How to fix Outlook 'Cannot open your default email folders' error

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to fix Outlook 'Cannot open your default email folders' error. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Quick Fix Steps

Before diving into detailed repairs, try these faster solutions. They resolve the error in many cases, especially if it appeared suddenly after an update or a brief network interruption.

1. Restart Outlook and your computer. Close Outlook completely, restart your PC, then reopen Outlook. This clears temporary memory issues that can cause the error.
2. Run Outlook in Safe Mode. Press Windows + R, type outlook.exe /safe, and press Enter. If Outlook opens in Safe Mode, an add-in is likely causing the problem. Disable add-ins via File > Options > Add-ins > Go (next to COM Add-ins), then uncheck all add-ins and restart Outlook normally.
3. Check your internet connection. For Microsoft 365 or Exchange accounts, a flaky connection can prevent Outlook from reaching the mail server. Verify you can browse the web, then restart Outlook.
4. Update Outlook. Go to File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now. Install any available updates and restart Outlook.

Detailed Instructions

If the quick fixes did not resolve the error, work through the following methods. Each one addresses a specific underlying cause.

Method 1: Repair Your Outlook Profile

A corrupted Outlook profile is a common trigger for this error. Repairing the profile rebuilds the connection between Outlook and your mailbox without deleting your data.

1. Close Outlook completely.
2. Open the Control Panel. Press Windows + R, type control panel, and press Enter.
3. Set View by to Large icons or Small icons, then click Mail (Microsoft Outlook).
4. Click Show Profiles.
5. Select your Outlook profile from the list, then click Properties.
6. Click Email Accounts.
7. Select your email account from the list, then click Repair.
8. Follow the on-screen prompts. Outlook will test the account settings and attempt to repair the connection.
9. Once the repair completes, restart Outlook and check if the error is gone.

Method 2: Run the Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe)

If your Outlook data file (.pst or .ost) is corrupted, the Inbox Repair Tool can scan and fix it. This is particularly relevant for POP/IMAP accounts that use a local .pst file.

1. Close Outlook completely.
2. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder containing ScanPST.exe. The default locations are:
   • Outlook 2016/2019/2021/Microsoft 365 (64-bit): C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\
   • Outlook 2016/2019/2021/Microsoft 365 (32-bit): C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\
3. Double-click ScanPST.exe to launch the tool.
4. Click Browse and locate your Outlook data file. To find the file path:
   1. Open Outlook (if possible) and go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
   2. Click the Data Files tab.
   3. Select your data file and note the path shown under Location.
5. Click Start to begin the scan.
6. If the tool finds errors, click Repair to fix them. This may take several minutes for large mailboxes.
7. Once the repair finishes, restart Outlook.

Method 3: Create a New Outlook Profile

If repairing the profile and data file does not resolve the error, creating a fresh Outlook profile is the most reliable fix. Your email data is not deleted — it remains on the mail server (for Microsoft 365, Exchange, or IMAP accounts) or in your existing .pst file (for POP accounts).

1. Close Outlook completely.
2. Open the Control Panel and click Mail (Microsoft Outlook).
3. Click Show Profiles.
4. Click Add to create a new profile.
5. Enter a name for the new profile (for example, "Outlook New") and click OK.
6. Follow the prompts to add your email account to the new profile. If you need assistance, refer to Setting Up an Email Account in Outlook (POP/IMAP/Exchange).
7. Once the account is added, return to the Mail window and select Prompt for a profile to be used under When starting Microsoft Outlook.
8. Click OK, then start Outlook.
9. Select the new profile from the dropdown and click OK.
10. Outlook will download your mailbox data from the server (for Microsoft 365/Exchange/IMAP accounts) or prompt you to locate your existing .pst file (for POP accounts).

Troubleshooting

Error persists after creating a new profile

If a brand-new profile still triggers the error, the issue may be with your Windows user profile or Outlook installation rather than the Outlook profile itself.

• Repair your Office installation. Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features, select Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office, and click Change. Choose Quick Repair, then Repair. If the error persists, run an Online Repair.
• Check for Windows profile corruption. Create a new Windows user account, log in with it, and set up Outlook there. If Outlook works, your original Windows profile is corrupted.
• Check disk health. Run chkdsk /f from an elevated Command Prompt to scan for file system errors that may be affecting Outlook data files.

Error appears only for shared or delegated mailboxes

If you can open your primary mailbox but receive the error when accessing a shared mailbox or delegated calendar, the shared mailbox may not be fully cached or you may lack permissions.

• Ask the mailbox owner to verify your permissions in Microsoft 365 or Exchange.
• In Outlook, go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings > Email tab, select your account, click Change, then More Settings > Advanced tab. Ensure Download shared folders is ticked.
• Remove and re-add the shared mailbox via File > Account Settings > Account Settings > Email tab > New.

Error related to send/receive issues

If you also experience problems sending or receiving email, review Troubleshooting Outlook Send/Receive Errors for additional guidance.

If none of the above steps resolve the error, please Open a Ticket with our support team. Include the exact error message, your Outlook version, and the steps you have already tried.

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