Outlook Profile Cannot Load

The error “Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window” or “The set of folders cannot be opened” prevents Outlook from launching entirely. These errors indicate that your Outlook profile has become corrupted or the associated data file is inaccessible. This guide walks you through restoring access.

Step 1: Understand the Profile Error Messages

Different error variations point to different root causes.

• “Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window. The set of folders cannot be opened.” — Corrupted navigation pane settings or inaccessible data file.
• “The information store could not be opened.” — The PST or OST file linked to your profile is damaged or missing.
• “An unknown error has occurred. 0x80040600” — Severe data file corruption requiring repair.
• “Cannot open your default email folders. The file C:\Users…\Outlook.pst is not a personal folders file.” — The PST header is corrupted or the file has been moved.
• “The operation failed. An object could not be found.” — Profile configuration references a deleted or moved data file.

Note the exact error message before proceeding, as it determines which fix to apply.

Step 2: Reset the Outlook Navigation Pane

The most common cause of the “Cannot start” error is a corrupted profile.xml file.

1. Close any Outlook error dialogs.
2. Press Win+R to open the Run dialog.
3. Type the following command and press Enter:

outlook.exe /resetnavpane

4. This resets the navigation pane configuration to its default state.
5. If Outlook opens successfully, the issue is resolved.
6. If the error persists, try resetting with additional switches:

outlook.exe /resetnavpane /resetfoldernames

7. If you still cannot open Outlook, proceed to create a new profile.

Step 3: Create a New Outlook Profile

Creating a fresh profile bypasses all corrupted profile configuration data.

1. Open the Control Panel (not Windows Settings).
2. Search for and open Mail (Microsoft Outlook).
3. Click Show Profiles.
4. Click Add and enter a name for the new profile (e.g., “New Profile”).
5. Follow the Auto Account Setup wizard:
   • Enter your name, email address, and password
   • Click Next and wait for auto-configuration to complete
6. Once the new profile is created, select it in the profile list.
7. Set Always use this profile and choose your new profile from the dropdown.
8. Click OK and open Outlook.
9. If Outlook opens successfully with the new profile:
   • Your old profile was corrupted
   • You can delete the old profile from the same Show Profiles dialog
   • Any local PST files from the old profile can be re-added via File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File

Step 4: Repair the Default Data File

If the error references a specific data file, repair it before creating a new profile.

1. Locate your data file path from the error message, or find it at:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Outlook\

2. Run the Inbox Repair Tool (SCANPST.EXE):
   • Navigate to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\SCANPST.EXE
   • Click Browse and select the file mentioned in the error
   • Click Start to scan for errors
3. If errors are detected, check Make backup of scanned file and click Repair.
4. Run the tool up to 4 passes until it reports no errors.
5. Try opening Outlook again.
6. If the data file cannot be repaired:
   • Rename the damaged file (e.g., Outlook.pst to Outlook.pst.old)
   • Create a new profile (Step 3 above) — Outlook will create a new data file automatically
   • Import recoverable data from the old file using File > Open & Export > Import/Export

~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/Outlook/Outlook 15 Profiles/