Outlook for Mac 2011 crashes or hangs at startup

Symptoms

When you start Outlook for Mac 2011, the application crashes or hangs. 

Resolution

IMPORTANT The location of certain files are different if you have Service Pack 2 (SP2) installed. To check if it is installed, open Word, and then click About Word from the Word menu. If the version number is 14.2.0 or above, you have Service Pack 2 and you should follow the Service Pack 2 steps when provided in this article.
 

Step 1: Limiting the Folder Count, Item Count, and Mailbox Size

Foldercount: Keep a maximum folder count of 500 for each identity. This count includes local folders or On My Computer folders. In fact, it is a good practice to maintain less than 100 folders each in calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes.

Item count: Keep a maximum of 20,000 items each in the Inbox and Sent Items folders (includes the folders and subfolders). For optimal performance, keeping less than 5000 items each in calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes folders is highly recommended. 

Mailbox size: Keep your mailbox size under 9 GB to ensure better performance and prevent any potential stability issues.

Step 2: Quit Outlook and all other applications

To quit active applications, follow these steps:
  1. Choose Force Quit from the Apple menu (or press Command - Option - Esc).
  2. Select an application in the "Force Quit Applications" window.
    Note: You cannot quit Finder.
  3. Click Force Quit.
  4. Repeat this process until you quit all active applications.
Note: When an application is force quit, any unsaved changes to open documents are not saved.


Repeat this process until you quit all active applications


Try starting Outlook for Mac 2011 again. If the issue continues to occur, go to the next step. 
 

Step 3: Open Outlook 2011 without running schedules or trying to connect to a mail server

Opening Outlook without running schedules or trying to connect to a mail server is a way to determine whether the issue is related to the account settings or pending send/receive actions. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Press the Shift key and then click the Outlook icon on the Dock. This prevents Outlook from sending or receiving mail.
  2. Quit Outlook.
  3. Open Outlook.
If the issue continues to occur, go to the next step. 
 

Step 4: Verify the Outlook Identity 

The Outlook database and data records are stored in the Office 2011 Identities folder. By moving the folder to the desktop, Outlook will automatically create a new database. If Outlook opens without a problem, we will have to troubleshoot the Outlook database. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Quit all applications.
  2. On the Go menu, click Home.
  3. Open Documents, and then open Microsoft User Data.
  4. Drag Office 2011 Identities to the desktop.
  5. Open Outlook.
If the problem is resolved, the issue is related to the Outlook database. You may have to repair the Outlook database. To do this, view the following Microsoft knowledge base article:

2360509 How to troubleshoot Mac Outlook 2011 identity database

If the issue continues to occur, go to the next step.
 

Step 5: Remove Outlook preferences

This step will determine whether the problem is caused by damaged Outlook preferences. To move preferences to the desktop, follow these steps:
  1. Quit all applications.
  2. On the Go menu, click Home.
  3. Open Library.
    Note The Library folder is hidden in MAC OS X Lion. To display this folder, hold down the OPTION key while you click the Go menu.
     
  4. Open Preferences, and then drag the following files to the desktop:
    • com.microsoft.Outlook.plist
    • com.microsoft.outlook.database_daemon.plist
    • com.microsoft.outlook.database_utility.plist
    • com.microsoft.outlook.office_reminders.plist
    • com.microsoft.Outlook.SyncServicesPreferences.plist
    Note: If you cannot find one of these files, continue to the next. Some of these files may not have been created if an Outlook feature was not used.
  5. Open Outlook. Does the problem occur?

    No, the error no longer occurs.
    One of the files that you moved is causing the problem. To isolate the file, follow these steps:
    1. Quit Outlook.
    2. Move one of the files back to its original location.
    3. Open Outlook.

      If the error reoccurs, the file that you just moved is causing the problem. Drag this file to the Trash.

      If the error does not occur, continue repeating steps A to C until you isolate the file.

    Yes, the error still occurs.
    Quit Outlook, and move the files back to their original location. Go to the next step.
  6. Quit all applications.
  7. On the Go menu, click Home.
  8. Open Library.
    Note The Library folder is hidden in MAC OS X Lion. To display this folder, hold down the OPTION key while you click the Go menu.
  9. Open Preferences.
    Note If you have Service Pack 2 installed, open Application Support instead of Preferences.
  10. Open Microsoft, and then open Office 2011. Drag the following files to the desktop:
    • Outlook Preferences
    • OfficeSync Prefs
    Note: If you cannot find one of these files, continue to the next. Some of these files may not have been created if an Outlook feature was not used.
  11. Open Outlook. Does the problem occur?

    No, the error no longer occurs.
    One of the files that you moved is causing the problem. To isolate the file, follow these steps:
    1. Quit Outlook.
    2. Move one of the files back to its original location.
    3. Open Outlook.

      If the error reoccurs, the file that you just moved is causing the problem. Drag this file to the Trash.

      If the error does not occur, continue repeating steps A to C until you isolate the file.

    Yes, the error still occurs.
    Quit Outlook, and move the files back to their original location. Go to "Step 5: Clean startup or safe mode."

Step 6: Clean startup or safe mode

For information how to clean start your operating system (OS), view Microsoft Knowledge Base article: 

2398596 Perform a clean startup (safe mode) to determine whether background programs are interfering with Office for Mac 

If the problem continues to occur, go to the next step.
 

Step 7: Create a new user account

Sometimes, a user's specific information may be corrupted. To determine whether this is the case, you can log on as a new user or create a new user account, and then test an application. For steps and instructions on how to create a new user account, view the following Microsoft knowledge base article:

2439218 Testing your user account to troubleshoot Office for Mac applications