Stop pulling your hair from the head when Outlook stops between your meetings or work.
One reason Outlook hangs in the process is that Outlook has been running for many days without getting any update. But every once in a while, only updating Outlook can’t fix the error.
I tested some other methods to fix this freezing error. And trust me, these methods have proven very effective for me.
In this article, I’ll go through all the working methods to solve the Outlook hangs-on processing error.
Without skipping any part, read till the end and fix the issue ASAP.
Why Does Outlook Hang or Stuck on Processing Error Occur?
Outlook froze on processing because of damage to MS Office programs, outdated Outlook applications, network connection issues, and Add-Ins on Outlook. Large-scale working processes, damage to .PST files, or improper antivirus programs can also cause this Outlook freezing error.
A little discussion about these causes will make you better understand the freezing error.
Here are the reasons that make Outlook freeze on processing:
Damage to Microsoft Office Programs
Improper MS office installation or deletion of some critical MS Office files can create a freezing error in Outlook.
Outdated Outlook Application
Using an outdated version of MS Office creates a lot of leggings in the program, resulting in Outlook stop working on the operation.
Add-Ins on Outlook
There are some Add-Ins files in Outlook like Skype Meeting, Microsoft Exchange Add-in, and OneNote Notes about Outlook items etc. any one of these Add-Ins files can cause Outlook to stop processing in the middle.
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Problematic Network Connection
A poor network connection or an unexpected network disconnection causes Outlook to hold on to the process while you are working on it.
If the network disruption continues, Outlook will constantly show a processing on hold indication and, in addition, will create more damage to the application.
Large-scale Working Process
When users attempt to delete or move any large-scale Outlook files at a time, It fails to handle this long process. Because of this long process of work, the Outlook application froze in the process.
Malware Damaging Office PST File
Outlook application can stop functioning because of missing or damaged PST files. Malware damages these PST files, which leads to being stuck in processing.
Error Caused Antivirus programs
Antivirus programs occasionally destroy some crucial MS Office Outlook files, which stops Outlook from functioning properly and causes it to freeze.
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How to Fix Outlook Hangs or Stuck on Processing Error
There are various ways to fix the Outlook application that is constantly hanging. I ran and checked all the methods given here with my friend’s and colleague’s Outlook applications, and those worked perfectly. You can try these methods without any hesitation.
Here are the methods to fix a hanged Outlook application:
1. Start Outlook in a Safe Mood
If Outlook stops operating while running, it can be back on track by opening it in safe mode.
Here are the steps to start Outlook in a safe mode:
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager.
- Select Outlook & click End task.
- Press Windows key+R to open the Run command window.
- Type Outlook.exe /safe & click Ok.
- Type a Profile Name in the box in Choose Profile window & click Ok.
- Close the Microsoft Outlook(Safe Mode).
- Open Microsoft Outlook normally.
Now the Outlook application should run smoothly. If the error still shows up, follow the next method.
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2. Update MS Office & Outlook
Outlook performance starts to slow down & freeze more often when it lacks its required update. Updating MS Office will replace error files that are causing the problem.
Here are the steps to up update to MS Office and Outlook:
- Launch the Outlook application.
- Go to File > Account or Office Account > Account Settings.
- Click on Update Options which you will find next to Office Updates.
- Select Update Now. If you don’t find the Update Now option, you need to click Enable Update to see The Update Now option.
- Click on the Close button when You’re up to date! Window appears.
Note: It may take some time to finish the update because it’s not only updating the Outlook application but also updating the other Microsoft Office applications.
After completing the update, open the Outlook application and see whether the processing error still appears. If you can’t update MS office using any MS Office application, you need to repair your Office application first, which is given in later methods.
3. Repair Outlook PST files
The PST files can be harmed by malware or a forced shutdown of the Outlook application. Once the PST files get damaged, Outlook hangs on the screen. This unexpected Outlook stop working error can be resolved if repair is done carefully.
Here are the steps to fix Outlook PST files:
- Go to the SCANPST tool on your PC. You can locate the tool in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 or C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16 or C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office (x86)\Office15.
- Open SCANPST.
- Click on the Browse option & select the corrupted PST file you want to repair.
- Press on Start, and the tool will start to analyze the file. Once the scan is complete, a window will show up.
- Select Make a backup of scanned file before repairing to backup your file before repairing. Then Click on Repair.
Once the repair is complete, open Outlook to check if the frozen error is fixed or not.
Note: If you have more than one corrupted file, you must repair all corrupted PST files in this method.
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4. Create a New User Profile
Outlook user profile can also be the reason for Outlook stops working. Many users, including me, cleared up the freezing error by opening a new profile.
Here are the steps to create a new profile on Outlook:
- Open Control Panel & type Mail in the Control Panel search bar.
- Click on Mail.
- Select Show Profiles and then click on Add.
- Type a new Profile Name, and click Ok.
- Complete the following process by putting Name, Email Address & Password.
- Return to Mail > Show Profiles. Select the newly created profile, choose Prompt for a profile to be used & click Ok.
- Open the Outlook application & continue your work using the new profile.
If Outlook does not hang with the new profile, you can delete the old profile.
5. Repair MS Office by Quick repair & Online Repair
Using Microsoft Office for a very long time, some files could damage or gone missing. Those damages or missing files could make Outlook stop in the middle of the work. Repairing those damaged MS Office files can make Outlook back in business.
Here are the steps to repair MS Office damaged files:
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Programs > Programs and Features.
- Locate your Microsoft Office from the list.
- Right-click on it & select Change.
- Choose the Repair option & click Continue.
If a window appears with Quick Repair or Online Repair options, select Quick Repair to perform the repair action offline.
If you select Online Repair, ensure you are connected to the internet. Also, your Microsoft Office needs to be activated & you need to stay login into your Microsoft account.
- Restart your PC.
Launch the Outlook application to see if repairing Microsoft Office fixes your Outlook error.
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6. Disable Add-Ins
Some files in Add-Ins can cause the hang in the Outlook application. But it’s a little bit difficult to know which Add-Ins file is causing the error.
It’s better if you disable all the Add-Ins files from the list & check to activate one by one which file is the main culprit behind stopping your Outlook application from running.
Here are the steps to disable Add-Ins files from the Outlook application:
- Right-click on the Taskbar & select Task Manager.
- Locate Outlook, Click on the Outlook application and select End task.
- Open the Run command & type Outlook.exe /safe to open Microsoft Outlook(Safe Mode).
- Go to File > Options > Add-Ins.
- Select COM Add-ins and click Go.
- Disable all the files from COM Add-ins by clicking on the box and pressing Ok.
Now check if the Outlook freezing problem is fixed or not. To find the main Add-ins file causing the error, check one by one by turning on the Add-Ins file. Once you find the file causing the error, keep it disabled while working on the Outlook application.
7. Close Outlook from the Dialog Box
The Outlook application sometimes asks for confirmation more than once to complete any action. Subconsciously, many users forget to complete all the confirmation tasks & that task stays incomplete in the dialog box.
Because of this unfinished task, Outlook blocks other duties to perform.
By keeping open any task in the PC dialog box when the Outlook app is forcefully closed, a glitch occurs, and the task stays open in the PC taskbar. The following time users try to open Microsoft Outlook again, that dialog box glitch makes Outlook freeze.
To prevent this from happening, before closing the Outlook application, press Alt+Tab to see if any dialog box is still open or not. Close the remaining Outlook application actions before you close Outlook completely.
8. Set Outlook run to Maximum
Some users notice that when the Outlook application runs in the Normal window, Outlook often stops in the middle of the working process. But when Outlook runs in Maximum, this suddenly frozen error does not occur in the running process.
Here are the steps to keep Outlook running at Maximum:
- Close Outlook from the Task Manager and the remaining operations in the dialog box.
- Right-click on the Outlook icon & select Properties.
- Navigate to the Shortcut tab & select Maximum in the Run command.
- Click Apply > Ok.
Now, open Outlook in the usual way & perform your remaining work.
FAQs
How to create a PST file in Outlook?
To create a PST file in Outlook, you have to:
- Start the Outlook application, and go to File > Info > Account Settings.
- Click on the Account Settings option from the left side of Account Settings.
- Go to the Data Files tab and select Add
- Type any name & Click OK.
How do I unfreeze Outlook?
You can unfreeze Outlook by this: Close the frozen Outlook application from Task Manager > Type Outlook.exe /safe in the Run command window > Click Ok to open Microsoft Outlook(Safe Mode) > Exit Microsoft Outlook(Safe Mode) & normally open Outlook.
How to fix or reset Outlook navigation?
To fix or reset Outlook navigation, close Outlook, including all dialog boxes. Open the Run command window. Type Outlook.exe /resetnavpane and click OK.
How to locate Outlook PST files?
Open your MS Office Outlook. Go to File > Info > Account Settings > Account Settings. Open the Data Files tab. In the Data Files tab, you will find your PST files & their location.
Conclusion
Most of the time, this Outlook freezing happens when users try to shift many Outlook files once at a time. Sometimes, it seems Outlook froze in the process, but it’s still running in the background. Be careful with that when you are transferring huge files to another.
If you read the article from the beginning, you will know what else is causing this error & how you can fix this.
Let me know in the comment if you face any further problems regarding this issue.
