Summary: Updating Windows is necessary to keep your system from bugs, security vulnerabilities, and other issues. But sometimes, the update cause issues with the software installed in the system, like Outlook. This can be due to many reasons, some of which we discuss later, along with solutions to repair the issues. If you are facing Outlook not working after the Windows update, stick around to find out how to fix it.
Content table:
- What causes Outlook not to work after a Windows update?
- How to fix Outlook not working after the update of Windows?
- Method 1: Disable Add-ins or Plugins
- Method 2: Check file permissions
- Method 3: Open in Safe Mode
- Method 4: Update the Application
- Method 5: Roll back the latest update
- Method 6: Repair corrupted Outlook data file
- Using a Built-in inbox repair tool
- Using a professional repair tool
What causes Outlook Not to Work after a Windows update?
Outlook not working can be caused for various reasons, but only some have intersected with issues following the Windows update. Below we give you some of the common ones,
- Outlook data file corruption: The update may have corrupted your data file, preventing Outlook from working.
- Incompatible add-ins: Some add-ins may become inconsistent with the latest version of Windows or Outlook and cause conflicts.
- Antivirus software: Antivirus may prevent some Outlook functionalities, causing it to crash.
- Loss or corruption of system files: The update may cause some system files to be missing or corrupted, which stops the proper functioning of Outlook.
- Outdated drivers: Outdated drivers can cause many system issues, including Outlook issues.
How to Fix Outlook Not Working after the Update of Windows?
Now that we discussed the causes, it’s time to think about how to fix Outlook not working after the Windows update. But, first, we must troubleshoot with different methods to conclude what causes the issue. But that is a time-consuming process, so below we give you some tried and tested ways with which you should start.
Method 1: Disable Add-ins or Plugins
Add-ins are valuable tools when you need to expand the functionalities of Outlook. But sometimes, they cause conflict with the application. Some of these conflicts can prevent Outlook from starting and crash it. But you can quickly solve this by disabling the conflicting plugin.
Note: If you use more add-ins, you should disable one at a time, so you can use all other add-ins once you fix the issue.
Method 2: Open in Safe Mode
Safe mode is a troubleshooting environment that loads the application in default settings, so you can check different components for issues and fix them. Follow these steps to enter Safe mode for Outlook,
Step 1: Close the Outlook application.
Step 2: Press the CTRL key and click on the Outlook application.
Step 3: Click Yes, when presented with a pop-up message.
Note: You can disable add-ins from the safe mode; if it works properly, remove the conflicting plugins.
Method 3: Check file permissions
Windows updates sometimes change file permissions, mainly if the update includes security feature updates. If the issue is the permission, you might get a notification. So, to solve this issue, please follow the steps below,
Step 1: Close Outlook and locate the data file.
Note: You can find the data file by going to File> Account Settings > Account Settings > Data Files; from here, you can see the location of each data file.
Step 2: Open the Properties dialog box by right-clicking on the File.
Step 3: Click on the Security tab in the Properties dialog box.
Step 4: Click on the Edit button to modify the file permissions.
Step 5: Once the necessary changes are made, click the Apply button.
Once you have completed the steps, try and open Outlook. If the problem is not solved, then go with the next solution.
Method 4: Update the Application
Now that we have, we have ruled out some issues; we can update the Outlook application. This ensures the application’s version has all the necessary fixes for bugs and security and is compatible with the latest Windows update. Follow these steps and update your Outlook,
Step 1: Open the Outlook application.
Step 2: Go to File and click on Office Account on the left side of the window.
Step 3: Now, on the right side of the window, click on Update Options and select Update Now.
This will check for the latest version and, if found, automatically updates. When the process is complete, restart Outlook and check the issues solved.
Method 5: Roll back the latest update
Now, if none of the above methods solve the issue, you might need to uninstall the update and return to the previous version. The update might be unstable or corrupted while downloading or installing. Do this first, find the latest stable update, then follow the steps below,
Step 1: Type CMD in the search bar and click Run as Administrator.
Step 2: Type cd “\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun” in the Command Prompt window and press Enter.
Step 3: Now type officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.12827.20470 and press Enter.
Note: You can change the update to version value to the one you find.
Restart the Outlook application and check the issues are fixed. If it persists, then it must be a corruption of the Outlook data file.
Method 6: Repair corrupted Outlook data file
Outlook data files are the files that store all the components of your Outlook profile, such as emails, calendar appointments, contacts, etc. There are two types of data files in Outlook, PST (Personal Storage Table) with .pst extension or OST (Offline Storage Table) .ost extension. If the update corrupts the File, you are not accessing Outlook. But don’t worry; you can fix this issue with simple steps. Check out the below methods to repair Outlook data files.
Using a Built-in inbox repair tool
Scanpst.exe is an inbox repair tool built into Microsoft Outlook to repair problems with data files. Depending on the version, you can find the tool at,
- Outlook 2019: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
- Outlook 2016: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
- Outlook 2013: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15
- Outlook 2010: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14
- Outlook 2007: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12
Note: If you use a 64-bit version of Windows, the ScanPST.exe tool may be in the Program Files folder instead of the Program Files (x86) folder.
- Go to the location of the File and double-click on the exe file.
- When open, Enter the name of the File you want to scan field, enter the path and the file name of the OST file that you want to repair.
Note: You can also use the Browse option to locate the File.
- Click on the Start button and start the scanning process.
- If any error is found, click on the Repair
When the repair completes, open Outlook and check if the issue has been resolved.
Note: This repair process is time-consuming; you may need to repeat it several times to resolve the issue entirely.
Using a professional repair tool
If you prefer a professional tool to repair the Outlook data file, try the SFWare PST Repair tool. This repair tool is designed to manage various issues related to Outlook data files. For example, check out the simple steps below to fix corrupted Outlook data files and solve Outlook not working after Windows update issues.
- Download and install the SFWare PST Repair Tool on your computer.
- Launch the software, then select the Open PST option from the screen.
- Now give the corrupted Outlook data file and click Next.
- Choose the scanning method from the next screen–
- Normal Scan – For a low level of corruption.
- Smart Scan – When the Normal Scan is not enough.
- Now provide a location to save the repaired Outlook data file.
- Click on the Repair button to begin the repair process.
Note: When the repair process is complete, you can preview the repaired Outlook data file to ensure that all data has been successfully restored.
- Save the repaired Outlook data file to the desired location.
Conclusion
Windows updates sometimes cause applications to stop working, but we cannot leave our system vulnerable. So, we updated the system and then found and fixed any issues that came our way. Next, we discuss what to do when Outlook is not working after the Windows update. We have seen some common causes for the problem and gone through methods to fix the same. If you find it helpful, then let us know in the comment section below.