Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to fix Outlook calendar events not opening or crashing when double-clicked in Windows and Mac. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

When you double-click a calendar event in Microsoft Outlook and nothing happens, the event fails to open, or Outlook freezes or crashes entirely, the cause is usually a corrupted Outlook profile, a faulty add-in, or an outdated version of the application. The good news is that most of these issues can be resolved without losing any of your calendar data. This guide walks you through the steps to get your Outlook calendar working again on both Windows and macOS.

Quick Fix Steps

If you are short on time, work through these steps in order. Most users find their issue is resolved within the first few attempts.

1. Restart Outlook completely and try opening the event again.
2. Check for and install the latest Outlook and Windows or macOS updates.
3. Open Outlook in Safe Mode (Windows) or disable add-ins (Mac) to rule out an add-in conflict.
4. Repair your Outlook data files or profile.
5. Recreate your Outlook profile if the issue persists.

Before You Begin

Before diving into the troubleshooting steps, take a moment to confirm a few things that will save you time later.

• Make sure your internet connection is stable, as Outlook needs to sync calendar data from the server.
• Check whether the issue affects all events or only specific ones. If only one event is affected, it may be a corrupted calendar entry.
• Confirm whether the issue occurs on another device or through Outlook on the web. This helps determine if the problem is with your local installation or the mailbox itself.
• Back up your Outlook data before making changes to your profile or data files.

Detailed Troubleshooting for Windows

Step 1: Restart Outlook and Your Computer

A simple restart clears temporary files and resets background processes that may be causing Outlook to misbehave.

1. Close Outlook completely. Right-click the Outlook icon in the system tray (near the clock) and select Close window.
2. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
3. Look for any Microsoft Outlook processes still running, select them, and click End task.
4. Restart your computer and open Outlook again.

Step 2: Update Outlook and Windows

Outdated software is one of the most common causes of crashes and unexpected behaviour.

1. Open Outlook and click File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now.
2. Allow the update to download and install. You may need to restart Outlook.
3. Next, update Windows by going to Settings > Windows Update and clicking Check for updates.
4. Install any available updates and restart your computer.

Step 3: Open Outlook in Safe Mode

Safe Mode loads Outlook without any add-ins, customisations, or extensions. If Outlook works correctly in Safe Mode, an add-in is likely the cause.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type outlook.exe /safe and press Enter.
3. Try double-clicking a calendar event. If it opens normally, an add-in is the culprit.

Step 4: Disable Add-ins

If Safe Mode fixed the issue, identify and disable the problematic add-in.

1. In Outlook, click File > Options > Add-ins.
2. At the bottom of the window, next to Manage, select COM Add-ins and click Go.
3. Uncheck any add-ins you do not recognise or no longer need, then click OK.
4. Restart Outlook normally and test the calendar again.
5. If the issue returns, repeat the process, disabling add-ins one at a time until you find the one causing the problem.

Step 5: Repair Your Outlook Data Files

Outlook stores its data in .pst (POP/IMAP accounts) or .ost (Microsoft 365, Exchange, Outlook.com) files. Corruption in these files can cause crashes when opening items.

1. Close Outlook.
2. Open the Control Panel and go to Programs > Programs and Features.
3. Select Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365 and click Change.
4. Choose Online Repair for a thorough fix, or Quick Repair for a faster attempt.
5. Follow the prompts and restart your computer when finished.

Step 6: Repair the Inbox Repair Tool (Scanpst)

If the online repair did not resolve the issue, run the Inbox Repair Tool directly on your data file.

1. Locate Scanpst.exe in your Office installation folder. The typical path is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\.
2. Double-click Scanpst.exe to open it.
3. Click Browse and navigate to your Outlook data file. The default location is C:\Users\<YourUsername>\Documents\Outlook Files\.
4. Select the .pst file and click Start.
5. If errors are found, click Repair and follow the prompts.

Step 7: Recreate Your Outlook Profile

If the problem continues, your Outlook profile may be corrupted. Creating a new profile often resolves stubborn issues.

1. Close Outlook.
2. Open the Control Panel and search for Mail (Microsoft Outlook).
3. Click Show Profiles.
4. Click Add and give the new profile a name.
5. Follow the prompts to add your email account. If you use Microsoft 365 or Exchange, your settings will configure automatically.
6. Under Always use this profile, select your new profile and click OK.
7. Open Outlook and test the calendar.

Detailed Troubleshooting for macOS

Step 1: Restart Outlook and Your Mac

1. Quit Outlook by pressing Command + Q.
2. Open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities.
3. Search for Microsoft Outlook, select any running processes, and click the Stop button (the X in the toolbar).
4. Restart your Mac and try opening Outlook again.

Step 2: Update Outlook and macOS

1. Open Microsoft AutoUpdate from Applications > Microsoft Office > Microsoft AutoUpdate.
2. Click Check for Updates and install any available Outlook updates.
3. Next, update macOS by clicking the Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update.
4. Install any available updates and restart your Mac.

Step 3: Disable Add-ins

Unlike Windows, Outlook for Mac does not have a Safe Mode, but you can disable add-ins to test whether one is causing the issue.

1. Open Outlook and click Tools > Add-ins from the menu bar.
2. Uncheck any add-ins you do not recognise or no longer need.
3. Quit and reopen Outlook, then test the calendar again.
4. If the issue returns, repeat the process, disabling add-ins one at a time until you find the one causing the problem.

Step 4: Rebuild the Outlook Database

Outlook for Mac stores its data in a local database. If the database becomes corrupted, it can cause crashes when opening items.

1. Quit Outlook completely.
2. Hold down the Option key on your keyboard and open Outlook. This launches the Microsoft Database Utility.
3. Select the profile you want to rebuild.
4. Click Rebuild and wait for the process to complete. This may take some time depending on the size of your mailbox.
5. Once finished, open Outlook and test the calendar.

Step 5: Recreate Your Outlook Profile

If the problem continues, your Outlook profile may be corrupted. Creating a new profile often resolves stubborn issues.

1. Quit Outlook.
2. Open System Settings > Internet Accounts.
3. Select your Exchange or Microsoft 365 account and click the minus (-) button to remove it.
4. Click the plus (+) button and re-add your account.
5. Open Outlook and test the calendar.

When to Escalate

If you have worked through all of the steps above and the issue persists, the problem may be related to your mailbox on the server or a deeper configuration issue. Open a support ticket with the following information so we can investigate further:

• Whether the issue affects all events or only specific ones.
• Whether the issue occurs on another device or through Outlook on the web.
• The version of Outlook you are using (found under File > Office Account on Windows, or Outlook > About Outlook on Mac).
• Any error messages you have seen, including screenshots if possible.

Still Having Issues?