Fixed: Outlook Crashes When Replying to Email

"I'm new to using Outlook for work, and it's been an interesting learning experience so far. However, I've encountered a frustrating issue recently. Whenever I attempt to reply to an email in Outlook, the application crashes. I've tried restarting both Outlook and my computer, but the problem persists. If anyone has insights into what might be causing this and how to resolve it, I would greatly appreciate your help."

Outlook crashes when replying to an email, and one possible reason for this is a corrupt delivery location or folder where the message is supposed to be delivered. This is particularly relevant if your account is configured with POP3. However, if your situation doesn't involve POP3, there are other potential reasons for this issue. Let's explore some of these possible causes:

The error statement that may popup while replying to an email is “Outlook not responding.”

Why does Outlook crash while replying to an email?

Outlook may crash while replying to an email because the delivery location or the folder where the message is going to be delivered is corrupt. This means you are trying to reply to a folder that does not exist. But you will only face this issue if your account has a POP3 configuration. But if this is not the case with you, then we are going to mention the most possible reasons. Here are some of the reasons that may lead to this issue:

• Outdated version of Outlook.
• Recently added add-ins.
• Any other instances of Outlook that are running in the background.
• Bulky mailboxes.
• Fault in Office programs.
• The conflict between an antivirus program and Outlook.
• Corrupted user profile.
• Any other program conflicts with Outlook.
• Corrupt, damaged, or broken Outlook data file
• Redirection of AppData folder to a network location

These are the potential reasons that could lead to this issue, and we've provided some known solutions that might help you resolve it quickly. For instance, if you have multiple instances of Outlook running in the background, you can try closing all of them and see if that resolves the problem.

• Update Outlook
• Update Windows
• Update MS Office
• Close all the other programs running in the background.

Please attempt all the solutions provided above and see if any of them resolve your issue. In some cases, you can use the advanced diagnostics offered by Outlook to automatically fix the problem.

To run this Outlook tool, follow the steps mentioned below:

1. First, you will need to install the Outlook Advanced Diagnostics tool (https://aka.ms/SaRA-OutlookAdvDiagnostics)
2. Once you have properly downloaded and installed the software, run it on your system by giving Run permissions.
3. Now, a report will be generated which will have the list of issues found after the scan.
4. Click on the Detailed View tab to know the configuration details of Outlook, Windows, and your computer. You can review the settings and know the causes of the problem.

If you have attempted the previously mentioned methods and are still unable to determine the cause and resolve the issue, we recommend reading further in this blog for a more comprehensive solution.

Here we are going to mention some of the solutions that may work for you.

• Run Outlook in Safe Mode:- Running Outlook in safe mode may help you to know if the add-ins were causing the issue. For this, follow the below-mentioned steps:
  1. Start with pressing the Win + R key.
  2. As the window opens, type Outlook /safe and press Enter.
  

  Once done, you will enter Safe mode; if you are able to compose an email in safe mode, then add-ins are the cause of the issue. To disable add-ins, follow the steps:

  1. Open Outlook and click on the File option.
  2. Now, select Manage Add-ins and disable them.
  

  Once done, open Outlook again and check if the problem is solved.

• Make a new user profile :- As we have mentioned that a corrupt user profile may also be the culprit behind this error. So, let's try creating a new user profile and see if it works. For this, follow the below mentioned steps:
  1. Go to the Control Panel and click on the Mail option.
  2. Now, select the Show Profiles option.
  3. In the new mail window, click on the Add button.
  4. Now type a name under the Profile Name option and click on OK.
  5. Setup the email account and check if the problem is solved now.
  If you are still facing the issue, try the next method.
• Fix Office Programs :- Outlook crashing when replying to an email can sometimes be caused by issues with Office programs. In such cases, it's a good idea to try repairing the Office programs. Follow these steps to do so:
  1. In your windows go to Settings and select Apps from the option given there.
  2. Then select Apps & features option from the Apps menu.
  3. Now, in the search tab, search for office and select MS Office.
  4. Now, click on Modify to proceed.
  5. In the next step, check the Repair option and click on Continue.
  6. Once the repair process id over, open Outlook and check if you still face the issue.
• Check for antivirus :- To counter the "Outlook Crashes When Replying to Email" error, make sure your antivirus software is not interfering with Outlook. Some antivirus software may cause conflicts which might result in crashes during email operations. Disabling your antivirus temporarily can be done to check if Outlook's performance is improving. If you fix the issue, re-visit your antivirus settings or try out our other solutions for a more permanent fix.
• Fix Outlook data file :- When you face a heavy PST file corruption, the inbuilt SCANPST utility might not suffice. Given such a situation, Kernel for Outlook PST Repair is the better option. Here's why:
  • Complete Repair: Effectively fixes any type of corruption with zero data loss.
  • Handle Multiple Files: No size limitations and can repair numerous PST files in one go.
  • Data Safety: Guarantees the original file structure remains untouched during the repair process.
  • Free Version Available: Take the trial version that allows saving up to 25 items per folder.

For critical PST issues, this tool provides a reliable, fast, and effective solution with full data integrity and easy to use interface.

• Free Download
• Buy Now

Conclusion

Outlook is a powerful email client with numerous features, but it can occasionally be prone to instability. We've explored various methods to help you resolve the issue of Outlook crashing when replying to emails. Hopefully, one of these solutions has worked for you, and you can enjoy a smoother Outlook experience. Additionally, if you encounter PST-related issues in Outlook, consider using our recommended tool to fix them easily. This tool can repair corrupt or damaged PST files and save them as healthy PST files. It offers a free trial version for repairing and previewing recovered data, allowing you to assess its effectiveness before purchasing the full license.