Table of Contents
Question/Problem Description
Following a message migration, when the target Outlook clients try to log in, they encounter a reading error while attempting to modify their Outlook rules. Certain Outlook users also experience a persistent error reading the rules from the server… pop-up while trying to access their Outlook mailbox from the local Outlook standalone application or attempting to manage their rules from their desktop in Outlook 365 for Windows.
I am encountering the same issue on every computer with my Outlook account, which leads me to believe that it’s a server-related problem. Interestingly, I am not seeing any similar error pop-ups when using the same Outlook account on Outlook for Mac. Typically, this problem arises when the PC is connected to a shared network.
The detailed error message is as below:
There was an error reading the rules from the server. The format of the server rules was not recognized
Despite trying the most commonly recommended solutions like exporting rules, deleting rules, restarting Outlook, and importing rules, the error persists. Specifically, I’m seeing blank rules labeled as “(client only)” at the bottom, which is then followed by the error messages about format of the server rules was not recognized.
To resolve the issue of Microsoft Outlook error “There was an error reading the rules from the server. The format of the server rules was not recognized”, please follow the steps provided below.
Potential Causes
- There appears to be a discrepancy or inconsistency in Outlook’s rule engine.
- There seems to be file corruption in the local Outlook data.
- There are rules causing issues that need to be removed from the Outlook service.
- There are glitches in the enforced rules of Outlook.
Solution 1: Remove the latest rule from Outlook.com
Step 1: Open Outlook Web App (OWA) / Office 365 in a new InPrivate window in the browser.
Step 2: Login with your account credential.
Step 3: Go to the Settings > Mail > Rules.
Step 4: Search for the Inbox rules.
Step 5: Locate the rule that you last added when you started to experience the error.
Step 6: Remove the rules by clicking on the bin icon.
Step 7: Restart the Outlook.
Solution 2: Access, modify, or remove rules in Outlook Web App (OWA)
Step 1: Open Outlook Web App (OWA) / Office 365 in a new InPrivate window in the browser.
Step 2: Login with your account credential.
Step 3: Go to the Settings > Mail > Rules.
Step 4: Search for the Inbox rules.
Step 5: Verify whether there are any recently created, violated, or corrupted rules. Remove any rules marked with a warning sign and labeled as “This rule can’t be edited or viewed in Outlook on the web“.
Step 6: Restart the Outlook.
Solution 3: Delete and reimport local client rules
Step 1: Open the Outlook.
Step 2: Click on the File > Manage Rules & Alerts option.
Step 3: Click on the Options from the drop-down box.
Step 4: Click on the Export Rules… button, select a folder where you want to save the newly created local files, and assign a name.
Step 5: Click on the Save to create a local backup of your rules.
Step 6: Delete all the rules.
Step 7: Restart the Outlook.
Step 8: Open Rules again.
Step 9: If you see any blank rules labeled as “(client only)” again, delete them all.
Step 10: Create any simple rule and save it.
Step 11: Restart the Outlook.
Step 12: Open Rules again.
Step 13: You will be prompted to select which rules you want to use whether Client or Server, choose Client.
Step 14: Import the saved rules from step 1.
Outlook rule client only