Lag in displaying text when typing in Outlook classic

Question

Lag in displaying text when typing in Outlook classic

Helen GE 30

As of today, 14 May 2026 (and since the last two Windows updates), I'm experiencing lag when typing text and clicking on any commands in Outlook Classic. I've disabled add-ons, and I've disabled predicting text when typing. The problem happens whether I'm using HTML or plain text for the email. There was zero lag prior to the Windows updates being installed. Is this another known MS Windows/Office/Outlook problem? How can I fix it?

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Hornblower409 16,075

@Helen GE

The Q&A Assist Answer is total garbage. It is telling you about a problem with Classic Outlook from 2025. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/cpu-spikes-when-typing-in-classic-outlook-for-windows-992d8cfd-ba48-4d7b-9d57-e27a903aea23

1 -- But the "CPU Spikes" is a possible clue. If you open the Windows Task Manager and leave it open while you are using Outlook. Do you see the "CPU" usage jump up when Outlook goes wonky?

User's image

2 -- You can try running Outlook in Safe Mode. Does that make any difference?
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/open-outlook-in-safe-mode-f394c2ee-b2af-e97a-64ee-35cd24414811

3 -- What is your Outlook Version? (Current is 2604 or higher)
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/what-version-of-outlook-do-i-have-b3a9568c-edb5-42b9-9825-d48d82b2257c

4 - What Windows Version did you get updated to?
Settings > Windows Update > Update history

Helen GE 30 Reputation points

2026-05-15T08:05:34.2666667+00:00
Thank you @Hornblower409 - thought my marbles were lost after reading the AI response ;-)

there weren't any obvious CPU spikes

didn't get as far as opening it in safe mode as the problem mysteriously fixed itself after rebooting a couple of times. Noted it wasn't happening in Word or Excel, so didn't appear to be an Office 365 issue.

outlook version is 2604

Two updates, 13.05.26 2026-05 .NET Framework Security Update (KB5087051) and then 14.05.26 2026-05 Security Update (KB5089549) (26200.8457). Every single time there's an update, it creates issues - really appreciate your help so I can learn and help myself more. THANK YOU!
Hornblower409 16,075 Reputation points

2026-05-15T13:30:46.31+00:00

@Helen GE said

Two updates KB5087051 and KB5089549

Not seeing any chatter about either of those causing the problem you described. Glad you got it corrected.

Every single time there's an update, it creates issues

For next time - The first thing to do when you see a problem after a Windows Update is to just roll back the updates (one at a time) and see if that fixes it. If the problem is from an update then pause your automatic Windows Updates until Microsoft gets their act together and issues a newer version of the patch.

Settings -> Windows Update -> Update history
Scroll to the bottom -> Uninstall updates.
Locate the specific KB update you want to remove and click Uninstall.

Pause updates in Windows
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/pause-updates-in-windows-643e9ea7-3cf6-7da6-a25c-95d4f7f099fe
Helen GE 30 Reputation points

2026-05-15T13:45:08.3133333+00:00

@Hornblower409 thanking you - really appreciate this info!