So you fired up Classic Outlook for Windows, clicked “New Email,” and… boom. Instant crash. Because apparently, asking your email client to do email things is just too much these days.
The Smoking Gun: FORMS2 Folder
Turns out Outlook can’t find its precious Forms Library — that’s the thing it needs to open new emails without throwing a tantrum. And when it’s missing? Outlook throws itself to the floor in protest, taking your productivity with it.
Microsoft says this only applies to “Outlook for Microsoft 365” meaning Outlook (classic). They haven’t given any version or build details.
There’s no direct error message, but a dig into the Windows Event Viewer will find a message like this:
Faulting application name: OUTLOOK.EXE, version: 16.0.14334.20090, time stamp: 0x683fe030
Faulting module name: OLMAPI32.DLL, version: 16.0.14334.20090, time stamp: 0x683ff910
Exception code: 0xc0000409
Fault offset: 0x00196e1c
Faulting process id: 0x9100
Faulting application start time: 0x01dbdbe04fe54514
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\OUTLOOK.EXE
Faulting module path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\OLMAPI32.DLL
This bug is making the rounds in Microsoft 365, especially for folks using virtual desktops. If you’re one of them, congratulations — you’re a VIP in this glitch party.
Temporary Fix: Bribe Outlook With a Folder
Here’s how to stop Outlook (classic) crashing (for now):
- Close Outlook
- Hit Start | Run, and type this:
%localappdata%\Microsoft- Hit OK, that will open Explorer to the correct location.
- Right-click anywhere and create a new folder called FORMS2.
- No files have to be in the FORMS2 folder, just the folder has to exist!
- Relaunch Outlook and—voilà—it behaves!
This patch should at least get you through your inbox without fireworks.
Microsoft knows about the bug. They’re investigating. Slowly. No explanation about how Microsoft’s automated testing managed to miss this pretty obvious bug.
But Why Though?
Because Outlook depends on OLMAPI32.DLL, and when that doesn’t find its long-lost FORMS2 folder, it decides to give up on life.
Keep an eye on this Microsoft support page for any updates, hopefully a patch to remove this bug.
