If your Microsoft Outlook stops responding, there can be multiple causes. If you open or close Microsoft Outlook, reply to an email, switch between folders, or upload or download an attachment, the problem will occur. Responding to an important email often causes this issue. Let’s look at some of the reasons why Microsoft Outlook might seem to be frozen or not responding.
Some of these include a temporary glitch; A third-party program that runs simultaneously with Microsoft Outlook; synchronization in progress; an oversized PST file; antivirus software; the IMAPExchange account; Outlook registry entries; and a virus or malware infection. Let’s start fixing Outlook now that you are aware of the causes.
Are you Experiencing this Issue for the First Time?
This tweak may help if your Outlook has stopped responding for the first time, some time you will see the erors like [pii_email_3ceeb7dd155a01a6455b]. If you’re using Windows 7, you can open Task Manager by pressing the CTRL, ALT, and Delete keys together or by right-clicking anywhere on the taskbar. Choose the Outlook.exe process from the Processes tab, click End Process, and it will be ended. Click on the Close button. Your computer needs to be rebooted now. Check whether Outlook is working after the computer has rebooted fully.
Second Case: Third-Party Applications
If you are using Outlook along with another application, close it. After you close the program, Outlook should work normally. Microsoft Outlook can be frozen by third-party software such as antivirus software, firewalls, add-ins, plug-ins, and toolbars. Due to the security and privacy settings that antivirus, anti-spyware, and firewall programs configure to prevent unauthorized intrusions on your data and privacy, they can sometimes prevent Outlook from enabling you to send email or receiving emails.
If you’re Outlook or Outlook add-ins is not in the trusted zones, configure your security program to add them. After installing an Outlook add-in (whether Microsoft or third-party) and then manually stopping Outlook, remove the add-in. If Outlook is not working, check to see if it has started. Install updates and patches if it has been updated. If still no response is received, uninstall the add-in and install one from a different company. In some cases, software add-ins may not have been properly written by their publishers.
‘Case 3’ Is An Oversized PST
The email or other items in Microsoft Outlook are archived automatically. Microsoft Outlook is more efficient when you archive your mailboxes. Because archiving is a resource-consuming process, Outlook can freeze when larger files are open, pending tasks such as email are pending, and programs are running simultaneously. In similar fashion to archiving, synchronization consumes a great deal of resources. In order for Microsoft Outlook not to stop responding, please allow it to finish any pending tasks.
Furthermore, do not add anymore clicks and do not start any new tasks before you begin archiving and synchronizing. The fact that PST files (files that store all the Outlook data) or mailboxes are too large can cause Outlook to stop working properly.
Keeping your mailbox items archived regularly will prevent this issue. It is advisable to delete any unnecessary attachments. A large .pst file should be broken down into several small ones. I recommend creating multiple small .pst files and dividing your Outlook data between them. Additionally, make sure you regularly backup your .pst files to prevent data loss due to viruses or other issues such as [pii_email_b02030edf01c934e4ab8].
Case 4: Entries in the Registry are not Working
When your Microsoft Outlook registry entries are corrupt, your program may not respond when you click. Registry entries that have been damaged must be repaired. Install a free registry repair program on your computer by downloading it from a trusted website. This is a sensitive and risky procedure, and we do not recommend that you repair register entries manually.
Changing the registry in the wrong way can permanently damage your computer. Therefore, make sure you repair them with a registry repair tool. Make a backup of the system before running the registry repair program. You can do this in the event that anything goes wrong, thus restoring your computer to its previous state. Start the program, and when it finishes, run the registry fixer program.
Information Added:
Your antivirus program may prevent emails from being sent automatically if you have set up an auto responder or scheduled some to be sent automatically. It is because some antivirus programs identify attempts to send or download auto-emails as phishing, spam, or virus carriers, and thus block them. You should also remove any virus-carrying emails from your mailbox if you suspect that they have caused your Outlook program to hang.
Download and update your antivirus software! Below are instructions on how to do so. You should scan your computer for viruses afterwards. If any infected files were brought up during the scan, remove them. Updating your antivirus program on a regular basis is highly recommended.
