Sorry, we’re having trouble opening this item in Outlook

Some Microsoft Outlook users face the issue that when they try to read or access emails in the Outlook desktop client on their Windows 11/10 computer, they are not able to do it. After selecting an email from the Item list, instead of showing the email content, a blank space is visible on the Reading pane. And, double-clicking on an email displays this Sorry, we’re having trouble opening this item error message. The entire message goes like this:

Sorry, we’re having trouble opening this item. This could be temporary, but if you see it again you might want to restart Outlook.

If you also have this problem, then this post can be helpful. You must have already restarted Microsoft Outlook and your computer multiple times, but the problem would still be there. Thus, to solve your problem, the solutions covered in this post can come in handy. Before trying these solutions, you should also update Microsoft Outlook, and see if your problem is fixed. If not, check the fixes covered below.

Sorry, we’re having trouble opening this item in Outlook

To fix this Sorry, we’re having trouble opening this item. This could be temporary, but if you see it again you might want to restart Outlook problem on your Windows 11/10 computer, try the solutions listed below:

1. Restore Outlook default View Settings
2. Clear RoamCache Folder
3. Repair Outlook Data Files
4. Repair Outlook Account.

1] Restore Outlook default View Settings

If this problem starts occurring after making changes to the view settings, then you should restore the default view settings for your Outlook desktop client. This option has worked for many users and this may work for you too. Here are the steps:

1. Close Microsoft Outlook if you have opened it
2. Open the Run Command box using Win+R hotkey
3. Enter outlook.exe /cleanviews in the text box of Run Command
4. Press the OK button
5. When the command is executed, it will start loading your Outlook profile, and the Outlook interface will open
6. Again, open the Run Command box
7. Enter outlook.exe /resetnavpane in the text box
8. Press the OK button.

Now check if you are able to access the emails.

2] Clear RoamCache Folder

If the cached data of Microsoft Outlook that is stored in the RoamCache folder is corrupted, then also it can cause different problems including this trouble opening this item in Outlook error. So, in this case, you need to clear Microsoft Outlook cache data. It won’t delete your Outlook emails, contacts, and other data. Only the cache data will be cleared which will be recreated automatically. Follow these steps:

• Open File Explorer
• Paste the following path in the address bar of File Explorer:

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\RoamCache

• Press the Enter key
• Select all the data present in the RoamCache folder
• Delete them.

Related: Outlook not sending emails in Windows, With or Without attachments.

3] Repair Outlook Data Files

The Outlook Data File (.ost and .pst) contains your Outlook messages or emails and other items. If your Outlook Data File has become corrupted, then it may lead to various issues. And, this could be the reason that you are not able to access emails in your Outlook desktop client. Therefore, you should repair your corrupt Outlook Data File. For this, you can use the built-in Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair tool that helps to repair corrupt Outlook PST and OST personal data files.

Before doing that, you should also backup your data files first, so that you can restore them if needed. For this, open File Explorer, and access the Outlook folder. Here is the path:

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

In that folder, copy the .ost and .pst data file(s) available for your Microsoft Outlook account(s), and paste them to some other folder in your Windows 11/10 computer.

4] Repair Outlook Account

If the above options don’t help, then you should repair your Outlook account or profile. This option works when Outlook doesn’t sync emails, you are not able to receive and send emails, etc. It might also work when you aren’t able to access emails and face this problem. Here are the steps:

1. Open Microsoft Outlook client
2. Click on the File menu
3. Open Account Settings drop-down menu
4. Click on the Account Settings option. A separate box will open
5. Access the Email tab in that box
6. Select an account or profile
7. Press the Repair button.

Now follow the steps in the repair wizard and then restart Microsoft Outlook. Your problem should be gone now.

Hope this will help.

How do I fix Outlook Email not opening?

If you are not able to open emails received in the Outlook desktop client, then you can try the following solutions:

1. Delete Outlook Cache
2. Restore Outlook View Settings
3. Repair your Outlook Data Files, etc.

You can check step-by-step instructions for each of these solutions in this post above.

Can’t open this item Outlook has already begun transmitting?

Users may receive such an error when they try to send a large email and it got stuck in the outbox of Microsoft Outlook. But you can either send emails that are stuck in the outbox of Microsoft Outlook to solve this problem or delete the culprit email. For this, you can try the following solutions:

1. Drag the email to Drafts and delete it
2. Turn on Work Offline mode in Outlook and then delete the email.

Read next: What is Email encryption & how do you encrypt email messages.