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Fix Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot Open The Outlook Window Error

  author
Published By Mohit Jha
Nimisha Ramesh
Approved By Nimisha Ramesh
Published On February 16th, 2023
Reading Time 6 Minutes Reading

Can’t open your Outlook 2016, 2013 or 2010? In this article will give you some simple and effective solutions to fix Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook issue that will help you to run Outlook again without any mistakes. Given solutions will work in all editions of Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007 and lower and on all operating systems.

The important side effect of this issue is exceptionally noticeable and effectively big: you snap Outlook’s symbol, an hourglass shows up and is hanging for some time, and afterward, you get the error message Cannot start Microsoft Office Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window.

Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot Open The Outlook Window

As indicated by Microsoft, the actual reason for this issue is a tainted Navigation Pane settings record – profilename.xml, where profilename is the name of your Outlook ID. A decent sign that the record is corrupted is the point at which its size is 0 KB. Nobody knows the accurate cause behind why this happens, yet all editions of Microsoft Outlook from 2003 to the most current Outlook 2019 might be influenced.

Different reasons might be the point at which you run Outlook in the compatibility mode, or on the off chance that you are utilizing a profile made as a part of an Outlook rendition, or if the Outlook information record (.pst or .ost) was erased or harmed as the after-effect of mistaken uninstallation or reinstallation of Outlook.

Anyway, whatever the reason is, the result is the same – you can’t open the Outlook window due to this blunder: Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Can’t open the Outlook window. The arrangement of organizers can’t be opened.

Instant Way to Fix Corruption of Outlook Data File

Cannot start Microsoft Outlook error can occur due to PST file corruption, oversize mailbox, inaccessible data files, etc. PST file is a default data file of Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010 and below versions. PST file stores all your Outlook mail profile emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, etc.

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Due to corruption in PST file, Microsoft Outlook generally shows the error. There are many Outlook errors which responsible for the PST file corruption, Use Outlook PST Repair Tool to keep Outlook data files healthy.

This message can be different in various systems, it depends on the Outlook version.

Outlook 2010:Microsoft Outlook has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

Outlook 2007:Cannot open your default e-mail folders. The information store could not be opened.

Outlook 2003:Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Unable to open the Outlook window. Invalid XML, the view cannot be loaded.

How to Resolve the Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook Issue

Since you recognize what causes issues on Outlook startup, how about we perceive how we can get them resolved. Underneath you will discover the investigating ventures for 4 most regular issues that keep Outlook from beginning effectively, recorded altogether of recurrence and effectiveness:

In many cases, it is the corrupted Navigation Pane settings file which keeps Outlook from beginning effectively, so the main thing you have to do is to repair it. Here’s the way by which you can do this on various working Operating systems:

  1. If you are using Vista, Windows 8, 10, click the Start button. On Windows XP, click Start > Run
  2. Type the following command in the search field: outlook.exe /resetnavpane
    Note: Make a space between outlook.exe and /resetnavpane
  3. Press Enter or click on the File in order to reset the Navigation Pane settings and then open Outlook.

outlook.exe /resetnavpane

Also, You can fix this for Windows 7 or Windows 10 by using Run dialog box, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Menu button or Start button then All Programs > Accessories > Run
  2. Type in Run Box “outlook.exe /resetnavpane” command and press OK.

Run Box outlook.exe /resetnavpane command

Remove the Navigation Pane Settings File

Somehow, you were not ready to get the Navigation pane setup document file, nor automatic fix, provided by Microsoft works for you, make an effort to erase the XML record that stores the Navigation pane setting file. To do this, continue with the given steps:

  1. Enter the underneath command in the Start, then go for ‘Search field’ on Windows 7 and Windows 8, 10 or in Windows XPStart > Run’ and press Enter: %appdata%MicrosoftOutlook
  2. After pressing Enter you will get a folder where you will get Microsoft Outlook Configuration files. Find the Outlook.xml file over there and Delete it.

Outlook.xml file

Fix Outlook Data Files Using Inbuilt Utility Tool

If you have removed the Outlook application and reinstalled again but on the time of uninstallation something went wrong the Outlook, the default Outlook information document (.pst/.ost) may have been erased or got corrupted, which is the reason Outlook won’t open. In this situation, you will get this error message: Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. The file Outlook.pst is not a personal folders file.

Steps to fix the outlook.pst document utilizing Scanpst.exe i.e. inbuilt Inbox Repair Tool.

  1. Open Windows Explorer and go to C:Program Files Microsoft Office{Office version}. If you have installed 32-bit office on 64-bit Windows, then go for C:Program Files x86Microsoft Office{Office version}
  2. Find Scanpst.exe over there and double tap to launch it
  3. Click the Browse button to select default Outlook.pst document.

Scanpst.exe

PST file stores in folder i.e. DocumentsOutlook in Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2013. In the event that you moved up to Outlook 2010 on a PC that as of now had information records made in past renditions, you will discover the outlook.pst document in a concealed envelope in these areas:

If you saved the data in the before versions of Outlook 2010 and upgrading current Outlook to 2010, in this case, the outlook.pst file stores in a hidden folder on these locations:

  • On Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8, 10
    C:Users userAppData Local MicrosoftOutlook
  • On Windows XP
    C: Documents and SettingsuserLocal SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook

Start Scanpst.exe

Conclusion

In this article we described simple and effective solutions to fix cannot start Microsoft Outlook, cannot open the Outlook window error. Given solutions will work in all editions of Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007 and below versions on any Windows operating systems like 10, 8.1, 8, 7, etc.