Office Outlook is undoubtedly the best desktop email client out there for the Windows operating system. I have been using Outlook for the past few months, and all I can say is that it’s hard to switch to other email clients once you start using Outlook.
Outlook 2016/2019/365 hanging at processing, starting or loading profile screen
While launching the Outlook 2016 on my Windows 10 PC last morning, the Outlook 2016 hanged at the processing screen. After killing the program in Task Manager and launching again thrice, Outlook 2016 started without any issues. This noon, when trying to launch Outlook 2016, it hanged again, but this time at the starting screen.
If your Outlook 2016 or Outlook 365 is hanging at the processing, starting or loading profile screen, try out the following solution to fix the hanging issue.
Fix to Outlook 2016/2019/365 hanging at processing, starting or loading profile screen
Solution 1 of 2
Step 1: Simultaneously press the Windows logo and R keys on the keyboard to open Run command dialog.
Step 2: Type Outlook.exe /safe and then press Enter key to open Outlook 2016 or Outlook 365 in Safe mode.
NOTE: Be sure to add a space between Outlook.exe and /safe. Else you will get “Windows cannot find Outlook.exe/safe. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again” error.
Step 3: When you see the Choose Profile dialog, choose a profile (if you have multiple profiles), and then click OK button.
Outlook 2016 or Outlook 365 should open now without hanging.
Step 4: Close the Outlook program. Start the Outlook program again normally now. The application should now start without any issues.
Solution 2 of 2
If the above method didn’t for you, you could fix the hanging issue by creating a new Outlook data file. Here is how to do that:
Step 1: Open up the File Explorer and navigate to the following folder.
C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook
In the above path, “C” is the drive where Windows is installed, and UserName is your user account name.
NOTE: If you can’t see the AppData folder, it’s because the folder is hidden by default. In the File Explorer, click View, and then check Hidden items to view the folder.
Step 2: Right-click on your Outlook data file, click Rename and then add Backup at the end of it. For instance, if the name of the Outlook data file is [email protected], you need to rename it as [email protected] backup.
Step 3: Finally, open the Start menu and launch Outlook 2016/365. The program should now launch without hanging at processing, starting, or loading profile screen.
The Outlook program will automatically connect to the server to download all messages. You will not be asked to set up your account again.
Andrew Gillespie says
None of this worked for me but what did was that I opened Outlook in safe mode and when into add in’s and disabled the only one there and bingo fixed it straight away. Only took 4 hours : )
BenjaminCe says
removing credentials from ADAL in Credential Manager resolved my issue
J. Salazar says
The second alternative works for me.
Highly appreciated!
JS
prizsza says
first solution worked, thank you
anyone have any idea what causes this?
Kevin Davison says
I have a profile with many accounts; Office 365 business and 4 x Outlook.com, but as soon as I add my Outlook.com Office 365 Home, Outlook stops at “Loading Profile”. NONE of the solutions work, I am at my wits end!
Is/are there any advanced logs from Outlook I can use to find out what’s going on?
Thanks
Gaurav Singhal says
Thank you, the second method worked for me! Saved my precious time :)
Sunil says
switching to ‘Airplane’ mode worked for me. Thanks much!!
Julia says
Thank you! The 2nd method worked for me.
When I went to the Outlook folder, I discovered something weird. Do you mind helping me understand it?
I had 3 data files. Two are named with my current email address, and the third is named with my old email address (my company changed domains). Of the two current files, one was 16 MB in size, and the other was 3.2 GB. It looks like Outlook was trying to open the large one.
I renamed the excessively large file as you suggested and reopened Outlook. I thought Outlook would then use the smaller data file that was there. Instead it created a new one. I tried to rename the original, but got an error that it was in use (despite creating a new one). It looks like Outlook is currently accessing both of the smaller files. I also note that in the last 10 minutes, the new data file has grown to 228 MB, while the original is still 16 MB.
My questions:
1) Any ideas how that one data file got so big? I’m wondering if it’s going to happen again to the new one.
2) Any risks in deleting the excessively large data file?
3) Any risks in deleting the data file associated with my old email address? I still have emails from that old domain that I access in Outlook; I want to make sure I don’t inadvertently delete them.
4) Any thoughts about why Outlook is now writing to two different data files?
AA says
Thanks a ton!
The second method worked for me. I also got an error while renaming the file – “The action could not be completed because the file is open in Microsoft Excel”, ending Excel in taskmanager brought up Outlook immediately hence negating the need to rename the ost file.
Thanks again!
MarkOfMaine says
Windows 10 – Outlook 365 – Loading profile forever issue
I found while renaming my .ost file that “The action could not be completed because the file is open in Microsoft Publisher.”
This was weird as there was no Publisher App open. I went to Background Processes and Ended the Publisher task.
Outlook 365 then opened quickly without issue.
Antony Stinil says
Thanks Dude. I was not able to rename the file but then i killed the lync.exe from task manager and waited for few seconds and was finally able to change the file name. And again tried opening and took a little bit of time but finally my outlook opened.
Florin says
Skype was locking some files for me too. You have to kill process “Skype” from task manager, even though it may _appear_ to be closed, otherwise it will not let you delete those files.
PS
This public reply does NOT mean you can use my e-mail for any other purpose than replying to this post.
Doing otherwise will constitute GDPR infringement, and I will report it!
Neeraj says
Switching to “Airplane” mode is a perfect solution….Thanks a ton!!
Brian says
I tried renaming my .OST but the file was locked by Skype for Business. After I killed Skype, Outlook opened without issue. That might also be a fix for some other people.
Shawn says
Outlook 2016 hangs on loading profile for over 2 minutes.
NON-WORKING SOLUTIONS:
———————-
1. Creating a new Outlook profile.
2. Quick repair.
3. Full repair (gave me an error and used Microsoft’s tool to remove all office projects and re-installed everything.)
4. Deleted the Outlook folder (including all OST files) and let things get re-created.
5. Disable hardware acceleration.
6. Started outlook.exe /safe which opens fast.
7. Disabled all COM add-ins.
8. Disk Cleanup
9. All windows/office updates completed.
10. Disabled IPv6.
11. Ran the SARA (Support and Recovery Assistance) troubleshooting
12. Tried the “Run this program in compatibility mode for” on the shortcut.
WORKING SOLUTION:
———————-
Disable the following network adapters:
Microsoft Loopback Adapter
Npcap Loopback Adapter
After this, outlook would open within 5 seconds and not hang on loading profile anymore. I also you recommend to just disable any network adapter you’re not using.
OTHER THROUGHTS
—————
Why does Outlook search other network adapters?
Krishna says
Rox rocks!
The airplane mode is the only thing that worked for me. For me the default profile was crashing every time even in safe mode, and creating a new profile would hang while loading.
txlglegl says
Rox – you are the bomb! The airplane mode thing worked!
Cees Eijk says
Of all the articles, this one saved the day. Can’t thank you enough!!
rox says
Neither of these worked for me.
However – I put it into airplane mode and opened Outlook and it popped right open! Then I turned airplane mode off and boom, emails all loaded in.
Jale says
So I take it we have to play these games, because the pathetic engineers at MS Corp can’t do their job properly!
George says
Wow use safe mode instead. Great solution!
Jose Rodriguez says
Definitely works! THanks!
Daniel says
Thanks a lot for sharing!! This helped me as well.
Derek says
This is fantastic mate! You saved my life! Tons of love!