How to Fix “Outlook Stuck on Processing” Error?

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Did you face any issues while opening the Outlook application, loading a profile, or trying to open any mail attachments? Here’s a proven guide to getting rid of the “Outlook stuck on Processing” Error.
One of the main reasons behind this error can be an oversized PST file or corruption of the Outlook profile or the PST file. The easiest way to set right the most corrupt even severely damaged PST file is by making use of Remo Outlook Repair PST. Click on the download button now and start fixing the error in just a few minutes!!!

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Is your Outlook stuck on processing while sending or opening an email? A similar situation was faced by an Outlook user and can be used for understanding the consequences of this error more clearly.

“I am using Outlook 2013, and when I tried to attempt two or more email profiles. All of a sudden, my Outlook gets stuck on loading the profile. This problem occurs most of the time and it’s too irritating. Please, someone, suggest to me a suitable solution by which I can resolve this Outlook issue.”

While sending or opening an email message, quite often you can face situations where Outlook gets stuck at processing, hangs, freezes, or stopped working as well. To fix this problem of Outlook not responding or being stuck at processing, Outlook users should be aware of the causes of this error. There can be a large number of possible reasons for Outlook to behave like this. In the upcoming section, you will get to know about the various reasons why Outlook is stuck on the loading profile and its resolutions.

Solutions To Fix Outlook Stuck On Processing ErrorStep By Step Troubleshooting
Open Outlook in Safe ModeFirst of all, start Microsoft Outlook in a safe mode to solve the “Processing” screen issue.
Close every Outlook dialog boxIf you try to force close the Outlook program while a dialog box is open, you might glitch the dialog box so that it remains in your taskbar.
End the running Processes in Task Manager and Disable Outlook Presence FeatureThere are a few processes that you should consider killing in the Task Manager like Outlook.exe, SearchProtocolHost.exe, Lync, and Skype for Business, Copernic, WinPcap, etc.
Install the latest Microsoft Office updatesIt is always recommended to keep your MS Office up to date.
Repair your Outlook 2016 That is Stuck On Processing By InstallationThe issue with Outlook freezing, hanging, and stuck at processing can be fixed on Outlook 2016 by repairing the application.
Repair Microsoft Outlook Data Files To Fix Outlook Stuck at ProcessingInbox Repair software might resolve issues by scanning Outlook data files(.pst and .ost) and repairing each error.
Fix PST File “Causing Outlook stuck on loading profile” Issue With RemoIf the Outlook data file (.pst) is severely corrupt and you need to take the help of a professional tool.
Creating a New User ProfileIf Outlook 2016 Stuck on the Processing screen is due to a settings issue, create a new profile.

Reasons Behind the Outlook Stuck at Loading Profile or Outlook not Responding?

  • Some processes such as Outlook.exe are still running in the background.
  • Third-party applications like some add-ins are interfering with Outlook
  • Microsoft Office is not updated
  • A corrupted Outlook profile or corrupt Outlook data files
  • Outlook is not configured to run maximized
  • Outlook Frame value needs to be deleted from the registry (Outlook 2016)

Some of the Typical Symptoms Outlook Stuck on Processing:

  • Outlook not responding with or without an error
  • Outlook is stuck on a screen that says “Processing.”
  • Outlook starts to hang, freeze, or even stop working when you’re trying to open an email attachment, or file, or while sending an email message.

Note: If you are unable or facing any issues while trying to open the Outlook application. We suggest you go through this article to find out how to solve Outlook not opening issues in Windows.

8 Solutions to Fix Outlook Stuck on Loading Profile or Outlook Stuck on Processing Error?

Solution 1: Open Outlook in Safe Mode

First of all, start Microsoft Outlook in a safe mode to solve the “Processing” screen issue.

  • Close the MS Outlook application
  • Then launch Outlook in safe mode by selecting one of the following options.
  • Under Windows 10, choose the Start option and type Outlook.exe /safe. Click on the Enter key
open outlook in safe mode to fix outlook stuck on processing
  • If you are using Windows 7, click on the Start icon, and under the Search programs and files box, enter Outlook /safe, and then click Enter
  • In Windows 8, go to the Apps, choose the Run option and type Outlook /safe, and then press the OK button
  • Now, Close the MS Outlook, and then, normally open it again

If you can open Outlook in safe mode, try disabling add-ins one after one and check if it resolves the issue. The steps to disable add-ins are as follows:

  • Open Outlook and click on File
  • Click Options > Add-ins
  • Under the Manage tab, select COM Add-ins
  • Click Go
outlook stuck on processing
  • Choose the add-ins you want to disable and click on OK
  • Exit Outlook and open it again

NOTE: When Outlook stops responding or is stuck at processing, try to disable programs like VPN or any other suspicious program and see if it fixes the error. After performing this process, if Outlook did not resolve the problem then, continue to the next solution.

Solution 2: Close Every Outlook Dialog Box 

If you try to force close the Outlook program while a dialog box is open, you might glitch the dialog box so that it remains in your taskbar. The next time you try to Open Outlook, the dialog box will make the program hang or freeze at the initial splash screen.

You can quickly check for the dialog boxes by using the Alt+Tab buttons. By pressing ALT + TAB together, you will be able to see every window on the main screen, enabling you to move freely between them. If you spot any dialog box in one of the windows belonging to Outlook, close it immediately. If not, move over to the next method.

Solution 3: End the Running Processes in Task Manager and Disable Outlook Presence Feature

Follow the below-mentioned steps to resolve Outlook won’t Load Profile:

NOTE: There are a few processes that you should consider killing in the Task Manager, like Outlook.exe, SearchProtocolHost.exe, Lync, Skype for Business, Copernic, WinPcap, etc.

  • Open Task Manager
  • Under the Processes tab, locate all Office processes.
  • Select an Office process and then click on End task. Repeat this for each Office process listed.

Now check if Outlook is opening properly. If it is, then follow the below-mentioned steps to disable the Outlook presence feature:

  • In Outlook, choose File > Options > People
  • On the Outlook Options window, uncheck the boxes saying the following options if they are enabled
  • Display online status next to the name
  • Show user photographs when available
  • Then hit OK, and then restart Outlook

Solution 4: Install the Latest Microsoft Office Updates

It is always recommended to keep your MS Office up to date. These updates with new features, performance enhancements, and bug fixes are released on regular basis. This might work because it will replace some files in your Office folder, and there’s a possibility that it will remove the corrupted file that is causing the issue. Follow the steps mentioned below to update your Office suite to the latest version:

  • Open any other program from the Office suite like Excel, Word, etc.
  • Click on File and select Account > Account Settings.
  • Next click on Update Options under the Product Information and select Update Options. Hit Update Now to begin the update process.
  • Wait till the update is finished. Once complete, close the set-up wizard and attempt to start Outlook again. 

Try the next method if you’re still getting the “Processing” error.

Solution 5: Repair your Outlook 2016 That is Stuck On Processing By Installation

The issue with Outlook freezing, hanging, and getting stuck at processing can be fixed on Outlook 2016 by repairing the application. Though this method will work on Outlook 2019 as well. 

Repairing the Outlook profile can fix the issues like Outlook not responding, hanging, or freezing. It is possible that Outlook is not responding because the Outlook application is corrupt and needs a fixation. 

  • In Windows 10, Click on Start and type Apps & Features
  • Select Microsoft Office from the list and click on Modify
quick fix Outlook to fix outlook stuck on processing
  • Click on Quick Repair and then click on the Repair option to start the repair process
update Outlook to fix outlook stuck on processing
  • Restart your system after the repair process

If repairing the MS Office program and the other solutions mentioned above could not fix the “Outlook stuck on processing” issue, it might be a fault of the PST file. Refer to the next segment to know how to repair an Outlook data file. 

Solution 6: Repair Microsoft Outlook Data Files To Fix Outlook Stuck at Processing

MS Office is equipped with an Inbox Repair Tool, which is installed automatically on your computer system once you install MS Outlook. This Inbox Repair software might resolve issues by scanning Outlook data files(.pst and .ost) and repairing each error. If an error is detected in the Outlook PST/OST file, the tool will scan that file and fix all corruption issues. To learn more about repairing an Outlook data file, refer to this info.

However, the Inbox Repair Tool has its own disadvantages. If the PST file is severy corrupted and is large in size, the inbox repair tool will not be capable of fixing the damage. If repairing the Outlook data files manually could not fix the issue, try to repair the PST file with a professional tool. 

Source: Trustpilot 

Solution 7: Fix PST File “Causing Outlook Stuck on Loading Profile” Issue With Remo 

Since none of the above-mentioned steps have helped fix this issue, it is likely that your Outlook data file (.pst) is severely corrupt, and you need to take the help of a professional tool to fix the corrupt PST. You might have tried the Inbox repair tool, but the issue is still prevailing because of the various limitations the tool comes with. 

Unlike ScanPST, Remo PST Repair Tool can do the task in only a few clicks. While Inbox Repair Tool makes you run it multiple times to repair the PST file, whereas Remo does the job like a pro in one go. Moreover, Remo keeps the safety of the PST file intact by working on a copy of the original PST file. Download the tool for free and Try Now.

Solution 8: Creating a New User Profile

If Outlook 2016 Stuck on the Processing screen is due to a settings issue, create a new profile. The profile can store various settings, which helps control Microsoft Outlook. 

  • First, you have to Close Outlook
  • After this, select one of the following options:
  • For Windows 10, click on the Start icon and go to the Control Panel then, Choose the Enter key. After this, select the User Accounts > Mails > Show Profiles
  • In Windows 8, open some Apps, click on the Control Panel and choose the Mail option. Then, click on Show Profiles
outlook stuck on processing
  • For Windows 7 users, select Start and go to Control Panel. After this, choose the Mail option and click on Show Profiles
outlook stuck on processing
  • Click on the Add, and under the Profile Name box, enter the profile name, and click on the OK
  • Enter the required credentials in Outlook and then, walk through the below steps to create a new profile.
  • On the Show Profiles dialog, the profile has been created at once, and click the Prompt for a profile to be used
  • Finally, to begin MS Outlook and choose a new profile

Wrapping-Up: 

Hopefully, the troubleshooting methods that are covered in this post will help you resolve Outlook stuck-on loading profile errors.

Though all the manual solutions work impressively up to a certain extent, however, you might face a few challenges like:

  • In case of PST file corruption, the manual methods won’t work.
  • Implementing different manual methods one by one to fix the error can be tedious and time-consuming.
  • Require technical know-how.
  • Involves data loss risk.

However, you can easily overcome these challenges by using a reliable and capable tool like Remo Repair PST. The issue will be resolved in just a few clicks, without any risk of data loss with a user-friendly graphical interface. Also, repairing the .pst file may help fix Outlook stuck at loading profile error, outlook freezing constantly or Outlook not responding, etc.

Frequently Asked Question 

Why does Outlook take so long to process?

If you have a large mailbox size or large email attachments or if you are operating other programs behind and are using anti-virus scans all these things can affect Outlook to perform slowly, using Outlook when the computer is performing several programs will make your Outlook work slowly.

How can I speed up my Outlook processing?

You can speed up your Outlook processing just by following these steps:
1. Disable Outlook Add-ins.
2. Update your Outlook and look for New Updates 
3. Compact your Outlook data files 
4. Perform regular cleanup to your Outlook
5. Reduce your file list 
6. Cache your Outlook

By doing these steps your Outlook will speed up just by making a few changes in your Outlook.

How do I clear my Outlook cache?

To clear your Outlook cache follow the below steps:

The Basic thing to clear your Outlook cache is by deleting your cache completely
1. Turn off your auto-generated cache so that it does not display on your Outlook 
2. Now you can delete the auto cache-complete cache completely 

There is also another method to clear your Outlook cache. Follow the below-given steps to try another method:

1. Exit Outlook Open Run window 
2. Type this path in the run window "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Outlook\"
3. Click on Enter 
4. Find the .ost file and Rename it (If you are not sure which to delete you move those files to temporary deletion) 
5. Now Restart your Outlook.

About the Author: Tony Landry

Tony Landry is a Web Content Editor at Remo Software. He loves to write, edit, and manage content for users trying to troubleshoot and fix problems on Windows, Outlook, storage drives, and Cloud storage networks. With an aptitude that transcends writing, Tony is recognized as a Microsoft Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint expert. His comprehensive solutions…

One thought on “How to Fix “Outlook Stuck on Processing” Error?

  1. Thanks for the article. I tried opening Outlook in safe mode, closing it and reopening, but that didn’t fix the problem. Opening Task Manager and closing Outlook from there was the step that worked for me. I don’t know why, but it did, so thanks!

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