What to Do If Outlook Crashes When Opening Attachments?

MS Outlook is one of the most prominent software to manage your personal information such as Calendars, Contacts, Notes, Tasks, Web, and Journals. It has the facility to sync your data with a Phone, and Tablet by which you can access your data easily.

Besides, sometimes Outlook crashes when opening attachments due to some issues. Many users complain about the same issue that they cannot open attachments in Outlook. If you are facing the same issue, go through the article. It will help you to get rid of this trouble.

Why Outlook Crashes When Opening Attachments? 

Corruption in PST and OST files – Damaged/corrupted PST and OST files restrict the opening of the file along with attachments.

Malicious Attacks – Virus and corrupted software can damage emails. In this case, emails become inaccessible.

Sudden Shutdown of Computer – Improper and Immediately shutdown of software make emails corrupted.

Defective Network – Any fault in routers, gateway, etc. can corrupt the email messages. Then, email cannot open attachments in Outlook.

Inaccurate Email Mapping – Emails that are unsuitably matched with existing folders of Outlook can cause emails to get damaged.

Symptoms

When users access a file or send an email message in Microsoft Outlook, it freezes, or receives the error message “Outlook not responding”.

How Can You Fix Outlook Crashes When Opening Attachments?

Following are the different ways by which you can resolve Outlook crashes when opening attachments issues:

1- Check your Antivirus.

2- Use Different Email Client.

3- Install Latest Software Updates.

4- Remove the problematic updates.

5- Disable Outlook add-ins.

6- Access Outlook in Safe Mode.

7- Use System Restore.

8- Create a New Outlook profile.

9- Recover Corrupt PST File. 

Now, we will describe each solution one by one. So, go through every solution to resolve your Outlook issue.

Check your Antivirus

It is important to have Antivirus in your System, but sometimes it occurs problem and causes Outlook crashes when opening attachments. To fix this annoying problem: 

Check your antivirus and deactivate email security features.

In some situations, you might have to uninstall the antivirus software to resolve your problems. Then, opt for another antivirus software. 

Use Different Email Client

If sometimes there is a lack of time, then you should opt for another Email client platform. Until you find the permanent solution, you should continue with it.

Install Latest Software Updates

• Open Outlook application.
• Then, go to File>Account office>Office Update>Update Now.

Sometimes, Outlook crashes issues resolved by just installing the updated version of the application.

Usually, Outlook updates its latest version automatically but should check it. If the problem is still existing, then move to another solution.

Remove the problematic updates.

• Click Window key + I to open the app settings. After the opening of the App, settings move to the Update and Security option.  
• Choose the Update history option from the left panel.

Now, you can view all the recent updates and tap on Uninstall updates.

Sometimes, issues cannot open attachments in Outlook due to the problematical updates. If issues are occurring due to this reason, then it will be solved.

Disable Outlook add-ins

• First of all, move to the File>Ins>add-ins.
• Switch to the Manage section and hit on the Go button.
• After appearing in the dialogue box, uncheck all Add-ins and click on the OK button.

Add-ins provide a facility to allow you to connect Outlook with some other applications while communicating.

However, add-ins can cause the issue, to fix that issue you should disable the add-ins as described step-by-step procedure above.

If the problem exists yet, then you should enable the add-ins and try to fix it with another method.

Access Outlook in Safe Mode

• First of all, open the Run dialogue box.
• Type Outlook/safe and tap on the Ok button. 
• Next select profile window will appear. Tap on the Ok button to start Outlook.

Outlook safe mode is inbuilt settings, and all the add-ins are disabled in it. So, basically problem-related to add-ins. That’s why the problem may be resolved.

Note: Access Outlook in safe mode will not resolve the problem, but it’s a good way to resolve the problem.

Use System Restore

• First of all, click on Window + S and enter system restore.
• Choose the create a restore point option from the list of results.
• In the next wizard, some window properties will appear. Tap on the System Restore button.
• After opening the System restore windows hit the Next button to proceed.
• Now, pick show more restore point option.
• Finally, check the desired restore point and hit the Next button.

Create a New Outlook profile

• First of all, open the Control panel.
• Then, click on Mail>Show profile>choose the profile to be removed>Remove.
• While creating the profile, tap on the Add option to troubleshoot the “Outlook crashes when opening emails with attachment” issue.
• Now enter the name of the new profile. Enter a user name, Password, and Primary SMTP address. Then click on the Next button.
• Next, you will receive the prompt message, here enter the valid login credentials and Hit on the Ok button.

Recover Corrupt PST File 

If you are using IMAP or POP settings, to solve the problems in the PST file, close the Outlook application, then follow the below steps: 

• First of all, click the Window+R key to open the run command.
• Then, enter the below path and tap on the OK button.

      C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16

Note: This path is only for Outlook 2016.

• Next, double-click the SCANPST.EXE to open the Microsoft Outlook inbox repair.

• Now, tap on the Browse button. 
• Then, find the PST file that you want to repair and tap the Open button.
• Next, click on the start button.
• Pick the “Make a backup of scanned file before repairing” option as per your need. 
• Now, tap on the Repair button.

After completing the above steps, Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair Tool will scan and repair the PST files. After completing the repairing process, launch Outlook and use it.

Note: If you are getting an error message “PST file is in use” then close your Outlook application and try to reassess the file again.

Still not able to Fix the Outlook Crash issue!

It means your PST file is severely corrupted due to the certain reasons that are discussed below.

• It cannot fix the oversized and critically corrupt PST file.
• Freeze and stop responding in the middle of the repair process.
• Running a tool several times makes the repair process complex and time-consuming.

To get rid of the limitations of the SCANPST.EXE method, you should opt for the PST Recovery Tool. It will help you to resolve this issue with better security and easily.

Final Words

We have discussed the fundamentals of Outlook, causes, and symptoms of the issues. After describing the different solutions to resolve the trouble of Outlook crashes when opening attachments, now you should get rid of these kinds of issues easily. We hope this article will help you to resolve your issues. Give your valuable feedback or ask further queries.

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