a support ticket with Microsoft support.
Craig 10 Reputation points

2026-09-01T16:42:06.6533333+00:00

Jayden,

again stop pushing this back on us. The whole purpose of this is to show there is an error, happening to millions of people, explain what it is and get it fixed. That is YOU. our IT team has nothing to do with this. It's Microsoft..IE.. YOU.
Craig 10 Reputation points

2026-09-01T16:43:40.8433333+00:00

again everything on my end worked fine until around 10am eastern. then i could no longer do anything with the attachment. I get error every time. if i forward to other email it works fine.
Jayden-P 2,280 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-01T16:46:49.64+00:00

@Craig

Just to clarify, I'm a regular forum user and do not have access to Microsoft's internal systems. This is a community forum where users help other users, rather than an official Microsoft support channel.

While no one here can directly investigate or fix the issue, your IT department can open a support case with Microsoft if further investigation is needed.

This does not mean your IT team is responsible for the behavior. Rather, they have the appropriate access to engage Microsoft Support, who can review the issue.

4 answers

Your answer

Craig 10 Reputation points

2026-09-01T15:41:11.2833333+00:00

stupid AI tries to direct as user error or to web.. they do the exact same this. this is not a user error, this is Microsoft

FIX IT
Alexis 0 Reputation points

2026-09-01T16:29:00.09+00:00

I am having the same issue - and this issue persisted right before the Exchange outage yesterday and is continuing. Just tried to do a repair install, reset cache, run as admin, nothing. Web version gets me the same error. I have over 100 emails with attachments I need to access and there is no way I am saving every single one to OneDrive to access them. This is ridiculous. I can access them just fine on the mobile app but not on web version or Windows app of Outlook.
Jayden-P 2,280 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-01T16:31:30.5566667+00:00

Hi @Alexis

Sorry to hear that, but as this is a server side issue, I do not have any other alternative solution to provide at the moment.
Alexis 0 Reputation points

2026-09-01T16:33:52.5833333+00:00

@Jayden-P I think the most frustrating part is that only some users are impacted more so than others. Other users in our office are having no issues.
Jayden-P 2,280 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-01T16:38:39.4633333+00:00

I get that, I recommend you to contact your IT admin and ask them to open a support ticket with Microsoft support.
Craig 10 Reputation points

2026-09-01T16:42:06.6533333+00:00

Jayden,

again stop pushing this back on us. The whole purpose of this is to show there is an error, happening to millions of people, explain what it is and get it fixed. That is YOU. our IT team has nothing to do with this. It's Microsoft..IE.. YOU.
Craig 10 Reputation points

2026-09-01T16:43:40.8433333+00:00

again everything on my end worked fine until around 10am eastern. then i could no longer do anything with the attachment. I get error every time. if i forward to other email it works fine.
Jayden-P 2,280 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-01T16:46:49.64+00:00

@Craig

Just to clarify, I'm a regular forum user and do not have access to Microsoft's internal systems. This is a community forum where users help other users, rather than an official Microsoft support channel.

While no one here can directly investigate or fix the issue, your IT department can open a support case with Microsoft if further investigation is needed.

This does not mean your IT team is responsible for the behavior. Rather, they have the appropriate access to engage Microsoft Support, who can review the issue.

Answer 1

Jayden-P 2,280 Independent Advisor

Hi everyone,

This is the latest update from Microsoft:

Microsoft's telemetry indicates that service availability remains stable at above 99%, and the majority of users should no longer be experiencing impact from this issue.

User's image

Could you guys please confirm if you are still facing the issue?

Craig 10 Reputation points

2026-09-02T12:05:21.11+00:00

yes everyone is still having the same issues.. nothing was fixed. you still cannot save, download or preview any attachment. this does not matter if you are signed in on the web or the desktop. IT DOES NOT WORK.. nothing has been fixed
Craig 10 Reputation points

2026-09-02T12:12:54.73+00:00

the only way you can do ANYTHING with any attachment is save to the cloud, log in to the cloud and then download from the cloud... It's faster to just use gmail.. I don't understand how Gmail is free and has zero issues, your forced to pay for outlook and has been nothing but issues. again nothing has been fixed. same error message "something went wrong, try again later" This is on every computer in our office, on our laptops and same when you log in on phone. So this is not a local issue or with our IT. this is microsoft. what every they did yesterday around 10 am to update has crashed everything else. I would bet this has something to do with microsoft edge or another product not allowing outlook to process the command.

Answer 2

John Foley 0

I'm back and functioning! Thanks for all of the help!

Jayden-P 2,280 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-02T12:14:31.0133333+00:00

Glad to hear that.
Craig 10 Reputation points

2026-09-02T14:04:13.8133333+00:00

lower left corner in the search go to apps and features. click apps and features when screen loads it will show all your apps. scroll down to microsoft 365 left click and select modify. new screen will ask for quick or full, select quick. when this is done go back to apps and at the top of apps there is a search bar, type in outlook. when outlook app shows up, left click and under you will see advanced, click advanced. on new screen scroll down and you will see repair, click the top repair that does NOT lose data. once repair is done reopen outlook and it will work
Jayden-P 2,280 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-02T14:32:36.8966667+00:00

So is it working for you now? I see that you are sharing the steps to repair Outlook desktop, what about Outlook on the web?
Craig 10 Reputation points

2026-09-02T14:35:26.4066667+00:00

Yes, all of our PC's using outlook are now working based upon this fix of repairing 365 and outlook.
Jayden-P 2,280 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-02T14:44:47.84+00:00

Thanks for your sharing and patience.

Answer 3

Alexis 0

Right now, I am able to access my attachments by using the Classic version of Outlook.

Still buggy, but at least I can open the attachments.

I never thought I would miss the new version of Outlook.

John Foley 0 Reputation points

2026-09-01T18:21:20.43+00:00

Can someone please email me update how to fix when they get it figured out? I have same issue not being able to open attachments since yesterday. Already wasted 4 hours today and no help from MSFT support
Jayden-P 2,280 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-01T18:26:10.2633333+00:00

It is not the best but at least it is working, I will update here if Microsoft release a new announcement.This is the current update from Microsoft.

Update:
Jayden-P 2,280 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-01T18:29:18.93+00:00

Hi all,

For non-IT admin users, you can track the latest information via https://status.cloud.microsoft/?mod=livecoverage_web

Answer 4

Jayden-P 2,280 Independent Advisor

Hi @Craig

I'm really sorry for the inconvenience you are encountering. However, I am a also a normal forum user like you, I cannot directly fix this.

In order to assist you better, can you please let me know which kind of attachment you cannot preview/download? (docx, jpg, etc.) Or does this happen to all kind of attachments?

You can try using another browser (Edge if possible), clear cache or using a private incognito web to test if the issue persists. You can also ask the sender to upload the file to OneDrive and share the OneDrive link instead of include the attachment directly to the email.

Additionally, there is an ongoing incident that affect Exchange functionality. If you are the normal user, please contact your IT admin and ask them to check it for you. They will be able to let you know when Microsoft has a new update.

If you are the IT admin, you can check directly via the links below:

https://admin.cloud.microsoft/#/servicehealth/:/alerts/EX1464935

https://admin.cloud.microsoft/#/servicehealth/:/alerts/MO1465074

User's image

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Craig 10 Reputation points

2026-09-01T16:24:17.3666667+00:00

it does not matter what the attachment is. JPEG, PDF, word doc, etc. it WILL NOT OPEN, SAVE, DOWNLOAD, VIEW.. you get the same error, something went wrong try again later. Stop telling me this is on my end, this is outlook Microsoft only. if i forward to my gmail it works perfectly. This started 2.5 hours ago
Jayden-P 2,280 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-01T16:28:29.3066667+00:00

No one said this is on your end, as I mentioned, there is a ongoing incident that affect Exchange functionality.

You can ask the sender to attach OneDrive link to the file as an alternative method to prevent the corruption in your daily workflow.