Outlook for Mac stuck on Introducing New Themes. Unable to close app or choose themes.

Hi Avik Bhargave

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Learn Q&A.

Based on your description, I would like to share some information. I hope it can be helpful. This behavior usually occurs when the application’s cached interface settings become corrupted or conflict with a saved window state. Since the app is launching automatically upon restart, it is reloading the error before you can intervene.

You should clean reset the Outlook application preferences and please note that the steps below will reset your Outlook preferences and view settings. Your emails, calendar, and contacts are stored on the college server and will re-sync automatically. However, if you have any emails saved exclusively in local "On My Computer" folders (not synced to the server).

Here are recommended steps you can try:

Force Close Outlook

If Outlook is currently frozen on your screen, you can try the Q&A Assist recommendation to use Force Quit.

• Press Command + Option + Esc on your keyboard.
• Select Microsoft Outlook from the list > Click Force Quit.

Reset Outlook Containers

• Open Finder.
• In the menu bar at the top of your screen, click Go > Go to Folder...
• Copy and paste the following path and press Enter: ~/Library/Containers
• In the folder that opens, look for a folder named Microsoft Outlook (or com.microsoft.Outlook).
• Do not delete this folder yet. Instead, drag this folder to your Desktop. (Moving it to the Desktop acts as a backup. If the issue is resolved, you can delete it later)

Disable Auto-Launch: To ensure Outlook doesn't try to open the old state during a restart:

• Open System Settings > Go to General > Login Items & Extensions.
• Under the "Open at Login" list, select Microsoft Outlook.
• Click the minus (-) button to remove it.

Restart and Sign In

• Restart your Mac > Open Outlook from your Applications folder.
• Outlook will launch as if it is a fresh installation.
• Sign in with your Microsoft 365 College account and allow the app some time to download your emails from the server.

If these steps resolve the issue, you may drag the "Microsoft Outlook" folder from your Desktop to the Trash.

I hope this helps, and I look forward to your response.

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If Outlook for Mac is stuck on the "Introducing New Themes" screen and you are unable to close the app or select a theme, you may need to force quit the application. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Press Command + Option + Esc to open the Force Quit Applications window.
2. Select Microsoft Outlook from the list of applications.
3. Click on the "Force Quit" button.

After force quitting, try reopening Outlook to see if the issue persists. If it does, you may want to consider resetting the application preferences or reinstalling Outlook if necessary.

If the problem continues, you might also check for any updates to Outlook or your macOS, as updates can sometimes resolve such issues.

References:

• Create a theme for Outlook Web App