How to Fix Error: Cannot Start Microsoft Office Outlook

Errors in Microsoft Outlook are common, sometimes users get numerical errors along with pop-ups window on the screen and sometimes a long tail error's message. But, What can be worse more than it when Outlook not able to open and start showing error (at starting).

At that time you cannot open outlook window due to below error:

Error Message: Error starting Outlook "Cannot start Microsoft Office Outlook. Cannot open Outlook window"

The above given message (error) occurs when the settings of Outlook navigation pane get corrupted or there is an error in profilename.xml.

Note: profilename.xml stores all the settings of the navigation pane in Outlook and it become 0 after corruption. (profilename is the name of Outlook profile)

Now, you have been stuck in a situation where MS Outlook is not opening. To resolve this error, users should familiar with the use of "outlook.exe /resetnavpane" command.

What does Outlook.exe /resetnavpane do?

"outlook.exe /resetnavpane" command helps users to fix error occurs at starting of Outlook by resetting the navigation pane settings.

Location of profilename.xml in windows 7 and 8 is:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook

How to Run outlook.exe /resetnavpane

Step1.) Go to "Start" menu (Windows icon) and make a click on the "Run".

Note: If you do not find "Run" button, then type it in a search box and open it.

Step2.) Now type the "outlook.exe /resetnavpane" command in the "Run". (Give a space after outlook.exe)

Step3.) Finally click on "Ok" button.

Other reasons behind the error while starting outlook:

• Corruption in Outlook Data File (PST File)
• Turn off the compatibility mode in Microsoft Outlook
• Wrong with Outlook Profile
• Third party plug-ins

If the above method does not helps you in resolving the errors than go for an Scanpst.exe utility provided by an Microsoft or try an Outlook PST Recovery utility.