The bug usually manifests itself as follows: you open Outlook and you’re presented with a splash screen that tells you that add-ins are being loaded. After a while, the window says “Processing”, and that’s where it freezes. You can leave it to load for days, it will not get past the initial splash screen. Some users have managed to get around this issue by closing Outlook from Task Manager and re-opening it again. But this method is only a temporary fix and has been proved to be ineffective for the vast majority of users that are dealing with this issue. Since it only affects a tiny percent of the huge Outlook user base, Microsoft has not yet released a solid fix that deals with this issue entirely. Luckily, there are a lot of methods that proved to be successful in dealing with this bug. However, you need to prepare yourself for an extensive troubleshooting session. But before we get to the fixes, let’s go through the most common causes that will cause this bug to appear:
A license agreement from the last Office update has not been acceptedMicrosoft Office doesn’t have the latest updatesGlitched Microsoft OfficeCorrupted Outlook profileHardware acceleration causes hanging at the initial splash screen (Outlook 2013)Outlook is not configured to run maximizedOutlook Frame value needs to be deleted from the registry (Outlook 2016)
So does your Outlook hang or freeze at “Processing” when you open it? There are a lot of potential fixes for this issue. Below you have a collection of methods that will help you get rid of the “Processing” error in Outlook. Note: Keep in mind that some methods are specific to certain Outlook versions, and may not work on yours. Please follow the guides in order as they are ordered by likelihood of success. Let’s begin.
Method 1: Closing every Outlook dialog box (All Outlook versions)
The more you know about technology, the more susceptible you are to missing out the simplest of things. Dialog boxes are easy to miss but can make your Outlook unusable if you don’t tend to them. Outlook has the habit of double-checking some of your decisions by making you confirm via a dialog box. As long as you interact with them, you’ll be fine, but if you don’t choose any options from the dialog box, Outlook will block you from doing anything else.
If you force close your Outlook while a dialog box is open, you might glitch the dialog box so that it remains in your taskbar. The next time you try to Open Outlook the dialog box will make the program hand or freeze at the initial splash screen. A quick way to check for dialog boxes is to press Alt+Tab. This will show you every window and enable you to move freely between them. If you spot a dialog box belonging to Outlook, close it immediately. If not, move over to the next method.
Method 2: Install the latest Microsoft Office updates (All Outlook versions)
Microsoft has released some hotfixes at the end of 2016 that will eliminate the “Processing” error in some instances. However, the hotfix appears to only fix problems related to the license agreement and window size. However, it’s worth updating to the latest version if you haven’t already done it. Since it will replace some files in your Office folder, there’s a slight chance that it will remove the corrupted file that is causing the issue. Here’s how to update your Office suite to the latest version:
Method 3: Accepting the Licence Agreement from Safe Mode (Outlook 2016, Outlook 2013)
That’s right. A pointless license agreement can get you close to throwing your computer out the window. Apparently, it’s mandatory to Accept every new license agreement that Microsoft throws out at you. If you didn’t agree to it at the first Outlook launch after the update, chances are your Outlook became unusable since then. The only way to accept the license agreement that has been rendering your Outlook inaccessible is to start it in safe mode. Microsoft has since apologized and admitted that it was an error on their part. The sincere apology won’t restore the functionality of Outlook, but the steps below will: Note: The following steps might not work for you if you already agreed with the latest license agreement. But since there’s no chance of hurting your device, you can try it and see for yourself.
Method 4: Repairing your Office suite (Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010)
If the Office update didn’t produce any results, let’s try a general repair of your Office programs. The repair tool in Office is specifically designed for instances where some programs from the suite are experiencing hanging, freezing, and non-responsiveness. Before trying one of the manual fixes below, let’s try an automatic repair. Here’s how: On Windows 8 – Click the Start menu and select Run. Type “Outlook /safe“, and then choose OK to start the program. On Windows 10 – Choose Start, and in the Search programs and files box, type “Outlook /safe“, and then press Enter.
Method 5: Starting Outlook in Airplane Mode (All Outlook versions)
This is a temporary fix, but it will enable you to open Outlook and load up your emails. The fix involves starting Outlook while there’s no active internet connection. The easiest way to do it is by enabling Airplane Mode. Some users have even reported that it fixed the issue permanently. Here’s what you need to do:
Method 6: Forcing Outlook to run maximised (All Outlook versions)
Believe it or not, hanging at the “Processing” stage might, in fact, be caused by Outlook not starting properly in a custom size. As it turns out, forcing it to always run maximized can enable you to go past the splash screen. Here are the steps of manually configuring Outlook to run in Maximised mode:
Method 7: Running the /resetnavpane command (All Outlook versions)
The navigation pane can be found in the left portion of your Outlook screen. It allows users to move easily between emails, calendars, people, and tasks. But it can also glitch out just as easily and prevent Outlook from starting properly. However, there is a command capable of resetting navigation pane any customisation along with any glitch. Here’s how to use it:
Method 8: Repairing Outlook data files (All Outlook Versions)
Every Outlook version will be accompanied by an efficient repair tool called Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe). If performing a general repair has proved to be ineffective, the issue might originate from your Personal Folders Profile (PST). If corruption inside your PST file is causing the “Processing” error, scanning your Outlook data files using the Inbox Repair Tool can help you eliminate the issue completely. Here’s what you need to do:
Method 9: Creating a new Outlook profile (All Outlook versions)
Before we can completely cross-check a corrupted profile from the culprit list, let’s see if creating new Outlook profile eliminate the “Processing” error. Your Outlook profile holds a variety of settings dictate how your Outlook behaves. Moving your email account to a new profile might enable you to get past the initial splash screen. Here’s what you need to do:
Method 10: Disabling Hardware Acceleration (Outlook 2013, 2016)
If you’ve come this far without a viable fix, there’s a strong chance the issue might originate from your Outlook registry files. There’s a fairly common glitch in both Outlook 2013 and Outlook 2016 related to hardware acceleration that might trigger the “Processing” error or a “Process has been closed” error. Try these steps and see if you get a result:
Method 11: Creating a new Outlook data file (All Outlook versions)
Some users have reported that they managed to get rid of the issue by forcing the creation of a new Outlook data file. The following steps will force your Outlook to create and use a new data file. If the data file you’re currently using is corrupted, this will help you get rid of the “Processing” issue. Here’s what you need to do:
Method 12: Deleting the Outlook Frame value from the Registry (Outlook 2016)
If you’ve come this far without results, there’s one more thing you can try before surrendering your computer to a Microsoft technician. However, this will only work on Outlook 2016. It has been reported that deleting the Frame value using the Registry Editor. Here’s what you need to do:
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