Drafts Folder in Outlook

Question

Drafts Folder in Outlook

Vincent Wolfinger 0

I cannot open draft messages in drafts folder. How do I fix this.

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2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Hendrix-V 20,225 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Vincent Wolfinger,

Additionally, I would suggest isolating whether the issue follows the message itself or the Drafts folder.

Create and save a fresh test draft, then reopen it. If that works while older drafts do not, please mention whether those affected drafts have anything in common, such as attachments or formatted content. If even the fresh draft cannot be opened, please provide the exact behavior or error shown.

Those results will give us a clearer direction for further investigation.

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Answer 2

Start classic Outlook in Safe Mode and try opening a draft; if it works there, disable the COM add-in causing the conflict.

1. Test Outlook without add-ins

Close Outlook.
Press Windows key + R.
Enter:
```
   outlook.exe /safe
```
Select OK, accept the default profile, and open a message from Drafts.

If drafts now open:

Select File → Options → Add-ins.
At the bottom, select COM Add-ins → Go.
Record the enabled add-ins, then clear their check boxes. Do not select Remove.
Restart Outlook normally.
Re-enable the add-ins individually, restarting Outlook after each one, until the issue returns. Leave the responsible add-in disabled and obtain an update from its publisher. Microsoft documents Safe Mode as the test for add-in conflicts in classic Outlook.^1^

2. Install the latest Office update

In classic Outlook, select File → Office Account → Update Options → Update Now. If Enable Updates appears first, select it and then run Update Now.^2^

This is especially important if Outlook closes or crashes when a draft is opened. Microsoft fixed a 2025 classic Outlook issue in which opening or starting an email caused a crash because Outlook could not open its Forms Library.^3^

If updates cannot be installed immediately and Outlook is actually crashing:

Close Outlook and all other Office applications.
Press Windows key + R.
Enter %localappdata%\Microsoft and select OK.
Create a folder named FORMS2.
Reopen Outlook and test the draft.

That workaround applies to the documented crash issue; it is not the first choice when drafts merely fail to open.

3. Test a new Outlook profile

If Safe Mode and updating do not help:

Hold Shift while starting Outlook.
Select Options → New.
Name the profile and add your email account.
Start Outlook with the new profile and test Drafts.

Alternatively, press Windows key + R, enter Outlook.exe /profiles, and create the profile there.^4^

If drafts open in the new profile, continue using it; the original profile is damaged.

4. Repair local data or Office

If the problem remains:

For a PST-based account, back up the data file first, close Outlook, and run SCANPST.EXE. Select the PST, choose Start, and then Repair if errors are found. The data-file location is shown under File → Account Settings → Account Settings → Data Files.^5^
To repair Office in Windows 11, open Settings → Apps → Installed apps, select the menu beside Microsoft 365 or Office, and choose Modify → Online Repair → Repair. On Windows 10, use Apps and Features → Microsoft 365/Office → Modify.^6^

If only one draft fails while all others open, that individual item may be damaged. If every draft fails even in a new profile, report the exact error message and whether Outlook remains open, freezes, or crashes; those details determine the next branch.

References