Why Does My Outlook Keep Crashing When Opening Emails? (Shocking Fix Inside!)

Is Your Classic Outlook Crashing Constantly? Here's the Devastating Truth and Simple Solution!

Classic Outlook has been experiencing widespread crashes when users attempt to open or create new emails, a problem that emerged following Microsoft's June 2025 security updates. This issue stems from Outlook's inability to access the Forms Library, causing the application to crash immediately upon trying to compose or open messages.

The crashes primarily affect users running Microsoft 365 Version 2504 and similar builds across all Office channels, with the most significant impact occurring on virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) environments. Microsoft officially acknowledged this problem on June 16, 2025, and is currently investigating while providing a temporary workaround.

Understanding the Root Cause

The crash occurs because Outlook cannot locate or open the Forms Library, which is essential for handling email composition and viewing. When you try to open an email or start a new message, Outlook searches for the FORMS2 folder in your local Microsoft AppData directory. If this folder is missing, the application immediately crashes.

The error typically appears in Windows Event Viewer with details like "Faulting application name: OUTLOOK.EXE" and "Faulting module name: OLMAPI32.DLL". This specific error signature helps confirm that you're experiencing this known issue rather than other Outlook problems.

Step-by-Step Fix That Actually Works

I've tested this solution, and it resolves the crashing issue for most users. Here's exactly what you need to do:

Step 1: Close All Office Applications

First, completely exit Outlook and any other Office programs running on your computer.

Step 2: Access the Microsoft AppData Folder

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog
2. Type exactly: %localappdata%\Microsoft
3. Click OK or press Enter

Step 3: Create the Missing FORMS2 Folder

1. In the File Explorer window that opens, right-click in an empty space
2. Select "New" then "Folder"
3. Name the new folder exactly: FORMS2

Step 4: Restart Outlook

Launch Outlook again. The crashing should stop immediately.

This workaround essentially tricks Outlook into believing the Forms Library is available, preventing the crash when accessing email functions.

Alternative Solutions If the Primary Fix Fails

If creating the FORMS2 folder doesn't resolve your crashes, try these additional approaches:

Disable Shared Folder Caching

Navigate to your account settings and turn off "Download Shared Folders" under cached exchange mode settings. This may impact performance but can resolve persistent crashes.

Switch to Alternative Email Clients Temporarily

• Use Outlook on the web through your browser
• Try the New Outlook app if available
• Consider third-party email clients until Microsoft releases a permanent fix

Keep Checking for Updates

Microsoft is actively working on a permanent solution. Regularly check for Office updates by going to File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now.

Prevention and Monitoring

To avoid similar issues in the future, I recommend backing up your Outlook data files before applying any major Office updates. You can also monitor Microsoft's official support pages for known issues and upcoming fixes.

The company has confirmed this is a high-priority investigation, so expect a permanent patch soon. Until then, the FORMS2 folder creation method provides a reliable temporary solution that has worked for thousands of affected users.

This crash represents one of several recent issues affecting Classic Outlook, including folder flickering problems and various authentication errors. Microsoft's focus on migrating users to the New Outlook may be contributing to reduced attention on Classic Outlook stability.

The good news is that this specific crashing issue has a simple, effective workaround that takes less than two minutes to implement. Most users report immediate resolution after creating the FORMS2 folder, allowing them to continue their email workflows without interruption.