Microsoft Outlook is the one-stop solution to all your email needs. Outlook is really a handy tool for office based clients. However, sometimes if Outlook‘s data file is corrupted, it will deny to start.

Under such a condition, following error message appears on the screen:

Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window. The set of folders cannot be opened. The attempt to log on to Microsoft Exchange has failed.

FIX Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot Open The Outlook Window. The Set Of Folders Cannot Be Opened

The Outlook is failed to initialize due to above mentioned message. It can no longer be opened, unless we hit OK button for 3-4 times and then retry to start Outlook. But this is not a recommended workaround as it reduces the productivity.

Users facing this problem are recommended to open Outlook in compatibility mode and see if that works. Otherwise you can try the fixes suggested below.

FIX: Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot Open The Outlook Window. The Set Of Folders Cannot Be Opened.

FIX 1 – Open Outlook In Safe Mode

1. Press W8K + R and put Outlook.exe /safe in Run dialog box to open Outlook in Safe Mode. Click OK.

FIX Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot Open The Outlook Window. The Set Of Folders Cannot Be Opened

2. Next, select Profile Name as Outlook. Click OK.

FIX Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot Open The Outlook Window. The Set Of Folders Cannot Be Opened

Now you should be able to open Outlook without any error/warning. If this doesn’t helps, try FIX 2.

FIX 2 – Via Outlook Data File

1. Close Outlook completely. Open Control Panel > All Control Panel Items. Select Mail.

FIX Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot Open The Outlook Window. The Set Of Folders Cannot Be Opened

2. Next, in the Mail Setup window, click on Show Profiles button.

FIX Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot Open The Outlook Window. The Set Of Folders Cannot Be Opened

3. Moving on, in the next screen, highlight Outlook and click Properties.

FIX Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot Open The Outlook Window. The Set Of Folders Cannot Be Opened

4. Then click on Data Files option.

FIX Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot Open The Outlook Window. The Set Of Folders Cannot Be Opened

5. Under Account Settings window, on Data Files tab, select the correct Outlook .pst data file. Now click on Set as default option. Then hit Close.

FIX Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot Open The Outlook Window. The Set Of Folders Cannot Be Opened

Now try to start the Outlook window. This time it should work fine.

Go ahead and perform offline repair to Office package, if issue still persists.

Hope this helps!

4 Comments

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  • Modith

    Thank you Kapil. I spend few hours to work out a solution, before I found your article. IT was spot on. I followed your instruction and it worked perfectly. You save the day for me.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help Modith 😊

  • Kay

    Hi Kapil – I’ve tried both the above and still unable to get into outlook: I’m still getting the same Microsoft out look message. Could there be another problem?

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Try offline repair for your MS Office package: https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-repair-office-2013-offline.

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