Outlook problem on school computer

Use Outlook on the web for immediate access to your school email, then test classic Outlook in safe mode to determine whether an add-in is preventing the main window from loading.

Get your school email now

Open your school’s Microsoft 365 sign-in page in a browser and select Outlook. Sign in with your school account. Outlook on the web is the supported workaround when classic Outlook cannot open.^1^

If the browser version also keeps loading, try another browser or a private/incognito window. If that still fails, contact the school’s IT/help desk because the account or school service may need attention.

Test classic Outlook in safe mode

Safe mode starts Outlook without add-ins:

1. Close Outlook.
2. Press Windows key + R.
3. Enter:

      outlook.exe /safe
   

4. Select OK.
5. If Choose Profile appears, accept the default profile and select OK.

Microsoft documents this test for classic Outlook startup hangs.^2^

If Outlook opens in safe mode:

1. Go to File → Options → Add-ins.
2. At the bottom, select COM Add-ins → Go.
3. Take a picture or note which add-ins are enabled.
4. Clear their checkboxes and select OK. Disable them—do not select Remove.
5. Restart Outlook normally.
6. Re-enable add-ins one at a time, restarting Outlook after each one, until the loading problem returns. Leave the problem add-in disabled.^2^

If safe mode also keeps loading

The next supported test is a new Outlook profile:

1. Close Outlook.
2. Search Windows for Control Panel.
3. Open User Accounts → Mail → Show Profiles.
4. Select Add, name the profile, and enter your school email account.
5. Choose Prompt for a profile to be used.
6. Start Outlook and select the new profile.^3^

Do not remove the old profile; removing one can also remove associated local data files.^4^

Because this is a school computer, these settings may be locked. If Run, Add-ins, or Mail is unavailable—or the new profile cannot be created—give the school IT desk:

• A screenshot of the loading screen or error
• Whether Outlook opened with outlook.exe /safe
• Whether Outlook on the web works
• The approximate time the problem began

Ask IT to repair Outlook or recreate the Outlook profile under the school’s device policy rather than attempting to uninstall it yourself.

References

1. Error when opening classic Outlook: "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." | Microsoft Support
2. I can’t start Microsoft Outlook or receive the error “Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook Window” | Microsoft Support
3. Classic Outlook not responding, stuck at "Processing," stopped working, or freezes | Microsoft Support
4. Outlook crashes or stops responding when used with Office 365 | Microsoft Support