If you have a problem with Microsoft Outlook 2016 crashing when you try to start it, try the following steps.
Fix 1
- Visit Microsoft’s website to obtain and write down the “Current version” number available for Outlook 2016.
- Hold down the Windows Key, then press “R” to bring up the Windows Run dialog box.
- Type one of the following depending on your setup:
- 64-bit version, type:
"%programfiles%\Microsoft Office 15\ClientX64\OfficeClickToRun.exe" /update user updatetoversion=(version) - 32-bit version, type:
"%programfiles%\Microsoft Office 15\ClientX86\OfficeClickToRun.exe" /update user updatetoversion=(version)
where “(version)” is the version you wrote down in step 1.
- 64-bit version, type:
- When prompted, select the options to “Repair” Office.
Fix 2
- Hold down the “CTRL” key on your keyboard while opening Outlook. Hopefully, Outlook will at least open in Safe Mode.
- Select “File” > “Manage Add-Ins“.
- Now you need to disable plugins to see if they are the root of your issue. If any add-ins are enabled, select the “Disable this add-in” button.
- Click “Close“, then close Outlook.
- Restart Outlook normally. Hopefully it starts and you are problem free.
These steps have fixed Outlook a few times for me and hopefully they help you too.
Karla says
I keep getting the “aw, snap’ something went wrong message. If I reload Outlook it comes back only to snap again a few minutes later. This is a new wrinkle. I’ve already deleted my browsing history. I’m not very tech savvy so any advice will have to be in words of one syllable, and not involve me reprogramming anything. Thanks.
Gary says
Thank you! This actually fixed it!
John says
I tried this. The 1st option went OK – but the “Repair” option never came up. I entered the text as stated in the 3rd step, and the screen came back to just the email, but no message ever popped back up.
So then I went to the 2nd option and disabled all items there that were checked (about nine?) and closed, then reopened. It worked for a bit, but then I got the message again that there was a problem and Outlook would be shutting down.
Not sure what to do next.
Claire Halpin says
@Fiona Green I also had the problem that I couldn’t start Outlook in Safe mode even. The workaround I’ve found was to create a new Outlook profile – hold down the Ctrl key to start in Safe mode, but in the window that asks you which profile to use, instead of leaving it as the default profile, opt to create a new one and enter your normal email account details. It will then synchronise emails with the server (which can take a while depending on how many emails you keep) – but seemed to work for me.
If it does work, you then need to set it as your default profile – again start in safe mode, select the new profile and check the box that says Default profile.
Good luck!
John Doe says
@Fiona Green: I think you can check the version of your office installation also in Word, Excel etc. as described above…
Fiona Green says
Hi…I’m getting hacked off with Outlook crashing every time it opens (this is only a recent issue on my PC). I have tried updating Office and repairing it. I’ve tried opening it in safe mode as suggested elsewhere but it STILL crashes as I do! I can’t get into it long enough to find out which version I have and I’m at the end of my tether! Any advice or suggestions?
Nathan says
This was an amazing help, I never knew you could open a program in safe mode!
Patricia Poku says
Wow. Thank you for the help!
nunyia says
thanks this was such a help/
Sara Archbald says
Tried to delete add-ins but pop-up says add-ins is installed for all users; only can be connected, disconnected by and administrator. I AM THE SIGNED IN ADMINISTRATOR. There are no other users on this computer.
Paul Shephard says
Hi Mitch,
Just wanted to say a big thank you.
I had an ongoing Outlook crash on startup and the event viewer gave me the error that the faulting module was ucrtbase.dll. After fruitless searches specifically relating to this dll I came across your post. I didn’t realise that you could start outlook itself in safe mode; I thought that the whole PC had be rebooted in safe mode. Anyway Outlook started up fine in safe mode. I didn’t need to disable any add-ins I just restarted Outlook again normally and it worked fine.
To think I was just about to put in a support call to MS and begin the long process……