Outlook freezes mid-email, displays “Not Responding” for minutes at a time, or closes itself entirely without warning. Outlook crashing like this is disruptive enough on its own, and what makes it more frustrating is that the cause isn’t always something wrong with your setup. There have been a couple of confirmed crashes of Outlook in 2026, specifically related to certain Windows and Office updates, not just generic instability. Here’s how to check for that first, then work through the fixes that actually resolve the more common causes.

What Causes Outlook to Keep Crashing

The single most common reason for these crashes is typically a corrupt or incompatible Add-In, particularly those that have been added or updated recently. Beyond that, a corrupted PST or OST data file, a damaged Outlook profile, general Office or Windows instability, and outdated graphics drivers can all contribute. Less commonly but still worth checking, a specific bad update has caused widespread, documented Outlook crashes throughout 2026 and needs a different response.

Check Microsoft’s Known Issues Page First

Before working through generic troubleshooting, check whether your crash matches a specific, already-identified bug. Microsoft maintains an official “Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in classic Outlook for Windows” page, updated as recently as August 2026, that lists current and recently resolved Outlook problems with their specific causes and fixes. Checking this resource will help you to immediately identify possible fixes for your problem and can therefore save you time. For instance, there was a widely reported crash in Outlook caused by a January 2026 Windows update, which was fixed using a specific fix, and a March 2026 issue caused classic Outlook to crash and reopen in Safe Mode due to a conflict with the Teams Meeting Add-in. If your crash started right after a Windows or Office update, this page is worth checking before anything else.

How to Fix Outlook Crashing

Fix 1: Close All Outlook Processes and Restart Cleanly

A partially closed Outlook process can cause the next launch to behave unpredictably.

1. Launch Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
2. Look through processes under the Processes tab, find all Outlook processes, right-click on each one, and select “End Task”
   
3. Reopen Outlook normally.

Fix 2: Start Outlook in Safe Mode to Isolate Add-ins

This isolates whether an add-in is the cause before you touch anything else. Running Outlook in Safe Mode this way disables every add-in temporarily so you can see if the crashes stop.

1. Press the Windows key + R, type outlook.exe /safe, and hit Enter.
   
   
2. Use Outlook normally for a little while in this mode.
3. If it does not crash, then one or more of your add-ins is most certainly the culprit, and Fix 3 is your next step.

Fix 3: Disable or Remove Problematic Add-ins

1. Go to File, then Options, then Add-ins.
2. Select COM Add-ins from the Manage dropdown and click Go.
   
3. Uncheck all add-ins, restart Outlook normally, and confirm it’s stable.
   
4. If Outlook is now running without problems, turn on one add-in at a time, restarting between each, until you identify the add-in that is crashing your Outlook application.

Fix 4: Repair Your Outlook Data File

A corrupted PST or OST file can cause crashes tied to specific folders or emails.

1. Close Outlook completely.
2.  Find and run SCANPST.EXE, which is the Inbox Repair Tool, typically found under the Office installation folder.
3. Browse to your PST/OST file, look for it in the Outlook files folder, and click Start.
4. Let it scan and repair any errors found, then reopen Outlook.

Fix 5: Create a New Outlook Profile

A damaged profile can cause persistent crashes even after other fixes.

1. Go to the Control Panel, then Mail, then Show Profiles.
   
   
2. Click Add, in order for Outlook to create a new profile, then follow the prompts.
3.  Set the new profile as default, then restart Outlook.

Fix 6: Repair Your Office Installation

1. Go to the Control Panel, then Programs and Features (or Installed Apps in Windows 11).
2. Find Microsoft Office, click Change, and select Quick Repair first.
   Office Professional
   
3. If you are still experiencing crashes, run the same process again and select Online Repair; this option is more thorough but takes longer.

Fix 7: Update Your Graphics Driver

An outdated graphics driver can affect Outlook’s rendering and overall stability, particularly after a major Windows update.

1. Right-click the Start button and open Device Manager.
   
2. Expand Display adapters, right-click your GPU, and select Update driver.
   

If Device Manager can not find a newer version, Advanced Driver Updater from Systweak can scan for the correct one instead. Once you have opened the Advanced Driver Updater, select “Start Scan Now”. Click on “Update Now” next to your graphics driver once it’s flagged. Restart your PC and check whether Outlook’s stability improves.

Frequently Asked Questions

The bottom line

Outlook crashing usually comes down to a problematic add-in, a corrupted data file or profile, or occasionally a specific bad update Microsoft has already documented and fixed. Check Microsoft’s known issues page first if the crashes started after an update. Then proceed to troubleshooting in safe mode, disabling all add-ins, repairing any damaged data files, etc. If none of those steps resolve the issue, you will need to consider rebuilding your entire profile or reinstalling Office.