How do I repair Microsoft Outlook?

Answered by Michael Wilson

To repair Microsoft Outlook in versions 2010, 2013, or 2016, you can follow these steps:

1. Open Outlook and click on the “File” tab located in the top left corner of the screen.
2. In the File menu, select “Account Settings” and then choose “Account Settings” again from the drop-down menu.
3. A new window will open, showing your email accounts and profiles. Select the profile that you want to repair and click on the “Repair” button located above the account list.
4. The Repair Account window will appear, providing you with two repair options: “Automatically diagnose and repair” or “Manually repair.” It is recommended to choose the automatic repair option for most cases, as it can detect and fix common issues automatically.
5. Click on the “Next” button to proceed with the automatic repair process.
6. Outlook will now attempt to diagnose and repair any issues with your profile. This might take a few minutes, depending on the size of your mailbox and the complexity of the problem.
7. Once the repair process is complete, you will see a summary of the actions taken by the repair tool. Review the information provided and click on the “Finish” button.
8. Restart Outlook to apply the repaired profile.

It is worth mentioning that the repair process may vary slightly depending on the version of Outlook you are using, but the general steps should remain the same.

If the automatic repair option does not resolve your issue, you may need to manually repair your profile. This involves recreating the profile from scratch, which can be a bit more involved. Here are the steps to manually repair your profile:

1. Close Outlook completely.
2. Go to the Control Panel on your computer and search for “Mail” or “Mail (32-bit)” and open the “Mail” option.
3. In the Mail Setup window, click on the “Show Profiles” button.
4. Select your existing profile and click on the “Remove” button to delete it. Note that this will remove all email accounts associated with the profile, so make sure to backup any important data beforehand.
5. Once the profile is removed, click on the “Add” button to create a new profile.
6. Enter a name for your new profile and click on the “OK” button.
7. Follow the prompts to add your email account(s) to the new profile. You will need to provide your email address, password, and other necessary account information.
8. Once you have added all your email accounts, click on the “Finish” button to complete the setup.
9. Open Outlook and test if the new profile is functioning correctly. If everything is working as expected, you can safely remove the old profile from the Mail Setup window.

Remember to keep a backup of your important emails, contacts, and other data before performing any repair actions, as there is a slight possibility of data loss during the process.

Repairing Microsoft Outlook can be done automatically using the built-in repair tool or manually by recreating the profile. The automatic repair option is recommended for most cases, while manual repair may be necessary in more complex situations. Following the steps provided, you should be able to repair your Outlook profile and resolve any issues you may be experiencing.