Issues with Outlook

If the Forward command and most toolbar commands are disabled, close New Outlook completely through Task Manager and reopen it; if only text-formatting controls are disabled, switch the current message from Plain Text to HTML.

1. If the whole toolbar or Forward command is disabled

Widespread disabled commands may indicate that New Outlook is unresponsive or in a bad application state.

1. Right-click Start and select Task Manager.
2. Select Microsoft Outlook.
3. Select End task.
4. Reopen New Outlook and test with a new, attachment-free message.

This is Microsoft’s documented restart procedure for New Outlook. ^1^

2. If only formatting tools are grayed out

The message may be in Plain Text, which does not support fonts, colors, bullets, inline pictures, and other formatting controls.

For the currently affected reply or forwarded message:

1. Select Reply, Reply All, or Forward.
2. If composing in the Reading Pane, select Pop Out.
3. Open Options.
4. If the Format control says Switch to HTML, select it.

The button’s wording indicates the current format: Switch to HTML means the message is currently Plain Text. ^2^

To use HTML for future new messages, go to Settings → Mail → Compose and reply → Message format, select HTML, and save. ^3^

3. Address messages remaining in Drafts

Work through these checks in order:

1. Test the same account in its webmail site.
   • Send a simple message without an attachment.
   • If webmail also cannot send, this is an account, mailbox-storage, credential, or mail-service issue—not just the Windows app.
   • If webmail sends successfully, continue with the New Outlook app steps below.
2. Force synchronization in New Outlook.
   • Select View → Sync.
   • Wait for the synchronization status at the bottom of the message list to finish.
   • Retry the message. Manual Sync is not available in the same way for some third-party Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, POP, or IMAP accounts. ^4^
3. Check Microsoft cloud storage. A full Microsoft cloud mailbox prevents sending and receiving. Delete unneeded large mail, empty Deleted Items, and remove unnecessary OneDrive files if the storage page reports that the quota is full. ^4^
4. Inspect the draft for large attachments.
   • Open Drafts and select the oldest affected message.
   • Remove large attachments and send a smaller file or a sharing link instead.
   • Test again with a new plain message containing no attachment.
   Oversized messages can remain in Drafts until their attachments are removed. ^5^
5. If the password was changed recently, select the account name when prompted, choose Continue, and sign in with the updated password. Third-party providers may require an app password. ^4^

4. Repair or reinstall New Outlook if webmail works

If the account sends successfully through webmail but New Outlook still leaves messages in Drafts:

1. Open Start → Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
2. Find Outlook (new) and select More options → Advanced options.
3. Select Repair if available.
4. Reopen Outlook and test.

Repair is intended to fix an app without removing its data. If Repair is unavailable or ineffective, Reset is the next Windows option, but it may remove local application data and settings. ^6^

If that fails, uninstall new Outlook for Windows from Start and reinstall it through Microsoft Store. ^1^

References

1. Outlook for Windows not responding, hangs, freezes, or stops working
2. [New Outlook](https://support.microsoft.com/outlook/troubleshoot-attachment-problems-in-outlook-for-windows)
3. [New Outlook](https://support.microsoft.com/outlook/change-the-message-format-to-html-rich-text-format-or-plain-text-in-outlook)
4. I can't send or receive messages in Outlook | Microsoft Support
5. My email message doesn't send | Microsoft Support
6. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/apps/repair-apps-and-programs-in-windows#summary)