Are you unable to open up Microsoft Office Outlook? Don’t worry, in this article, we highlight the best, universal solutions for any errors related to the Outlook application not opening. Show
Users have reported getting a set of errors when attempting to launch Outlook on their device, then having the software not launch at all. This is a huge issue for those that utilize Outlook in their day-to-day lives, as you can’t have access to your emails, calendar, notes, and so on. Our article will focus on solving the “Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window. The set of folders cannot be opened.” error with universal, easy to apply fixes that work for most users. (Source: Ablebits) What causes the “Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window. The set of folders cannot be opened.” error?The main issue you face when running into this error is the Outlook application failing to open. After attempting to launch Outlook, you’ll only see the cursor loading for a while, before a pop-up appears with the error. All you can do is click OK and wonder what’s next. While the exact cause of this error is uncertain, Microsoft themselves have come forward with an issue that leads to this happening. According to them, the main culprit is a file corruption to your Outlook profile file, the .xml file with your Outlook name. Another cause could be the fact that Outlook is attempting to run in Compatibility mode, or you’re using a profile file (.pst or .ost) created in an old version of Outlook which was deleted or damaged. No one knows exactly how these files get corrupted without any malicious attacks, but it happens, and you need to troubleshoot it. Our solutions in the next section will surely help you restore Outlook, no matter what caused the error. Before we fix the error, it is worthy to note that you might be required to have access to an administrator account to perform all of the steps described below. If the account you’re currently using doesn’t have administrative permissions, make sure to change this in your settings. Method 1: Recover the Navigation Pane configuration fileAs mentioned above, file corruption is often the cause of this error. By repairing the Navigation Pane settings file, you might be able to open Outlook again without running into the same error over and over again. Here’s how to do it.
If Outlook still gives you the “Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window. The set of folders cannot be opened.” error, you can attempt to manually remove the Navigation Pane configuration file and have Outlook reset it.
Method 2: Repair your Outlook files(Source: Nucleus Technologies) Using the Inbox Repair tool, you can restore Outlook data files (.pst and .ost) which can get corrupted when uninstalling or reinstalling Outlook. If these files get damaged, you’re very likely to run into the “Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window. The set of folders cannot be opened.” error.
Method 3: Create a new Outlook profile(Source: Nucleus Technologies) If your current Outlook profile is too messed up due to corrupted, damaged or missing files, it might be the best option to create a new and fresh profile. Many users have reported that doing this fixed any errors with opening Outlook, including the one this article is written for. Here’s how you can create a new Outlook profile easily.
Method 4: Turn off Compatibility mode in OutlookSome users have reported that running Outlook in Compatibility mode causes conflicts that lead to the software not being able to open. Here are the steps you need to take to turn this feature off.
Method 5: Start Outlook in Safe Mode(Source: Nucleus Technologies) There’s a possibility that an extension or plug-in you installed for Office or Outlook itself is creating errors that lead to failure of opening. You can easily test this by running Outlook in Safe Mode, which essentially disables all non-default elements of your software.
We hope that this guide was able to help you troubleshoot the “Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window. The set of folders cannot be opened.” error in Outlook for Windows. How do I link Microsoft Exchange with current profile in Outlook?Open your Outlook app, then click File, and select Account Settings.. Choose Account Settings again, then select the Exchange or Microsoft 365, and click Change.. At the Offline Settings section, make sure that Use Cached Exchange Mode is checked.. Why is my Outlook not connecting to the Exchange Server?Ensure Outlook is online
This is important because, in the offline mode, Outlook can't connect to the Microsoft Exchange servers, and thus, will throw the “Outlook cannot connect to server” error. To fix this: Go to the Send/Receive tab in Outlook. Look for an option called “Work Offline” and click it.
How do I force Outlook to connect to Exchange Server?Step 1: Open Outlook. Step 2: Click on the "File">" Info"> Account and Social Network Settings">" Account settings". Step 3: Select your account and click on the "Change> "More Settings">" Connection" tab. Step 4: Under Outlook Anywhere, choose the "Connect to Microsoft Exchange using HTTP" option.
Why does my Outlook say connected to Microsoft Exchange?Cause. This issue can occur if the user has an account at a third-party provider that uses the same email address and password that the user's Microsoft 365 account uses.
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