How to Restart Outlook: Simple Solutions for Windows and Mac

If you use Microsoft Outlook as your email client, you know how essential it is to keep it running smoothly. When Outlook stops working, it can hinder your ability to respond to important emails from colleagues and friends. Restarting Outlook becomes vital to ensure its smooth functioning, as it helps resolve various issues and enhances the overall performance of the application.

Fortunately, most minor issues with Outlook can be resolved with a quick restart. Below, we’ll show you how to restart Microsoft Outlook on both Windows and Mac, along with some common Outlook problems and troubleshooting tips.

How to Restart Outlook on Windows

If Outlook stops working on your Windows computer, the first thing you should try is restarting it. This can often fix minor glitches and errors causing Outlook to malfunction. Restarting Outlook may be necessary for several reasons such as software updates, memory resources, network connectivity, and configuration changes.

Using Task Manager

Right-click the Start menu and select Task Manager from the menu.
In the Task Manager window, find Outlook in the list of processes and right-click on it.
Select End task from the context menu. This will close Outlook forcefully.
If this doesn’t work immediately, switch to the Details tab, locate the outlook.exe process, right-click it, and select End Process Tree.
Restart Outlook by launching it again via the Start menu.

Using Windows Terminal

Right-click the Start menu and select Window Terminal (Admin).
Type taskkill /im outlook.exe and press Enter. This will terminate Outlook immediately.
You can also use taskkill /f /im outlook.exe to force Outlook to close without saving any changes.
Once Outlook has closed, launch it again via the Start menu.

Using a Run Command

Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Alternatively, right-click the Start menu and select Run.
Type outlook.exe /resetnavpane in the box and press OK. This will reset the navigation pane for your current Outlook profile, forcing the application to restart.

How to Restart Outlook in Safe Mode on Windows

Safe mode is a minimal version of Outlook that you can launch if there’s a problem. It loads without add-ins or customizations, allowing you to revert any changes you’ve made. Restarting Outlook in safe mode is particularly useful for troubleshooting issues that prevent the application from launching normally.

Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Alternatively, right-click the Start menu and press Run.
Type outlook.exe /safe and press OK.
You’ll see a window asking you to choose a profile. Select the default profile (if it’s working) and click OK.
If your default profile isn’t working, press Options > New and create a new user profile to use instead. You’ll need to sign in to your email account again during this process.
Outlook will then launch in safe mode. Check the Outlook title bar—it’ll say (Safe Mode) to confirm.

How to Restart Outlook on a Mac

If Outlook stops working on your Mac, you can also try to restart it using one of these methods. Similar to Windows, restarting Outlook on a Mac can resolve performance issues and restore functionality.

Using Force Quit

Open the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your macOS screen and select Force Quit.
Alternatively, press Option + Command + Esc on your keyboard.
In the Force Quit window, find Outlook in the list of applications and click on it.
Press the Force Quit button at the bottom of the window. This will force Outlook to close.
Restart Outlook by clicking on its icon in the Dock or in the Applications folder.

Using Terminal

Open the Terminal app via the Other folder in the Launchpad or from your Applications folder on macOS.
In Terminal, type pkill -x “Microsoft Outlook” and press Enter. This will terminate Outlook.
You can also use pkill -QUIT -x “Microsoft Outlook” to send a more graceful signal that allows Outlook to perform some cleanup tasks before quitting.
Restart Outlook by selecting the icon for it from the Launchpad, your Dock icons, or via the Applications folder in Finder.

How to Troubleshoot Outlook Issues

If restarting Outlook doesn’t solve your problem, you may need to troubleshoot further to find out what’s causing Outlook to crash or stop responding. Here are some common troubleshooting steps:

Issue	Solution
Restart your computer	Sometimes, a simple restart can fix many issues with Outlook and other programs. Save your work, close all applications, restart your computer, and open Outlook again.
Update Outlook	Make sure you have the latest version of Outlook installed on your computer. Check your current Office version and update if necessary.
Disable add-ins	Add-ins can sometimes cause conflicts or errors with Outlook. Start Outlook in safe mode to determine if add-ins are causing issues and disable them.
Repair your Outlook PST file	Outlook has built-in tools to help you repair your PST file. Use the Outlook Inbox Repair tool to fix these files, then restart your PC or Mac and see if the problem is resolved.

How to Fix Outlook Issues

If Outlook isn’t working, you’re not working. Thanks to the steps above, you can quickly restart Microsoft Outlook on your Windows PC or Mac to resolve minor issues. Restarting Outlook not only helps in immediate troubleshooting but also improves its performance by clearing temporary files and resetting internal processes.

However, if Outlook still isn’t working, you’ll need to look more closely at any issues you have. For instance, a slow-loading Outlook client could be resolved by disabling add-ons and reducing the size of your PST file.

A problem with Outlook could be a symptom of wider problems with your Office installation. If that’s the case, you’ll need to repair your Office installation to resolve the problem. Regularly restarting Outlook after long sessions or frequent issues ensures optimal functioning.

Final Thoughts

Restarting Microsoft Outlook can often resolve minor issues and get your email client back on track. By following the steps outlined above, you should be able to handle most situations where Outlook stops working. Remember, if you’re having ongoing problems, it might be worth looking into broader issues with your Office installation or computer settings. Restarting Outlook is a key troubleshooting step that can refresh the application, resolve errors, and enhance connectivity, ensuring a smooth and efficient email experience.