How to Fix "Operation Failed Object" Error in Outlook

Understanding the "Operation Failed, Object Could Not Be Found" Error

This Outlook-specific error manifests in several distinct scenarios:

• Sending emails: Error popup appears immediately when clicking Send
• Opening folders: Specific folders (Inbox, Sent Items) fail to load
• Searching emails: Search function returns this error instead of results
• Managing rules: Email rules fail to execute or cannot be edited
• Accessing attachments: Files within emails cannot be opened or downloaded
• Calendar operations: Meeting requests or appointments cannot be created/modified

Primary causes identified:

• Corrupted Outlook profile or data file
• Problematic add-ins interfering with operations
• Damaged PST/OST files containing broken object references
• Outlook search indexing issues
• Incompatible or outdated Outlook version
• Conflicting rules or custom forms

Method 1: Start Outlook in Safe Mode and Disable Add-ins

Add-ins are the most common culprit for this error. Third-party add-ins for CRM systems, document management, or productivity tools often create object references that become corrupted or inaccessible.

1. Close Outlook completely (check Task Manager to ensure no Outlook processes are running)
2. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog
3. Type outlook.exe /safe and press Enter
4. If prompted, select your Outlook profile and click OK
5. Outlook will open in Safe Mode (you'll see "Safe Mode" in the title bar)
6. Try to reproduce the error - if it doesn't occur, the issue is add-in related
7. Go to File → Options → Add-ins
8. At the bottom, select COM Add-ins from the dropdown and click Go
9. Uncheck all add-ins and click OK
10. Close and restart Outlook normally
11. If the error is gone, re-enable add-ins one at a time to identify the problematic one

Pro insight: Document management add-ins (like SharePoint, OneDrive integration) and CRM connectors (Salesforce, Dynamics) are frequent offenders. If you identify a specific add-in causing the issue, check the vendor's website for updates or patches.

Method 2: Create a New Outlook Profile

Outlook profiles can become corrupted due to improper shutdowns, software conflicts, or file system errors. Creating a fresh profile often resolves persistent object reference errors.

1. Close Outlook completely
2. Open Control Panel (search for it in Start menu)
3. Click on Mail (Microsoft Outlook) - if you don't see it, change "View by" to "Small icons"
4. Click Show Profiles
5. Click Add to create a new profile
6. Enter a profile name (e.g., "Outlook-New") and click OK
7. Follow the setup wizard to add your email account:
   • Enter your email address
   • If prompted, enter your password
   • Allow Outlook to configure your account automatically
8. Once the account is configured, return to the Mail Setup dialog
9. Under "When starting Microsoft Outlook, use this profile", select Prompt for a profile to be used
10. Click OK and launch Outlook
11. Select your new profile and test if the error persists
12. If the new profile works correctly, you can delete the old corrupted profile

Important: Your old emails, contacts, and calendar items are stored in PST/OST files, not in the profile itself. You can import your old PST file into the new profile if needed: File → Open & Export → Import/Export.

Method 3: Repair Outlook Data Files (PST/OST)

Corrupted PST (Personal Storage Table) or OST (Offline Storage Table) files contain broken object references that trigger this error. Microsoft provides a built-in repair tool called ScanPST.

1. Close Outlook and all Office applications
2. Navigate to your Outlook installation directory (typically one of these):
   • C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 (Office 2016/2019/365)
   • C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16 (32-bit version)
3. Find and double-click SCANPST.EXE
4. Click Browse and locate your PST/OST file (usually in):
   • C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\Outlook Files
   • C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook
5. If you're unsure which file to repair, go to Outlook → File → Account Settings → Account Settings → Data Files tab to see the file location
6. Once selected, click Start in ScanPST
7. The scan may take 10-30 minutes depending on file size
8. If errors are found, check the option to Make a backup of scanned file before repairing
9. Click Repair
10. After repair completes, restart Outlook and test

Advanced tip: If ScanPST fails to repair the file or reports it's too large, you may need to use third-party PST repair tools or split the PST file into smaller archives.

Method 4: Rebuild Outlook Search Index

If the error occurs specifically when searching emails, the Windows Search index for Outlook may be corrupted. Rebuilding it resolves object reference issues in search operations.

1. In Outlook, go to File → Options → Search
2. Click Indexing Options
3. In the Indexing Options window, click Advanced
4. In the Advanced Options window, click Rebuild under the Troubleshooting section
5. Click OK when warned that this will take a long time
6. The rebuild process will begin automatically (may take 1-4 hours depending on mailbox size)
7. You can continue using Outlook during the rebuild, but search may be slow or incomplete
8. Once complete, restart Outlook and test the search function

Alternative method for Windows 11:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy & security → Searching Windows
2. Click Advanced indexing options
3. Follow steps 3-8 above

Method 5: Reset Outlook Rules and Custom Forms

Corrupted email rules or custom forms can create persistent object reference errors, especially when processing incoming emails or calendar events.

1. Open Outlook and go to File → Manage Rules & Alerts
2. Select each rule one at a time and click Delete (note them down first if you want to recreate them)
3. If a specific rule won't delete or shows errors, close Outlook
4. Press Windows + R and type outlook.exe /cleanrules, then press Enter
5. This command removes all client-side rules (server-side rules remain intact)
6. Next, reset custom forms cache by closing Outlook and running: outlook.exe /cleanfoldercache
7. Finally, clear out corrupt views: outlook.exe /cleanviews
8. Restart Outlook normally
9. Recreate your essential rules one at a time, testing after each one

Command-line switches explained:

• /cleanrules - Removes client-side rules that may be corrupted
• /cleanfoldercache - Clears folder cache and custom form definitions
• /cleanviews - Resets all folder views to default
• /resetfolders - Restores missing folders (use if folders are missing)

Additional Troubleshooting Steps

Check for Outlook Updates

Microsoft regularly releases patches for known Outlook issues. Go to File → Office Account → Update Options → Update Now. Object reference errors have been addressed in several cumulative updates.

Run Outlook as Administrator

Right-click the Outlook shortcut and select "Run as administrator". Some object operations require elevated permissions, especially when accessing shared mailboxes or network locations.

Disable Cached Exchange Mode (for Exchange/Microsoft 365 accounts)

Go to File → Account Settings → Account Settings, double-click your Exchange account, and uncheck "Use Cached Exchange Mode". This forces Outlook to work directly with the server, bypassing potentially corrupted local cache.

Check Antivirus Integration

Some antivirus programs scan Outlook emails in real-time and can create object conflicts. Temporarily disable email scanning in your antivirus settings and test if the error persists.

When to Seek Professional Help

If none of these methods resolve the issue, consider these scenarios:

• Corporate Exchange environments: The issue may be server-side. Contact your IT department to check mailbox health and permissions
• Large or critical PST files: If ScanPST fails repeatedly, professional data recovery services can repair severely damaged PST files
• Persistent issues after reinstall: If the error persists even after reinstalling Office, there may be underlying Windows registry corruption requiring system-level troubleshooting

Prevention Tips

• Keep Outlook and Windows fully updated with latest patches
• Limit PST file size to under 10GB for optimal performance
• Regularly backup your PST/OST files to external storage
• Avoid force-closing Outlook (always use File → Exit)
• Review and update add-ins quarterly - remove unused ones
• Run ScanPST preventively every 3-6 months
• For Exchange users, let the server retain primary data rather than using large OST files

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will I lose my emails if I create a new Outlook profile?

A: No. Your emails are stored in PST/OST files, not in the profile. The profile only contains configuration settings. After creating a new profile, you can add the same email account or import your old PST file to access all your existing data.

Q: How long does it take to repair a PST file with ScanPST?

A: This depends on the PST file size. A 1GB file typically takes 10-15 minutes, while a 10GB+ file can take over an hour. Very large files (20GB+) may take several hours. You cannot use the PST file during repair, so plan accordingly.

Q: Can I use Outlook while the search index is rebuilding?

A: Yes, Outlook remains fully functional during index rebuilding. However, search results will be incomplete until the rebuild finishes, and you may notice slightly slower performance during intensive email operations.

Q: Which add-ins are safe to disable without losing functionality?

A: Generally safe to disable: LinkedIn add-in, Bing Maps, Skype Meeting Add-in (if not used). Be cautious with: CRM connectors (Salesforce, Dynamics), archiving tools, digital signature add-ins. Never disable "Microsoft Exchange Add-in" or "Microsoft VBA for Outlook Add-in" as these are core components.

Q: What's the difference between PST and OST files?

A: PST (Personal Storage Table) is used for POP3/IMAP accounts and stores all your data locally. OST (Offline Storage Table) is used for Exchange/Microsoft 365 accounts and is a synchronized copy of your server mailbox. OST files can be recreated from the server, while PST files are your only copy of the data.