Outlook not properly closed?

Question

Outlook not properly closed?

Steve Grunnill 10

When I exit MS Outlook Classic (365 Subscription) and sometime later try to re-run it, nothing happens until I go to Task Manager select MS Outlook and choose the END TASK option and then it runs ok............until the next time of closing and re-running .....the same result happens. Frustrating!

0 comments

Answer recommended by moderator

Anonymous

If you also have an IMAP account in the profile sometimes it can also cause this issue. There is a registry key that could help, https://www.slipstick.com/problems/outlook-exe-continues-running-after-you-exit-outlook/. This MVP article also has a ready-made registry key if you need it. Download the reg key and double click to add it. You can drag the reg key file into Notepad if you want to see the path and setting. If you only have the Hotmail account in the profile it won't help in this case.

0 comments

4 additional answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Robert Sparnaaij [MVP] 18,406 MVP Volunteer Moderator

Third party add-ins or applications which depend on Outlook can keep the outlook.exe process running even when you close the application itself.

To troubleshoot what is causing this see; Outlook doesn’t close or outlook.exe process keeps running

0 comments

Answer 2

Deleted

This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

1 deleted comment

Comments have been turned off. Learn more

Answer 3

SD - IA 180.4K Independent Advisor

Hi Steve,

Some add-ins, or antivirus software, can keep Outlook Open.

Are you using any addins, or any 3rd party antivirus which supports email scanning?

I’m eager to hear back and work together to find a solution.

Steve Grunnill 10 Reputation points

2025-11-18T13:58:29.0666667+00:00

Hi Yes, I am using Bitdefender which monitors my hotmail email account in Outlook. Looks like this is the suspect. I am happy to disable it in Outlook so that I don't have to keep using task manager but not sure how to as I can see Bitdefender in my list of plugins bit no way of disabling it?
Steve Grunnill 10 Reputation points

2025-11-18T14:14:02.8366667+00:00

Hi, yes I do also have 2 IMAP accounts in Outlook. I will make use of the registry key you suggest. Thank you
Steve Grunnill 10 Reputation points

2025-11-18T16:13:57.13+00:00

Hi Gabe Bratton Your suggestion sorted my problem. Thank you so much, Steve

Answer 4

It sounds like you're experiencing an issue where Microsoft Outlook does not close properly, leading to it being unresponsive when you try to reopen it. This can happen for several reasons, including:

Outlook is in use by another process: Sometimes, another application or process may be using Outlook, preventing it from closing completely.
Corrupted Outlook data files: If your Outlook data files are damaged, it can cause issues with closing and reopening the application.
Add-ins interference: Certain add-ins may conflict with Outlook, causing it to hang or not respond properly.
Antivirus software conflicts: Outdated or conflicting antivirus software can also lead to problems with Outlook's performance.

To troubleshoot this issue, you might consider the following steps:

Repair Outlook data files: Use the Inbox repair tool (scanpst.exe) to scan and repair any corrupted data files.
Disable add-ins: Try starting Outlook in safe mode to see if an add-in is causing the issue. You can disable add-ins from the Outlook options.
Update antivirus software: Ensure that your antivirus software is up to date and check if it conflicts with Outlook.
Run the Classic Outlook Advanced Diagnostics troubleshooter: This tool can help identify and resolve common issues with Outlook.

If the problem persists after trying these steps, you may want to consider creating a new Outlook profile or performing a clean boot to isolate the issue further.

References: