Microsoft Office Outlook An Unexpected Error Has Occurred

Does an error message 'Outlook an unexpected error has occurred' appeared on your screen all of a sudden? When it appears, usually it crashes Outlook, corrupts it, or makes it stop responding. Are you also into such a situation? If yes, then you will learn here the possible reasons that cause this issue and the various methods to fix it.

  1. Outlook has lost connection to your e-mail server. Contact your administrator.
  2. Edited by Melon Chen Microsoft contingent staff Monday, May 19, 2014 5:18 AM modify Marked as answer by Melon Chen Microsoft contingent staff Monday, May 26, 2014 9:53 AM Monday, May 19, 2014 5:16 AM.

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Causes of An Unexpected Error Has Occurred in Outlook

If you are experiencing an unexpected error suddenly on your Outlook, the reason can be any. Some of the possible ones are:

  • Your corrupt Outlook profile
  • An installed add-in can cause hindrance in the functioning of the Outlook
  • Deleted or damaged PST file
  • Older Outlook version
  • Incorrect configuration or installation of the application
  • Corrupt Software
  • Virus attack
  • Conflict in the internal registry

The cause can be any. But as said above, when the error occurs, it restricts you from accessing your Outlook application. As your stored data and emails become inaccessible, you might be looking for solutions to fix the issue.

We have discussed various methods for addressing this issue in the next part. Read on to learn the detailed steps that help you access your Outlook quickly.

Five Methods | Fix 'An Unexpected Outlook Error Has Occurred' Issue

After learning the various causes for Outlook unexpected error, now take a look at the different methods and its detailed steps.

1 Repair an Office Application

If the error is due to damaged data files, then you need to repair your Microsoft Office application. Begin the procedure with the below easy and detailed steps:

Step 1: Close Microsoft Office Applications

If there is any open or running application of Microsoft Office, closing it is mandatory for beginning the repair process.

Step 2: Open Control Panel and reach Programs and Features.

Step 3: Look for the Microsoft Office version and right-click it.

Microsoft Office Outlook An Unexpected Error Has Occurred

Step 4: Click on the repair option to begin the repairing process

Once the repair process completes, start the Microsoft Outlook and see whether you can use it now.

2 Set Up a New Outlook Profile

If you create your new Outlook Profile, it can also help in fixing the issue. Create it with the below steps:

Step 1: Click on Start and open Control Panel

Step 2: Open Mail Setup from the 'Mail' option.

Step 3: Open 'Show Profiles' and click on 'Add' to create your new profile.

Step 4: Give a name to your created profile and click on 'OK.'

Your profile is created; you can try accessing Outlook now.

3 Reinstall Outlook on Your Computer

If your Outlook installation is incomplete or incorrect, it can also cause an unexpected error. You can fix it by reinstalling Outlook with the below easy steps:

Step 1: ¬Open Control Panel and search 'Programs'

Step 2: Click on Outlook and then on the 'Uninstall' option. You can see the 'Uninstall' option when you right-click on your Outlook. Your Outlook is removed once you click on 'Uninstall.'

Step 3: After the successful uninstallation, reboot your computer to reinstall Outlook.

Are you now able to access Outlook? If yes, then it shows the error was due to incorrect installation.

4 Use the Outlook Inbox Repair Tool

Microsoft's inbox repair tool, ScanPST.exe, is an excellent way to fix the unexpected error. Proceed with the below-listed steps:

Step 1: Run the ScanPST.exe file after searching from the Outlook installation folder.

Step 2: Click on 'Scan' you will see the option to select the file that needs repair. After selecting the file, click on 'Repair' to begin the repairing process.

Relaunch Outlook when the repair process completes.

5 Try Professional Outlook Repair Tool

After trying all the above-listed steps, is the error not resolved? Use Stellar Outlook Repair; it will surely help to fix the problem. PST files are bigger and often get corrupted. It doesn't matter how severe the corruption is; the powerful Stellar PST repair software can help you fix it quickly with its user-friendly GUI interface.

Step 1: Add PST file

In the main interface, you will come across two options: 'Browse' and 'Find.' Click any one option from the two. You can hit 'Browse' if you know the exact location of the file, else click on 'Find' to search for the required file.

Step 2: Repair the PST file

After file selection, click on the 'Repair' and begin the repairing process. You can see the growth of the process from the progress bar. While repairing, if you feel like stopping the process anytime, click on the 'Stop' button. It will immediately stop the process. The complete time taken by the process depends on the level of corruption and the file size.

Step 3: Preview and save

The software permits you to view the repaired files and confirm before saving them. Double-click on the files listed in the left side panel. Confirm to view after clicking on 'OK.' Select the location to save the file.

Your file is repaired, now you use can access your Outlook.

The Bottom Line

By now, you must have understood the various reasons why Microsoft Outlook an unexpected error has occurred. So, while accessing Outlook, whenever you come across such an error, try removing it with the above-discussed detailed methods. Stellar Outlook Repair is the best of all, and we recommend using it for fixing unexpected Outlook errors quickly and easily.

We hope our guide proves helpful to you!

No doubt, encountering errors in Outlook is maddening as work completely gets disturbed. Indeed, you are just left looking for effective methods to resolve the error message. One common error that users experienced in Outlook are 0x8000ffff. If you're wondering what could be a possible reason to encounter such an annoying Outlook error, then you're in the right place. In this post, we're going to walk you through the causes and how to resolve Microsoft's outlook an unknown error occurred 0x8000ffff effectively.

In this article

01Causes of An Unknown Error Occurred 0x8000ffff in Outlook
03Important Notice Before Partitioning A Hard Drive

Causes of An Unknown Error Occurred 0x8000ffff in Outlook

Error

You would encounter this Outlook unknown error 0x8000ffff while adding a data or PST file in the Mail applet. It is quite a common error experienced by many Outlook users. If you're wondering what could be the culprit behind facing such annoying errors, then it may be one of the followings:

System File Corruption

The first one could be system file corruption. The Outlook unknown error occurred 0x8000ffff may be caused due to system file corruption and damage in system files. Therefore, it is important to take quick steps to resolve the system file damage/corruption to prevent your data from being corrupted or lost.

Blue Screen

In most severe cases, the Blue Screen/Blue Screen of Death could be a culprit. Blue Screen is commonly known as a stop error screen or bug check screen. It emerges only in scenarios of fatal system error or being shown by the Microsoft Windows family of OS when a critical error is identified. Also, the Blue Screen may appear due to driver malfunction or hardware failure.

DLL Error

You may encounter Microsoft Outlook an unknown error occurred 0x8000ffff because of the missing DDL (Dynamic Link Library). DLL is considered an essential part of any program or application. In scenarios of a missing DDL, the application or program will not work as expected.

Application Freeze

Sudden and often Outlook freeze could be an alarming indication that there is something wrong with it. In such scenarios, the application doesn't let you perform any workaround because it shuts down abnormally when you try to perform any task. It could also be the case that the Windows screen begins freeing because of the overutilization of system resources by other programs.

No matter what cause is, continue reading to fix Outlook an unknown error occurred 0x8000fff.

How to resolve Outlook Error 0x8000ffff?

The following are the recommend workarounds to fix the Microsoft Outlook an unknown error occurred 0x8000ffff without much hassle.

1 Add the data file in Account Settings

If you encounter this error while adding a data file in the Mail Applet in Outlook, then we suggest you try the below steps to come out of this annoying issue.

Microsoft Office Outlook An Unexpected Error Has Occurred Now

Step 1: To commence the process, launch Outlook 2016.

Step 2: Go to the 'File tab', tap 'Account Settings' and after that, tap 'Account Settings'.

Step 3: Go to the 'Data Files' tab and then click on the 'Add'.

Step 4: Now, you can add the data file as required and then hit on 'Ok'.

Step 5: Click on 'Close' on the Account Settings and that's it.

If still encounter the error message, then it simply means that the Outlook data file that you are attempting to add is damage or corrupt. No worries!! Continue reading to learn what to do in this scenario.

2 Using Outlook Inbox Repair tool

If you are not able to fix the error using the above method, then it's time to take advantage of the Outlook Inbox Repair tool for scanning the Outlook data file. The Outlook Inbox Repair tool, also known as scanpst.exe utility, is an in-built repair tool in the Microsoft Outlook client. With the help of it, you can repair the PST file that is damaged due to some unknown reason.

Below is the step-by-step guide on how to Use the Outlook Inbox Repair tool:

Microsoft Office Outlook An Unexpected Error Has Occurred Today

Step 1: To start with, use 'Windows Key + R' to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2: Enter the below path and hit on the 'Ok' button.

'C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficerootOffice16'.

Step 3: Double-tap the 'SCANPST.EXE' file to run the Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair tool.

Step 4: Click on the 'Browse' button and find the .pst file that you would like to repair. Then, click the 'Open'>' Start' button.

Step 5: Make sure to check the option that says 'Make a backup of scanned file before repairing' and click on the 'Repair' button.

In a while, the Outlook Inbox Repair tool will repair your .pst file. Once repairing it successfully, you can open Outlook and the problems with it should now be fixed.

3 Try the third-party Outlook repair software

None of the above methods worked to help you fix Microsoft Outlook an unknown error occurred 0x8000ffff? If so, you certainly need a more powerful solution and it is Stellar Outlook Repair.

Stellar Outlook Repair comes in handy when it comes to repairing the PST file. Indeed, this tool is one of the ultimate recovery solutions out there for Outlook users. With the help of it, you can repair the PST file effortlessly and restore your mailbox data from it. What's more? It is the best PST recovery solution for Outlook 2019/2016/2013/2010 and older versions as well.

Get the 3rd-party Outlook repair tool - Stellar Outlook Repair from its official site on your computer and then follow the below steps to learn to use it t repair PST file:

Step 1: Add PST file

Run Stellar Outlook Repair. From the Home tab, choose 'Outlook PST' and click on the 'Browse' button to add the PST file. Once adding the file, click on the 'Repair' button. Or if you don't the exact location of your PST file, then click 'Find' and the software will find the file.

Step 2: Repair the PST file

Once you click the 'Repair' button, the software will scan and repair corrupt PST file. Let the software complete the scan process.

Step 3: Preview and save

Microsoft Office Outlook An Unexpected Error Has Occurred Due

The software lets you preview restored Outlook mailbox data in the Left pane. Select the mailbox data by choosing the individual folders and hit on the 'Save Repaired File' option in the Home tab. Finally, choose PST as a file format and tap 'Browse'>' Ok' to save the restored PST.

Microsoft Office Outlook An Unexpected Error Has Occurred

Further Reading:
Here are the useful articles to help you.
1. Outlook Mailbox Is Full Can’t Send Messages Error.
2. Fix Outlook an Unexpected Error Has Occurred Issue.
3. Solutions to Outlook Error 0x800ccc13 Cannot Connect to Network.

Microsoft Outlook An Unexpected Error Has Occurred

The Bottom Line:

Microsoft Office Outlook An Unexpected Error Has Occurred Without

That's all on what to do to resolve Microsoft Outlook an unknown error occurred 0x8000ffff. The common workarounds will probably help you fix this error. However, if nothing works, then the Stellar Outlook Repair role comes in. Indeed, we even highly recommend you give Stellar Outlook Repair a try as it will help you repair the PST file and recover the mailbox data in no time.