Cannot start Outlook Cannot open the Outlook window the set of folders Cannot be opened

This tutorial contains instructions to resolve the following error in Microsoft Outlook: " Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window. The set of folders cannot be opened. The server is not available. Contact your administrator if this condition persists".

Cannot start Outlook Cannot open the Outlook window the set of folders Cannot be opened

The Outlook "Set of folders cannot be opened" error , may appear in all Outlook versions and occurs when the Outlook PST data file is corrupt. To fix the problem, proceed and repair the Outlook data file, with the instructions below.

How to FIX: The Set of folders cannot be opened in Microsoft Outlook 2013, 2019, 2019.

1. Navigate to Windows Control Panel. To do that:

a. Type "control panel" at the Windows search box
b. Click Control Panel from the results.

Cannot start Outlook Cannot open the Outlook window the set of folders Cannot be opened

2. Set the View by to Small icons to view all control panel items and then click Mail.

Cannot start Outlook Cannot open the Outlook window the set of folders Cannot be opened

3. Click the Data Files button.

Cannot start Outlook Cannot open the Outlook window the set of folders Cannot be opened

4. Notice the name and the location of the "Outlook.pst" data file and close all open windows. *

* Note: If you have an Exchange (IMAP account) then you'll see an .OST data file (e.g. "Outlook.ost"). At this case, force Outlook to recreate the corrupted "Outlook .OST file, by doing the following:

1. Click Open File Location.
2. Rename the OST data for the account that is causing the issue (if you have more than one IMAP accounts).
3. Open Outlook to recreate the OST file…

Cannot start Outlook Cannot open the Outlook window the set of folders Cannot be opened

5. Open Windows explorer and locate the scanpst.exe repair tool at this location: *

  • C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\%OfficeVersion%\SCANPST.EXE

* Note: Below are mentioned the location(s) of the "SCANPST.EXE" file according the installed Office version. If you cannot find the "scanpst.exe" at the above location(s), then look at:

    • C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16.

Office 2019 & 2016 & Office 365:
Windows 32-bit > C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16
Windows 64-bit & Office 32-bit > C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16
Windows 64-bit & Office 64-bit > C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16
Click-to-Run Office 32-bit  > C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
Click-to-Run Office 64-bit  > C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 16\root\office16

Office 2013:
Windows 32-bit > C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15
Windows 64-bit & Office 32-bit > C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15
Windows 64-bit & Office 64-bit > C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15
Click-to-Run Office 32-bit  > C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office15
Click-to-Run Office 64-bit  > C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 15\root\office15

Office 2010:

Windows 32-bit > C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14
Windows 64-bit & Office 32-bit > C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14
Windows 64-bit & Office 64-bit > C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14

Office 2007:

Windows 32-bit > C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12
Windows 64-bit >  C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12

6. Double-click to open the SCANPST.EXE

Cannot start Outlook Cannot open the Outlook window the set of folders Cannot be opened

7. Locate and select the corrupted Outlook data file (e.g. Outlook.pst) and click OK.

8. Press the Scan button and be patient until the Inbox Repair Tool repairs the corrupted file. *

* Note: At final repair phase you will be asked if you want to create a backup. Answer "Yes" to continue the repair operation.

Cannot start Outlook Cannot open the Outlook window the set of folders Cannot be opened

9. When the repair process is completed, open Outlook.

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Cannot start Outlook Cannot open the Outlook window the set of folders Cannot be opened

How do you fix Cannot open the Outlook window the set of folders Cannot be opened?

Fix “The Set of Folders Cannot be Opened” Error in Outlook 2016,....
Start Outlook in Safe Mode. ... .
Create a New Outlook Profile. ... .
Start Outlook from the Taskbar. ... .
Use an App Password for Outlook. ... .
Install the 64-bit version of Office. ... .
Remove your Account from the Mail App. ... .
Remove . ... .
Repair Outlook Data Files..

How do you fix Cannot start Microsoft Outlook Cannot open Outlook window the set of folders Cannot be opened the attempt to log on to Microsoft Exchange has failed?

This is what you need to do. Step 1: Simply open the Run dialog box on your system and type in "outlook.exe /resetnavpane". Step 2: After typing, press the Enter key or click on "OK" and then launch Outlook. The settings will begin to recover now.

Why is my Outlook saying the set of folders Cannot be opened?

The set of folders cannot be opened.” error, you can attempt to manually remove the Navigation Pane configuration file and have Outlook reset it. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to bring up the Run application. On older versions of Windows, you can also reach this from the Start menu.

How do you fix Cannot expand the folder the set of folders Cannot be opened the attempt to log on to Microsoft Exchange has failed?

Following are a few effective solutions to fix the error “Outlook the set of folders cannot be opened” are as follows:.
Launch Outlook in Safe Mode..
Update the Outlook application..
Recreate your Outlook Profile..
Turn off Compatibility mode in Outlook..
Repair Office Installation..
Fix Outlook..
Repair PST Using ScanPST Tool..