It is very easy to reset the Microsoft email programme Outlook to its default settings. Unfortunately, this cannot be done directly. You should therefore first use the built-in repair function.
Outlook 2024: Resetting newer versions
Before resetting the email programme in newer versions, use the repair function and back up your Outlook data. This often resolves most errors and issues. If that isn’t enough, reset Outlook to its factory settings. Start by backing up your stored data:
- Open Outlook and select ‘File’ from the top menu bar.
- Click on ‘Open and Export’. Here, select ‘Import/Export’.
- In the Import/Export Wizard, select ‘Export to a file’ and then click ‘Next’.
- Now select ‘Outlook Data File (.pst)’ and click ‘Next’ again.
- In the overview of email accounts that opens, select the folder you wish to export and confirm by clicking ‘Next’.
- Specify the save folder and select ‘Finish’.
- Then set a password for the file. You must enter it twice, then confirm by clicking “OK”.
- In the next step, you must enter the password again and confirm by clicking “OK”.
- You must then uninstall Outlook and reinstall it. Use the keyboard shortcut “Windows key + i” to open Windows Settings.
- Click on “Apps”, select “Outlook” and then choose “Uninstall”. Follow the uninstallation wizard and carry out the instructions.
- Reinstall Outlook. Then import the saved data. To do this, open the newly installed Outlook and click on ‘File’.
- In the ‘Open and Export’ overview, select ‘Import/Export’ in the ‘Open’ section.
- Then click on “Import from other programmes or files” > “Next” > “Outlook data file (.pst)” > “Next” > “Browse…” > “Open” > “Next” > “Finish”.
- You have now completed the import.
Resetting Outlook 2010 and 2013: First, delete your email profile
If your email programme is no longer working as usual, resetting it may help. To reset Outlook, you must delete both your email profile in Outlook and the cache. First, we’ll explain how to delete an Outlook email profile.
- Click on the ‘File’ tab.
- Under ‘Account Information’, you’ll now find your ‘Account Settings’ – twice. Click on both options.
- Now all you need to do is select the account profile you wish to delete and then click ‘Remove’.
- Once you’ve confirmed the action by clicking ‘Yes’, you’re done.
- If you have several profiles and wish to delete them, simply repeat these steps.
- In older versions of Outlook, this option to delete email accounts is hidden under the ‘Tools’ tab.
Deleting and resetting the Outlook cache – here’s how
Outlook does not offer this option straight away either. Here’s how to do it anyway:
- Press and hold the “Windows” and “E” keys simultaneously. This will open Outlook Explorer.
- Now click on the address bar at the top and enter the following path: “C:\Users\XXX\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content. Outlook‘.
- You will need to replace the placeholder ’XXX” with your own username.
- Inside the folder you have now opened, there is a subfolder named with a randomly generated combination of letters and numbers.
- This is where Outlook stores all your cache data, which you can now delete.
