Software glitches can make your day come to a grinding halt instantly; however, one of the most annoying issues is that of the Microsoft Outlook for Mac crashing when you click “Reply” or “Forward.” The moment you have typed up your message and clicked the respective button, the program will simply vanish or freeze, leaving you with the dreaded beach ball.
The above problem may be caused by various factors such as database corruption, caching conflicts, outdated versions of the program, or problems with the macOS architecture. Listed below is a thorough guide on how you can figure out the root cause of the problem and fix it, or migrate away from Outlook.
Why Does Outlook for Mac Crash When Replying?
Crashes of the application that occur when replying to an email generally result from a problem with the way Outlook handles drafts, indexing, or data caching. Causes of such issues may be:
- Corruption of the local database or cache: Corrupted identity database or cache file with broken pointers or indexing.
- Inline Reply Rendering Issues: Problems with inline script rendering or format inheritance when opening the reply in the reading pane on some versions of Outlook for Mac.
- Add-in or Syncing Issues: Interference between background cloud services synchronization and macOS.
Troubleshooting Steps to Fix Outlook Crashing
In order to solve this problem, you should use the following techniques that start with the less invasive option.
Fix 1. Clear Outlook Cache Folder: Quick Cache Reset.
Corrupt temp files will result in unpredictable crashes when using the program actively. Close Outlook, launch Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G, and paste ~/Library/Caches. Then you need to find and remove the com.microsoft.Outlook folder.
Note. Try to re-launch the app and open an e-mail to see if everything works smoothly.)
Fix 2. Change Reply and Forward Settings: Interface Configuration
In case the issue is due to a rendering problem related to inline replies, switching the manner in which windows are opened helps in getting around the problem. You need to go to Preferences in Outlook, find the options available while you are reading or composing your email, and then change your replies and forwards to open in another window.
Fix 3. Restore or Reconfigure Your Outlook Profile:Database Maintenance
A corrupt database identity often results in system failures when writing. Download and launch the Microsoft Outlook Profile Manager software (while holding down the Option key while launching Outlook), select your current Outlook profile, and then click on the gear icon to restore or create a new one.
Note. Confirm by checking that the software loads without errors and processes responses without shutting down.
Fix 4. Update/Reinstall Office for Mac: System Refresh
Bugs that exist within older versions of software are usually fixed in newer versions. Open Outlook, click on Help > Check for Updates and make sure that Microsoft AutoUpdate utility downloads the latest fixes. In case Outlook keeps crashing, drag the Outlook icon into the Trash bin, restart the computer and install the application again.
Note: The application version shows the latest version released by Microsoft.
Advice: Perform Safe Transition Through MacMister OLM Converter
In case the persistent crashes, bloating of the database, or synchronization problems continue to interfere with your work using Microsoft Outlook for Mac, switching to another client such as Apple Mail, Thunderbird, or Office 365 web infrastructure would be the appropriate course of action.
Since the mailboxes in Outlook for Mac are saved in the proprietary format of .olm files, it is necessary to employ a specific extractor to move off the software. The use of MacMister OLM Converter for Mac and Windows will help you to easily convert your Outlook mailboxes on Mac into PST, MBOX, PDF, or EML file formats without any corruption of the folder structure or data loss.
Conclusion
While crashes while replying to emails are certainly irritating, they can normally be addressed by flushing out corrupted caches, adjusting the reply box settings, or reconstructing your user profile. Approach these solutions one at a time so that you can pinpoint the exact issue, and consider all options for data conversions if you are permanently moving platforms.
