Outlook Not Responding, Stopped Working, Hangs, Freezes, or Stuck at “Processing” in Windows 10
If your Outlook email program seems to be stuck at “Processing”, or it has stopped working completely, or it is freezing or hanging frequently, there could be numerous reasons causing such an issue with your Outlook Email program in your Windows 10 computer. If you are unable to get rid of this problem no matter what you do, it is suggested to following the instructions provided in this guide to make your Outlook program up and running again.
Guide to Fix Outlook’s “Not Responding”, “Stuck at Processing”, “Freezing or Hanging” Issue in Windows 10
Start Outlook in Safe Mode to Fix “Stuck at Processing” Error
1.) To start Outlook in safe mode, close Outlook program in your Windows 10 computer.
2.) Next, go to Start option on your computer and enter Outlook.exe /safe and hit Enter on your keyboard.
3.) Then, close Outlook and open it as usual.
While performing these steps should fix the problem, however, if you find Outlook to be still stuck at the “Processing” screen, follow the steps provided below.
Make Sure There is no Dialog Box Opened?
Some of the action you perform in your Outlook program requires confirmation. For an instance, when you try to Dismiss All on a list of reminders, Outlook asks for the confirmation that if you really wish to do that. If you don’t choose an option to cancel or confirm the action in the prompted dialog box, Outlook will restrict you from doing anything else. So, check for open dialog boxes by pressing ALT + Tab. This will help you switch from window to window to check if there is any such box preventing you from accessing Outlook.
If you find no dialog box opened in your computer for Outlook, try following the next method to fix the issue.
Is Outlook Working on Something Large or Long Process?
When you try to delete or move a large number of emails at once, Outlook may seem to be hanging or freezing, which isn’t the case in reality. Performing an action on hundreds and thousands of emails at once stresses the memory of Outlook which in turn makes Outlook perform sluggishly or hang or freeze in between. In such a case, it is best to allow Outlook to complete the process before you work on other operation in your Outlook program.
If there is no such process running in your Outlook program, follow the next method to fix the issue.
Make Sure that Your Latest Windows and Office Updates
Outlook is known to work seamlessly when it is running with the latest updates. Make sure to set your Windows update to automatically download and install updates. Keeping your program up-to-date helps in fixing bugs, adds new features, and enhances its performance.
If your Outlook program is already running with the latest updates,
Repair Office Programs
If none of the above-mentioned suggestions help you fix the problem, repairing your Office program might help.
1.) Quit any Office programs that are running on your computer.
2.) Next, go to Control Panel and select Programs and Features option.
3.) From the list of installed programs, right click on the Microsoft Office (Version) and select Change option.
If repairing the Office program doesn’t solve the issue, it is suggested to follow the next method.
Repair Outlook Data Files
When you install Office on your computer, an Inbox Repair Tool (SCANPST.EXE) also gets installed. This tool can help resolve issues by scanning and repairing the Outlook Data files on your computer. For this:
1.) Close Outlook and open one of the following file locations depending on the Outlook version you are using.
- Outlook 2007: C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice1
- Outlook 2010: C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice14
- Outlook 2013: C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice15
- Outlook 2016: C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficerootOffice16
2.) Next, open SCANPST.EXE and select Browse option to locate the Outlook Data File (.pst) which you wish to scan.
3.) Select the Start option to begin scanning.
4.) If errors appear after the scan, simply select Repair option to start the process to fix them.
5.) Once the repair process gets completed, start Outlook with a profile associated with the Outlook Data File you repaired.
If even after repairing the Outlook Data Files didn’t resolve the issue, you can try fixing the error by following the next suggestion.
Create a New User Profile
The profile you create on Outlook stores numerous settings which control and manage the look and feel of Outlook. Creating a new profile and adding your email accounts to it can help fix the error.
1.) Close Outlook and select the Start option. Type Control Panel in the provided field and press Enter. Then, select User Account > Mail > Show Profiles option.
2.) Next, select Add option and enter a profile name in the Profile Name section. Select OK.
3.) Then, enter an email address and a password for the primary email account you use in your Outlook program and then follow the on-screen prompts to create the profile.
4.) Once the profile gets created, select “Prompt for a profile to be used” option under Show Profiles dialog.
5.) After that, start Outlook and select your new profile. The problem should get fixed.
If creating a new profile resolves the issue, you can get back to the Show Profiles dialog and remove your Old profile.
