OUTLOOK.EXE Application error 0xc0000142

Question

OUTLOOK.EXE Application error 0xc0000142

Anonymous

I upgraded from Office 2016 to Office 2021 but now cannot open Outlook. When I try, I get the message "OUTLOOK.EXE Application error 0xc0000142" and the application closes.

I have tried the follow with limited success;

uninstalled both 2016 and 2021 versions of Office. Rebooted.
Reinstalled 2021 - still failed. Rebooted. Still failed.
Tried the local AND online repairs as suggested in fixing the same issue - both failed
Ran it in safe mode as suggested in online trouble shooting guide - this allowed me access to create my POP email account but it appears I am unable to send to anyone except myself. Gmail and Hotmail come back as rejected. Closing Outlook and trying to open it from the desktop icon fails as before.
Ran it in resetnavpane mode - it opened ok but again, unable to send except to myself and once it is closed, trying to open from desktop gets the same error message.

I am running the latest version of Windows 11 (installed today before I installed Office 2021) and the most up to date version of Office - purchased today and 1st installed today. All patches have been applied.

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Dear Steve

It's definitely puzzling that your Office installation seems fragmented, with shortcuts pointing to Office 16 while the installed app shows as "Microsoft Office Home and Business 2021" This discrepancy could indeed be related to your Outlook issues. Here are some steps to investigate further:

Repair Office Installation:

Open Control Panel > Programs and Features. Find "Microsoft Office Home and Business 2021" and click Change. Choose Online Repair and follow the on-screen instructions. This process can take some time but might fix potential file corruptions or missing components.

Check Folder Permissions: Right-click the Program Files (x86) > Microsoft Office folder and select Properties. Go to the Security tab and ensure your user account has Full Control permissions. Repeat the permission check for the Office15 and Office16 folders within the Microsoft Office folder.
Re-create Outlook Shortcut: Right-click your existing Outlook shortcut and select Delete. Open the Start Menu and search for "Outlook". Right-click on the Outlook application and choose More > Open file location. Drag and drop the Outlook executable file to your desired location (e.g., Desktop) to create a new shortcut.
Consider Reinstalling Office: If the above steps don't resolve the issue, consider reinstalling Office 2021 completely. You can download the download the Microsoft 365 uninstall support tool to completely uninstall the office package and you should also download the installation media from your Microsoft account or website. Choose the option to perform a complete uninstall during the reinstall process.

Additional Tips:

Check if other Office applications like Word or Excel encounter similar issues. If so, it strengthens the case for an installation problem.

By following these steps and potentially seeking further support, you should be able to get your Office installation in sync and resolve the Outlook problem. Hope this helps and answer your question. Give back to the Community. Help the next person who has this issue by indicating if this reply solved your problem. Click Yes or No below. Kind Regards -Adedayo

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3 additional answers

Answer 1

Hi Adedayo,

The scrubber uninstall worked, reinstalled Office 21 and Outlook started working perfectly. All other Office apps working as well. The "funny" part is, after the uninstall scrub and reinstall of Office21, it still didn't create an Office 21 folder but still uses an Office16 folder. As it is now working, I'll stop trying to fix it.

My thanks for your assistance in fixing this.

Cheers. Steve

Answer 2

Hi Adedayo,

Thanks for the reply but unfortunatly no joy. I have noticed one thing though in regards to my install of Office 2021. It doesn't exist on my C Drive!

I looked at my Excel and Word shortcuts (both working) and saw that they started in Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16.

Outlook shortcut properties shows the same path.

If I go to Start > Settings > Apps > Installed Apps I have Microsoft Office Home and Business 2021 - en - us. See attached screen shot)

If I use the file explorer and got to *Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root* I only see Office 15 and Office 16. - see attached screen shot.

Could this be the reason why I cannot get Outlook to work?

Answer 3

Hi Steve Greetings! Thank you for posting on Microsoft Community. I will be happy to help. I am a user just like you and only trying to advice/ assist in the best possible way to resolve your issue.

I understand you're facing persistent "OUTLOOK.EXE Application error 0xc0000142" after upgrading from Office 2016 to 2021 on Windows 11. You've tried various troubleshooting steps with limited success. Here are some additional approaches you can explore:

Diagnose the specific issue: System File Checker: Run an SFC scan to check for and repair corrupted system files that might be interfering with Outlook. Press Windows key + R, type "cmd" and press Enter. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. Restart your computer once complete. Event Viewer: Check for specific error messages related to Outlook in Event Viewer. Press Windows key + R, type "eventvwr" and press Enter. Navigate to Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > WER. Look for recent errors mentioning Outlook and analyze their details.
Advanced repair options: Office Quick Repair: Try a "Quick Repair" using the Control Panel. Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features. Select Office 2021, click "Change" and choose "Quick Repair." Office Online Repair: If Quick Repair doesn't work, perform an "Online Repair." This reinstalls Office while keeping your data intact.
Re-create Outlook profile: Create a new Outlook profile: This creates a fresh profile devoid of potential corrupt settings. Search "Control Panel Mail" and open "Mail." Click "Show Profiles" and choose "Add." Follow the wizard to create a new profile.

Additional notes: Since you recently upgraded Windows 11, ensure compatibility with Office 2021. Check Microsoft's official compatibility information for any known issues. Consider creating a system restore point before trying further troubleshooting steps, allowing you to revert if something goes wrong.

I hope these suggestions help you resolve the Outlook error! Remember to proceed cautiously and re-enable security measures like antivirus software after testing if necessary. Hope this helps and answer your question. Give back to the Community. Help the next person who has this issue by indicating if this reply solved your problem. Click Yes or No below. Kind Regards -Adedayo