Why Does My Outlook Keep Crashing or Freezing? Common Causes & 7 Fixes

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  • Updated on March 28th, 2025

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Enterprises that are running outdated versions of Outlook are more prone to system crashes and security risks. Microsoft regularly releases updates to fix these issues. Additionally, businesses continuing to use the older version of MS Office may face compatibility issues with Windows Updates. This can cause errors like My Outlook keep crashing or Freezing. Addressing this issue manually can be challenging for non-technical users. A simpler and dependable approach is to use the Outlook PST Repair Tool. It repairs and restores emails from corrupted Outlook PST Files when Outlook keep crashing or freezing. Before troubleshooting, you need to understand why this error occurs.

Why does Microsoft Outlook keeps Crashing or Freezing?

Before we explore the solutions, we must first understand the root cause of the problem. Below are some key factors that might have led to this error:

  • Damaged Outlook Data Files: Corrupt PST or OST files may cause the Outlook application to crash or freeze.
  • Older versions of Outlook & Windows: A system that has failed to update Outlook or Windows can result in compatibility issues. 
  • Conflicting plugins in Outlook: Certain Outlook add-ins might not work well with Outlook and can lead to Outlook freezing or crashing.
  • Large PST File Size or Mailbox: Large mailbox or PST file may slow down Outlook, resulting in a crash.
  • Antivirus or Firewall interference: Security software can sometimes disrupt Outlook’s connectivity, causing it to freeze.
  • Defective Windows or Office Updates: Windows or Office Updates may have bugs, and this may disrupt Outlook’s functionality. 

Let’s head to the next section and try to implement the solutions to resolve the error.

Ways to Fix My Outlook keep Crashing & Freezing

Since we have identified the root cause, let’s proceed to the solutions to fix the error.

Troubleshoot Outlook with Safe Mode

Try restarting Outlook in Safe Mode to check if any faulty add-ins are causing this issue.

  1. Press Windows+R, type outlook.exe /safe, and hit Enter.
  2. If Outlook runs properly, disable unwanted add-ins:
  • Go to File > Options > Add-ins > Manage COM Add-ins > Go.

Install Latest Updates for Windows & Outlook

  • In Outlook, go to File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now.
  • Open Windows Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates.

Outlook keeps Closing: Try Repairing Corrupt Outlook Data Files

Corrupted or damaged PST Files can sometimes be the root cause of the Microsoft Outlook keeps crashing issue. Follow these steps to fix this: 

  1. Close the Outlook application.
  2. Locate scanpst.exe in the Office program files.
  3. Now, open Outlook, choose your PST/OST file, and click on Start to repair it.

Temporarily Disable Antivirus or Firewall

Certain antivirus programs or firewalls may block Outlook and might cause Outlook to crash. Try turning them off temporarily to check if Outlook runs properly.

Manage Mailbox Storage

Archiving helps to manage or reduce the mailbox size to fix the Outlook crashing or freezing.

  1. Open the MS Outlook application.
  2. Go to File > Info > Clean Tools > Archive.
  3. Now, choose Archive this folder and all subfolders.
  4. Select the folder that you want to archive.
  5. After that, choose a date in the Archive items older than.
  6. Click Browse to save the location and, finally, click Ok.

Repair Microsoft Office 365 application if Microsoft Outlook keeps Shutting Down

  1. Press Windows+I to open Settings.
  2. Navigate to Apps > Installed Apps.
  3. Locate Microsoft 365 (Office), click on it, and select Modify.
  4. Then, choose Quick Repair > Repair and follow the instructions. 

Create a New Outlook Profile 

  1. Open Control Panel
  2. Go to Mail > Show Profiles > Add and create a new profile with the same email account.
  3. Once the setup is complete, set this profile as the default.
  4. Now, restart Outlook and check if the issue is resolved.

Disable Hardware Acceleration in case Outlook keeps Closing

  1. Open the Outlook application.
  2. Navigate to File > Options > Outlook Options.
  3. Go to Advanced tab > Display > “Disable hardware graphics acceleration”.
  4. Click on Ok and restart Outlook.

Update Graphics Driver

  1. Press Windows+X and open Device Manager.
  2. Expand Display Adapters and right-click on your graphics driver.
  3. Choose Update Driver > Search automatically for drivers.
  4. Check if there’s any update and install it. 
  5. Restart your system and check if the issue has been resolved. 

Run Windows Store App Troubleshooter

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
  3. Find Windows Store Apps and click on Run.
  4. Now, follow the on-screen instructions and resolve the issue.
  5. Restart your PC. 

If “My Outlook keep crashing or freezing”, one of the reasons might be a corrupt PST File. The Outlook PST Repair Tool provides an effective solution to recover and repair damaged PST Files in bulk. This tool offers multiple recovery modes to handle different levels of corruption. The built-in preview feature allows users to check recovered email data before saving it. It is fully compatible with all Outlook and Windows versions. Easily repair the damaged PST Files by selecting it, scanning it, previewing the data, and finally saving it. 

Quick step-by-step procedure to fix the Microsoft Outlook keeps crashing :

  1. Download and run the tool.
  2. Then, go to Open and select the damaged PST File.
  3. Choose the type of Recovery Mode and click on the Ok button.
  4. Once the scanning is done, click on Ok.
  5. Now, preview the contents of your recovered data.
  6. Press Save to export the repaired file to your desired destination path.
  7. Lastly, click Ok.

Conclusion

Struggling with My Outlook keep crashing or freezing? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. They can be resolved with some manual fixes, such as updating drivers, disabling add-ins, repairing corrupt PST/OST Files, etc. But, they are time-consuming and may not solve the problem for the long-term. In many cases, the corrupt PST file is the root cause. Therefore, using a professional Outlook PST Repair Tool is the most reliable choice. It quickly resolves the issue with its diverse features. 

Realted Post: Outlook Crashes When Opening Attachments.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q – How to fix Outlook keep crashing?

Ans- Open Control Panel > Programs & Features > Microsoft 365 (Office) > Right-click on it and repair it.

Q – How to repair Outlook?

Ans- Exit Outlook > Search scanpst.exe in Office program files > now, open Outlook, choose your PST/OST file, and click on Start to repair it.

About The Author:

Raj is a skilled technical writer who makes complicated topics easy to understand. With experience in email and cloud migration, he creates clear and engaging content that helps readers learn about technology. His work is trusted by many and has been featured on well-known tech sites.

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