Why Does Outlook Keep Freezing on Mac OS? – An Instant Tutorial
If you’re wondering why Outlook keeps freezing on Mac OS and can’t seem to find a proper fix, don’t worry! In this article, we’ll explore some effective solutions that can help resolve this frustrating issue quickly and get your Outlook running smoothly again.
Outlook is one of the popular email applications available for Mac, widely used by businesses and individual users alike. While it generally performs well, occasional freezing problems can disrupt your workflow. This can happen due to various reasons such as software conflicts, corrupted files, or outdated versions. In the following sections, we’ll guide you step-by-step on how to fix Outlook freezing issues on Mac.
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Common Causes behind Outlook Keep Freezing on Mac and How to Fix Them
Outlook freezing on Mac can happen for several reasons. It might be due to a bug in the Outlook application, or your Mac’s operating system may no longer be fully supported by the latest version of Outlook. Often, freezes occur because of corrupted files or conflicts between files within the app. Identifying the exact cause usually requires a process of elimination through trial and error.
Step 1: Check for Updates before You Begin
- If you installed Outlook via the Mac App Store, open the App Store and go to the Updates tab. Install any available updates.
- If Outlook was downloaded directly from Microsoft, open Outlook, go to the Help menu, and choose Check for Updates.
- Additionally, check your Mac’s system updates by going to System Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, download & install it.
Steps to Take When Outlook Freezes During Startup on Mac
Sometimes Outlook freezes right when you try to open it whether by double-clicking the app in the Applications folder or using the Dock. Here’s a complete guide to troubleshoot this problem:
1- Force Quit Microsoft Outlook
- Right-click the Outlook icon in the Dock and select Force Quit. Confirm if prompted.
- If that does not work, hit Command + Option + Escape, opt Outlook from the list, and hit Force Quit.
2- Restart Outlook and Your Mac
- Try launching Outlook again.
- If it still freezes, force quit again, then restart your Mac and try reopening Outlook.
3- Make a New Outlook Profile
If Outlook continues freezing throughout startup, the problem might be related to your Outlook profile. Follow these steps to create and set a new profile as default:
- Run the Applications folder.
- Right-click (or Control-click) on MS Outlook and pick Show Package Contents.
- Navigate to Contents > Shared Support and double-click Microsoft Outlook Profile Manager.
- Press the “+” button at the bottom of the window to generate a new profile.
- Enter a name for the fresh profile and tick Return.
- Take the new profile, hit the More (…) button at the bottom, and pick Set as Default.
- Close the Outlook Profile Manager by ticking the red close tab at the top-left corner.
- Open MS Outlook again using the new profile.
What to Do If Outlook Hangs on Mac OS While in Use
If Outlook opens successfully but then hangs or freezes during use, the first step is to restart your Mac. Sometimes, a simple reboot can resolve temporary glitches.
If Outlook continues to hang, the next recommended step is to reset the application by deleting its settings files. This forces Outlook to recreate fresh configuration files the next time it launches. However, manually locating and deleting these files can be complicated, as they are spread across various system folders.
If resetting doesn’t fix the issue, you may need to reinstall Outlook. Here’s how:
1. Quit Microsoft Outlook completely.
2. Go to the Applications folder and drag the Outlook app to the Trash.
3. Open Finder, click the Go menu, and select Go to Folder.
4. Paste each of the following paths one at a time, pressing Return after each:
- ~/Library/Application Support/
- ~/Library/Containers/
- ~/Library/Caches/
- ~/Library/Preferences/
- ~/Library/Cookies/
- ~/Library/Logs/
- ~/Library/LaunchAgents/
5. At each location, look for files or folders with “Outlook” in their name and move them to the Trash.
6. Finally, empty the Trash to completely remove Outlook’s data from your Mac.
After uninstalling Outlook, reinstall it from the Mac App Store or the Microsoft 365 website. Once installed, log in using your Microsoft 365 credentials.
Outlook is a powerful and widely used email client, especially in businesses and organizations. However, like any software, it can sometimes experience issues. If Outlook hangs on your Mac whether at startup or during use following these steps should help resolve the problem. For further assistance, feel free to contact BitData Migration Support.
