Office Outlook

Sync Errors

• https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=microsoft+outlook+synchronisations+errors&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB&gws_rd=ssl#cr=countryUK%7CcountryGB&tbs=ctr:countryUK%7CcountryGB&q=microsoft+outlook+synchronization+errors
• https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/2991453
• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook_com/forum/all/outlook-2016-imap-inbox-not-syncing/24d5a72a-6810-4f87-b2bf-33b821c34918
• https://www.technewstoday.com/fix-outlook-365-not-syncing/
• https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-365/emails-in-inbox-not-syncing/m-p/2265008
• https://superuser.com/questions/1632843/outlook-2019-not-syncing-with-imap-account-inboxes-unless-manually-focussed-on
• https://www.nucleustechnologies.com/blog/fix-imap-synchronization-issues-in-outlook-2013-and-office-365/

Sync Basics

• https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/sync-basics-what-you-can-and-cannot-sync-5537d587-4930-4ac2-b044-3568509b1294

Memo To Self 1

If setting up an Exchange account in Outlook that will also be used to check IMAP accounts; set up the Exchange account first...

Memo To Self 2

If the client is not using Exchange then beat them with a big stick until they agree to use Mozilla Thunderbird. No I'm not joking.

HOWTO | INFO

Export Contact Group

While it is possible to export address books in Outlook, any contact groups within said address books will not be exported. To get around this problem, Microsoft from Office version 2016 onwards have made it possible to email contact groups:

• https://www.officetooltips.com/outlook_2016/tips/sharing_contact_groups_in_outlook.html
• https://www.extendoffice.com/documents/outlook/1730-outlook-extract-export-distribution-list-as-csv-to-excel.html

Windows 11 Issues

If while attempting to create a new account in Outlook on Windows 11 the setup fails for any reason, a new account is created, even if you cancel the process. However, it does this off-screen. So when the setup process finally completes, you will find a duplicate of the account, the only problem is that you cannot delete it...

The only way to remove it is to create a new profile and start again, then delete the original profile. This is alright if it is a new setup, not so good if you are adding another account to a profile.

Bypass Oauth Process

Basically, this way of doing things by-passes the need to go through the Oauth authentication process:

• Sign-in to https://www.google.com
• Click on your avatar icon in the top right-hand corner
• From the dropdown, click on 'Manage your Google Account'
• In the left-hand menu, click on 'Security'
• In the 'Signing in to Google' click on 'App passwords'
• Use the 'Select App' dropdown for the type of app you want to create a password for
• Then use the 'Select device' dropdown for the type of device
• Click the 'Generate' button
• Record the password displayed on screen at this point, as after clicking on 'Done' the password is no longer visible and there is no way to display it.

2023-03-10 - Well dispite the fact that I used this method about three weeks ago this no longer works. This is because Google dropped support in May 2022.

Outlook Contacts vs. Contacts (This Computer Only)

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook_com/forum/all/outlook-contacts-vs-contacts-this-computer-only/8ca64a75-b901-41f1-9655-cc113b4b2763

Start Outlook

To open the Profile Manager in order to add email accounts instead of using the 'helpful wizard'...

outlook.exe /manageprofiles

Re-entering Password - Windows 10 / Office 365

If you need to re-enter an account password you are only able to do so via the Mail entry in the control panel, not from inside Outlook itself.

2 Step Verification For Gmail

Older versions of Outlook do not support OAuth, see this guide to circumvent the issue:

https://www.msoutlook.info/question/902

Auto-Archiving - 2010 Onwards

http://blink.ucsd.edu/technology/email/tasks/otlk13-clean-up-mailbox.html#Manually-running-Auto-Archive

Convert MSG Files To EML In Linux

sudo aptitude install libemail-outlook-message-perl libemail-sender-perl

msgconvert *.msg

Thanks to Superuser.com

RUN "Test E-mail AutoConfiguration"

http://blog.shipshapeit.com/microsoft-exchange-out-of-office-replies-not-working-try-this/

Reset Navigation Pane

Outlook.exe /resetnavpane

Start In Safe Mode

Outlook.exe /safe

Run Pst Repair Tool (PLUS Locating It)

The Inbox Repair tool; which attempts repairs to the entire .PST file not just the Inbox is installed with all English-language versions of Outlook. Its installation location depending on your operating system.

Microsoft Windows NT and Microsoft Windows 2000:

• C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Mapi\1033\NT

Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Windows 98:

• C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Mapi\1033\95

The Inbox Repair Tool installs automatically during Microsoft Outlook 2002 and Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 setup. However unlike the Office 97 version of the tool, Microsoft Office 2000 does not place the Inbox Repair tool on a menu. To use the Inbox Repair tool, locate one of the folders by using Microsoft Windows Explorer, and then double-click the Scanpst.exe file.

Outlook 2002 & Office 2003

• C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Mapi\1033\
• C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\1033

Outlook 2007

• C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12
• C:\Program Files(x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12

Outlook 2010

• C;\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14
• C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office(x86)\Office14

Outlook 2013:

• C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 15\Office15
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15

To run the Inbox Repair Tool, follow these steps:

• Click Start, and then point to Find or to Search, depending upon your operating system.
• In the Search for files or folders named box, type scanpst.exe
• Note If you cannot find the Scanpst.exe file in the Search box, try to locate the file manually.
• Double click the Scanpst.exe file to open the Inbox Repair Tool.
• Type the path and the file name of the personal folders (.pst) file or click Browse to locate the file by using the Windows file system.
• Click Start.

Thanks to Microsoft Support.

Resend An Message (2010 & 2013)

• Select Mail, then in the Navigation Pane, click on Sent Items.
• Double-click the message that you want to resend.
• Click on the Message tab, then Move group, click Actions, and then click Resend This Message.

A new message window opens showing the original recipient(s) and message. It is possible to both remove or add recipients at this point

• Click Send.

Note: It is not possible to resend multiple messages they can only be done one at a time.

Redirect Sent Messages To A Different Folder Than The Default (2007, 2010, 2013)

• Open a new message
• From the menu click on 'Options' tab then the 'Save Sent Item To' button
• Browse and select the desired folder

Thanks to Slipstick.

Create A New E-Mail Profile For Outlook

Version affected: Microsoft Outlook 2000 Standard Edition

If you are using the Internet Mail Only (IMO) installation of Outlook, you can resolve this behavior by editing the Windows Registry: WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

• Quit Outlook
• Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe)
• Locate the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\Microsoft Outlook Internet Settings\

• Locate the registry key that contains the old personal folders entry, right-click the key in the right pane, and then click Delete.
• Quit Registry Editor, and then restart Outlook.

Move Accounts To New Computer

• https://tc-itservices.com/microsoft/export-outlook-account-settings-to-another-computer/

Copy Auto-Complete List

• https://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/24813-copy-the-outlook-autocomplete-list-to-another-computer
• http://blog.shiraj.com/2012/04/how-to-export-outlook-profiles-from-one-computer-into-another/

Unified Inbox

• https://www.slipstick.com/how-to-outlook/how-to-create-a-unified-inbox/

HOWTO: ENABLE:

Synchronization Of Calendar With Google Calendar

Outlook Google Calendar Sync

• Supports Outlook 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016 (32 and 64 bit).
• Installable and portable options

Synchronization Of Contacts With Google Contacts

GO Contact Sync Mod

Supports Outlook 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016 (32 and 64 bit).

Out Of Office Replay

If you are not using an Exchange server or similar it is still possible to set Outlook to auto-reply to emails. Once set up the computer involved must remain powered on and Outlook must remain open.

Use the following guides a text explanation or a set of screenshots.

The guide also tells you how to disable the auto-reply service.

Always Show BCC

• https://www.ehowportal.com/show-bcc-field-in-microsoft-outlook/
• https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/show-hide-and-view-the-blind-carbon-copy-bcc-field-04304e27-63a2-4276-8884-5077fba0e229?ui=en-us&rs=en-us&ad=us

HOWTO | DISABLE:

Simplified Account Creation

How to disable Simplified Account Creation in Outlook 2016, Outlook 2019 and Outlook for Office 365

Junk E-Mail Filtering

Disable it as follows:-

• Actions
• Junk E-mail
• Junk E-mail Options
• Select No automatic filtering
• Press OK

HOWTO | SIGNATURES

Backup

For each signature created using the Outlook editor three files are generated, .rtf, .htm, and .txt and all need to be copied.

NOTE: Just copying the signatures to a new installation does not activate them so you will need to select them within the programme.

Location of signature files:

Office 2003/2007/2010/2013

Windows XP

• C:\Documents and Settings\%userprofile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Signatures

Windows Vista & 7 & 8

• C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Signatures

Create: Up To Outlook 2010

From the 'Tools' menu in the main Microsoft Outlook window, click 'Options', and then click tab 'Mail Format'.

In the Compose in this message format list, click the message format that you want to use the signature with.

Under Signature, click Signatures, and then click New.

In the Enter a name for your new signature box, enter a name.

Under Choose how to create your signature, select the option you want.

Click 'Next'.

In the Signature text box, type the text you want to include in the signature.

You can also paste text to this box from another document.

To change the paragraph or font format, select the text, click Font or Paragraph, and then select the options you want. These options are not available if you use plain text as your message format.

To add an electronic business card — vCard — to the signature, under vCard options, select a vCard from the list, or click New vCard from Contact.

Click Finish when you are done editing the new signature.

Create: 2013 Onwards

To access the signature creator open a new message and the option is available in the ribbon menu.

HOWTO | FIX

Address AutoComplete Not Working

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/troubleshoot/contacts/autocomplete-not-working-correctly-in-outlook-2010
• https://www.slipstick.com/outlook/autocomplete-opens-upward-outlook/
• https://www.groovypost.com/howto/fix-slow-outlook-email-address-auto-complete/

Cannot Sign In To Office Mobile Using An Android Device

• https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/you-can-t-sign-in-to-office-mobile-by-using-an-android-device-156c048d-79e4-4278-84a1-60dec34fa16b?ui=en-us&rs=en-gb&ad=gb

Error Message: "Your Out-of-Office settings cannot be displayed, because the server is currently unavailable. Try again later."

Versions: 2007, 2010 & 2013

When attempting to open the Out of Office Assistant in Outlook 2010 you receive the message above.

• Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
• Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\office_version\Outlook\Security
• On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) Value.
• Type WinhttpAuth, and then press ENTER.
• In the Details pane, right-click WinhttpAuth, and then click Modify.
• In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
• Exit Registry Editor.

Thanks to Microsoft, Pete Net Live and MSOutlookInfo.

Error Message: "Cannot start Microsoft Office Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window."

Using the 'Run' box enter the following and click 'OK':

Outlook.exe /resetnavpane

Error Message: "The operation failed. An object could not be found."

Version affected: Outlook 2002 Standard Edition, Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007

When you click Send and Receive in Microsoft Outlook, the following error message may appear:

The operation failed. An object could not be found.

To resolve this behaviour, create a new profile by undertaking the follow steps:

• Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
• Double-click the Mail icon.
• In the Mail Setup dialog box, click Show Profiles.

NOTE: If you want to be able to select a specific profile each time you start Outlook, click the General tab, click Prompt for a profile to be used, and then click Add.

• In the New Profile dialog box, under Profile Name, type a descriptive name for the new profile, and then click OK.
• In the E-mail Accounts dialog box, select Add a new e-mail account in the e-mail options, and then click Next.
• Click the type of server that your e-mail account works with, and then click Next.
• Complete all of the required fields, including those that are on the tabs that appear after you click More Settings.
• When you finish providing the required information, click Finish.

By default, Outlook Address Book and personal folders (.pst) files are automatically added to each new profile, except in Microsoft Exchange Server.

Thanks to Microsoft Support.

Failing To Open

If when you attempt to open Outlook it hangs take the following steps:

Scan the users .pst file using 'scanpst.exe' which is usually found here:

• C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\1033\NT

If this does not yield results rename the Outlook folder found here:

• C:\Documents and Settings\User_Name\Application Data\Microsoft\

Of course your best option is not to run Outlook at all, use an alternative like Thunderbird

Opening In Safe Mode

When Outlook hangs right at the beginning and works with safe, the following three seem to come to the top of the list as being the culprit.

• Rename/Delete outcmd.dat (responsible for menu/toolbar changes)
• The first message the preview pane hits when Outlook starts is corrupt. Run SCANPST.EXE against your *.PST file to rule out corruption. If it still happens, move/delete the first message Outlook would try to display in the preview pane.
• An addin is giving you headaches. Go to Tools | Options | Other | Advanced Options and review/disable the items listed under AddIn Manager and COM Addins.

Details for the above article found here.

Unable To Delete/Dismiss Reminders

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_2007-outlook/unable-to-dismiss-or-delete-an-outlook-calendar/f1e3d297-24ca-4721-8788-1f11e811cc21

Phantom Emails Unable To Be Sent

When shutting Outlook, a message is displayed, "You have messages in your Outbox waiting to be sent", even though it appears to be empty. This can be down to 'invisible' read receipts.

• https://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/deletereadreceipt.htm#mfcmapi
• https://github.com/stephenegriffin/mfcmapi/releases/tag/21.0.21127.03
• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook_com/forum/all/outlook-365-keeps-trying-to-send-emails-that-dont/cf1f0ae1-f0e0-4ed6-8f68-6b27261c364d

Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA)

This replaces the Microsoft Office Configuration Analyzer Tool as of June 2018.

A product description can be seen here

It can be downloaded here.

To Follow Up

• https://www.telesign.com/turnon2fa/tutorials/how-to-turn-on-2fa-for-outlook/ 2FA
• https://www.nucleustechnologies.com/blog/solve-oversized-ost-file-issues-in-outlook-using-manual-tricks/
• https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/reduce-the-size-of-your-mailbox-and-outlook-data-files-pst-and-ost-e4c6a4f1-d39c-47dc-a4fa-abe96dc8c7ef?ui=en-us&rs=en-us&ad=us
• https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/reduce-the-size-of-your-mailbox-and-outlook-data-files-pst-and-ost-e4c6a4f1-d39c-47dc-a4fa-abe96dc8c7ef?ui=en-us&rs=en-us&ad=us
• https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/use-conversation-clean-up-to-delete-redundant-messages-70179d54-fa57-48ce-95fd-416d72e5ccd4?ui=en-us&rs=en-us&ad=us

• https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/2029075-outlook-freezing-frequently
• https://forum.eset.com/topic/22459-outlook-detected-items-folder-behaving-strangely/

Settings

Email Settings for Hotmail

Incoming Server – IMAP

Server: imap-mail.outlook.com Port: 993 Security: SSL/TLS Username: Your full email address Password: Your password

Outgoing Server – SMTP

Server: smtp-mail.outlook.com Port: 587 Security: STARTTLS Username: Your full email address Password: Your password