How to Restart Outlook and Fix Its Errors With Ease?

Jack

By Jack

Update on

how to restart Outlook

What if you switch on the computer only to find out that Microsoft Outlook is not working? Things can be frustrating when you cannot access your mail client, so immediate action is required.

One of the best ways to address most of the issues associated with Outlook is to restart it. So, how do you restart Outlook and resolve the issues? Let’s discuss it!

No matter how convenient the applications we use every day, they occasionally crash or cause other problems. Things can be pretty frustrating, especially if you notice such issues with Outlook, a frequently used application.

So, every computer user must know how to restart Outlook as it fixes various issues. If you are reading this article to learn how to restart Outlook, keep reading it to explain it.

With the methods we explain here, you will overcome issues like ‘Outlook not responding.’

Part 1: How to Restart Outlook If It Has Stopped?

There can be several reasons for Outlook to stop working. As we’ve mentioned initially, Outlook can work perfectly now and stop working the next moment. In most cases, a simple restart will solve that issue, and Outlook will function normally.

If Outlook is already stopped and you want to fix it, here’s what to do. In this case, we will be using the Windows Task Manager.

  • First, you should simultaneously hold the ‘Ctrl’ and ‘Alt’ keys on your keyboard with the ‘Delete’ key.
  • On the new screen, you can click on the option labeled ‘Task Manager.’
  • You can see a new window once again. This window shows the list of programs that run on the computer.
  • Choose the option labeled ‘Outlook’ and then choose ‘End Task’ from the dropdown. Outlook will be closed now.
  • You can then restart Outlook and see if it works as it worked before. However, if it doesn’t work yet, you should move to the next step and try to resolve it.
  • Press the ‘Windows’ and ‘R’ keys. Then, you will see that the ‘Run’ dialog box is opened. You can now enter the ‘outlook.exe /resetnavpane’ in the given space.
  • Then, you should hit enter; then Outlook will start.

Besides, if you are bothered by Outlook keeps asking for password issues, click to fix them now.

Part 2: What is the Process of Troubleshooting the Causes Behind Outlook Errors?

This section of our article will explain how to troubleshoot the potential causes of Outlook errors.

Also, are you facing the Outlook email view change issue? Here, we will state the possible reasons, and effective fixes for the Outlook view changed.

01. Check for the Issues Caused by ‘Add-ins.’

One of the most common causes behind the errors related to Outlook is ‘Add-ins.’ Here’s how to identify those issues.

  • Close Outlook is the first step of this process.
  • Then, as you did earlier, you should simultaneously press the ‘Windows‘ key and the ‘R‘ key on the keyboard.
  • Now, you will be able to see the ‘Run‘ dialog box.
  • In this dialog box, just type ‘Outlook /Safe.’ Be sure to leave a space after ‘Outlook‘ to make it happen.
  • Now, you can click on the option ‘Go.’
  • Choose the option called ‘File.’
  • You can then select the menu called ‘Options.’
  • Click on ‘Add-Ins.’
  • You can now click on ‘COM Add-ins‘ and then go to the option labeled ‘Go.’
  • Now, you should unmark all the checkboxes and choose the option called ‘OK.’
  • You can now restart ‘Outlook,’ It is expected to work fine by now.
  • Go to the ‘COM Add-Ins‘ option and mark the checkboxes one after the other. This way, you will get to know which of those options causes trouble. Once the issue is located, you can simply ‘Unmark‘ it.

02. Run the Diagnostics to Restart Outlook

Before processing this solution, you should back up all the Outlook files to your computer. Such an approach will ensure that you don’t lose any of those files in Outlook.

To diagnose the issues associated with Outlook, you should launch Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant.

However, you should download it separately (through the link https://aka.ms/SaRA-OutlookAdvDiagnostics. This tool can address the issue automatically and fix it without leaving any issues. This tool will diagnose and fix the problem automatically.

To fix the issue, you should follow the steps mentioned below.

  • Select Outlook and click on ‘Next.’
  • Choose ‘Outlook keeps handing or freezing‘ or ‘Outlook keeps crashing with the message Microsoft Outlook has stopped working.’
  • Be patient for a while, and the process will get completed soon. Then, you should click on ‘OK.’

03. Use Outlook under a new profile

If none of the above options have worked so far, you may try this method and resolve the issue.

  • Press the ‘Window‘ key on the keyboard and then type ‘Control Panel.’
  • Click on ‘Mail‘ and then proceed to ‘Show Profiles.’
  • You can now remove the obsolete profiles. To do that, just click on ‘Remove.’
  • Click on ‘Add‘ to start adding a new profile.
Create new outlook profile to Restart Outlook
  • Then, you should key in the new profile’s name within the ‘Profile Name.’
New outlook profile
  • You can now fill in the other details, such as user name, SMTP address, and password.
  • Click on ‘Next.’
  • You will see a different window now, and it says, ‘Allow this website to configure **yourname@domain** server settings?‘ Select the option ‘Don’t ask me about this website again.’ You should then click on ‘Allow.’
  • Key in the login details and click on ‘OK.’
  • Click on ‘Finish.’

There are many instances in which Outlook might encounter issues due to corrupted application files. If that is the case with you, none of the above solutions will work.

In other words, if corrupted files are the reason, restarting Outlook is useless. However, knowing how to restart Outlook is still handy as you can use it as the first resort.

PS: if you are experiencing issues like Outlook loading profile stuck, here are the top solutions for you.

FAQs

While it’s recommended to close other applications before restarting Outlook, you can try restarting Outlook directly and observe its performance.

No, restarting Outlook will not delete any of your emails or data. It is a safe troubleshooting step that helps resolve software-related issues.

There is no specific frequency for restarting Outlook. However, if you notice any errors or sluggish performance, restarting can be a good first step to troubleshoot the problem.

Yes, you can use the keyboard shortcut Alt+F4 to close Outlook. Then, press the Windows key and type “Outlook” to relaunch it.

If restarting Outlook doesn’t resolve the errors, you can try the other troubleshooting steps mentioned in this article. If the problem persists, you may need to seek technical assistance from Microsoft support or an IT professional.

The Bottom Line

So, that’s how to restart Outlook and make it work again without any hassle. One of the most notable aspects of those methods is that they don’t take much time.

So, be sure to follow the steps as instructed and resolve the issues with Outlook.

Jack
Jack

Ten years of experience in information and computer technology. Passionate about electronic devices, smartphones, computers, and modern technology.

THERE’S MORE TO READ.