Windows 11 Update Causes Outlook to Crash, Losing Emails
The latest Windows 11 update (KB5074109) has caused serious issues with classic Outlook, rendering it “completely unusable” for several users. After the update, many report that Outlook freezes randomly and fails to save or display emails, leading to frustration among users.
Problems Begin After January Update
Earlier this month, Outlook struggled with encrypted emails, but the January update has worsened the situation. Reports from Neowin and Microsoft’s support threads show that Outlook crashes and fails to save or open emails after the update.
Some users found that uninstalling the KB5074109 update fixes the issue temporarily. However, this solution isn’t permanent for everyone. Users will have to wait for Microsoft to release an official fix.
The Root Cause: Interference Between Windows and Cloud Data
The problem isn’t directly related to Outlook itself, but rather the way Windows interacts with cloud storage services like OneDrive and Dropbox. Microsoft’s support team explained that if Outlook stores PST files on OneDrive, the app can freeze and fail to reopen unless users terminate its process in Task Manager or restart their computers.
Additionally, users might find that sent emails don’t appear in the Sent Items folder. Furthermore, previously downloaded emails could be re-downloaded every time they open Outlook.
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What You Can Do to Fix the Issue
If you encounter problems after the January Windows 11 update, you can roll back the update to resolve the issue temporarily. Alternatively, you can switch to the new version of Outlook, which does not seem to have this bug. Microsoft is aware of the problem and is working on a fix.
For now, users who depend on classic Outlook should try the workarounds listed above until Microsoft releases a permanent solution.
