Resolve Unknown Error Code 0x8000ffff in Outlook 2016

Suppose you are trying to add a PST file to your Outlook account, but instead Outlook shows the “An unknown error occurred, error code: 0x8000ffff”. If you’ve got no idea why it occurs, it can be quite confusing to deal with it. Instead of assuming this is a PST corruption issue, you must understand the reasons behind this error in the first place. We’ll discuss this issue in detail, from why it occurs to how to fix it as soon as possible.

Why Does the Outlook Error 0x8000ffff Appear?

The user may face the above error when they try to add a new data file through the Mail applet in the Control Panel. Other causes for this error include:

• You might face this error if you try adding a PST file via the Mail applet in Control Panel. This is a known limitation of Outlook 2016 that gives rise to this error code.
• If your Office program isn’t set up properly, it can interfere with Outlook’s functioning leading to this Outlook unknown error issue.
• Corruption in an existing PST file that you’re trying to add in Outlook can also give rise to the error code 0x8000ffff.
• Incorrectly configured Outlook profile can also interrupt user’s from adding PST files to their Outlook account.

How to Fix Outlook Unknown Error Code 0x8000ffff?

We are going to mention a few methods that you can try to fix Outlook Error 0x8000ffff:

Method 1: Add Outlook Data File via Account Settings

You can try to add data files in Outlook via Account Settings. Since Outlook error 0x8000ffff occurs only when a profile is added through Mail applet, the below given method completely bypasses that particular method. Let’s see how to do it, step by step:

Step 1: Open Outlook and go to the File tab.

Step 2: Now, click on the Account Settings option, and you will see a dropdown list; from there, select Account Settings.

Step 3: Now, select the Data Files tab and click on Add button.

Step 4: Choose the PST file you want to add to Outlook and click on OK.

Step 5: Once the PST file is added, click on the Close button. Try opening the added PST to see if you can access its components.

Method 2: Create New Outlook Profile

If you’re having trouble accessing your current Outlook profile, try to create a new Outlook profile and then add the data file in it. Doing so can also help you determine whether this error is occurring because of an issue within your Outlook profile or if the data file being added is causing this error.

If the error code 0x8000ffff is occurring because of an issue within your Outlook profile, creating a new profile should resolve this error. Follow the steps below to add a new profile in Outlook:

Step 1: Close all instances of Outlook running in the background.

Step 2: Open Control Panel and click on Mail (Microsoft Outlook).

Step 3: Click on Show Profiles in the newly opened window.

Step 4: In the Mail dialog box, click on Add and then input a name for your new profile.

Step 5: In the Add account window, click on Email Account option, enter Your Name & Email Address, and click Next.

Step 6: Follow the instructions given on the screen and wait for the configuration to complete, then click on Finish.

Step 7: Your new profile has been created successfully. Click OK to close the dialog box and access this profile in Outlook.

Method 3: Repair Corrupt PST Using ScanPST.exe

If you encounter the Outlook unknown error 0x8000ffff when you try to add an existing PST file, it’s possible that the PST file is damaged. You can try to repair it with the help of the Inbox Repair Tool and then check if the “Catastrophic failure” error has been resolved or not. Follow the steps to repair your PST with ScanPST.exe:

• Locate ScanPST.exe on your PC and launch it.
• Click on Browse to add the corrupted PST file from your PC and press Start.
• The Inbox Repair Tool will scan the PST for corruption and start the repair process.
• Once repaired, try adding the PST file in Outlook again.

Important Note: ScanPST.exe can only help in resolving the Outlook unknown error 0x8000ffff only if the reason for it is a corrupt PST file.

Is Scanpst.exe Unable to Repair Your Files?

If ScanPST.exe is unable to repair your PST files, they might be severely corrupted or damaged. If your Outlook still shows Catastrophic error 0x8000ffff after repairing your PST files with the Inbox Repair Tool, you should consider trying a trusted PST Repair software to scan your data files for corruption and repair them quickly.

Kernel for Outlook PST Repair can help in this case, as it fixes inaccessible, damaged, and even encrypted PST files that can’t be recovered using ScanPST.exe. You can easily preview the data of the added PST files before repair and save them to a location of your choice.

Wrapping Up

Outlook can encounter ‘An unknown error occurred, error code: 0x8000ffff’. These errors can mess up Outlook’s functionality. This error in Outlook occurs when you try to add data files via the Mail applet in Control Panel. This blog has discussed all the common reasons and the workarounds to fix this error. It’s not the only reason, but corruption in an existing PST file can also be the reason why the data file can’t be added in Outlook.

Try to fix your corrupted PST file with the ScanPST.exe utility and try adding it in Outlook again. For severe PST corruption related issues, opt for the recommended utility.

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Aaruni AroraTechnical Writer

This article is written by Aaruni Arora, a technical content writer at Kernel Data Recovery. This content has been reviewed in accordance with our editorial guidelines.