Outlook 2016 hangs at Processing on the start-up screen

Original KB number:   3188434

Symptoms

You start Microsoft Outlook 2016, and it hangs at the Processing stage on the startup screen. Outlook never fully starts.

Resolution

This issue was fixed in the following updates:

• Office build 16.0.7369.2015 for Office 2016 Click-to-Run editions.
• March 2017 update for Microsoft Installer (.msi)-based edition of Office 2016.

Workaround Method 1 - Manually configure Outlook 2016 to always run maximized

1. Exit Outlook 2016.

2. Determine which icon you use to start Outlook, and access the Properties for that shortcut:

   • Icon on the Desktop

     • Right-click the Outlook icon on the Desktop, and then select Properties.

   • Icon pinned to the taskbar

     1. Right-click the Outlook icon on the taskbar, right-click Outlook 2016, and then select Properties.

   • Icon pinned to the Start menu

     1. Right-click the Outlook tile pinned to the Start menu, point to More, and then select Open file location.

     2. Right-click Outlook 2016 in the File Explorer window that opens, and then select Properties.

3. In the Outlook 2016 Properties dialog box, select Maximized for Run.

4. Select OK.

Workaround Method 2 - Use Group Policy to configure Outlook 2016 to always run maximized

1. Start the Group Policy Management Console.

   Note

   Because you may be applying the policy setting to an organizational unit and not to the whole domain, the steps may also vary in this aspect of applying a policy setting. Therefore, check your Windows documentation for more information.

2. In the Group Policy Management Console, under User Configuration, expand Preferences, expand Windows Settings, and then select Shortcuts.

3. Create a new shortcut with the following properties:

   Name: Outlook 2016
   Location: All Users Desktop
   Target path: <path of Outlook.exe>
   Arguments: /recycle
   Start in: <path of Outlook.exe>
   Run: Maximized
   Icon file path: <path of Outlook.exe>

   Note

   The path of Outlook.exe may vary, depending on the Office installation type and bitness of Windows and Office, as follows.

   Office installation type	Bitness of Windows and Office	Default path of Office
   Click-to-Run	Same	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16|
   Click-to-Run	Different	C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16|
   MSI	Same	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16|
   MSI	Different	C:\Programs Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16|

   Same Bitness: Office 32-bit running on Windows 32-bit or Office 64-bit running on Windows 64-bit
   Different Bitness: Office 32-bit running on Windows 64-bit

4. Copy the shortcut that you created, and then paste it to duplicate it.

5. Double-click the shortcut that you pasted, and then change the Location to All Users Start Menu. Select OK.

6. Copy the shortcut that you created, and then paste it to duplicate it.

7. Double-click the shortcut that you pasted, and then change the Location to All Users Programs. Select OK.

Workaround Method 3 - Manually delete the Outlook Frame value from the registry

1. Exit Outlook 2016.

2. Use one of the following procedures to start Registry Editor.

   • Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 8: Press Windows Key+R to open a Run dialog box. Type regedit.exe, and then select OK.
   • Windows 7: Select Start, type regedit.exe in the search box, and then press Enter.

3. In Registry Editor, locate and then select the following subkey in the registry:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Office Explorer

4. In the details pane, select the Frame value.

5. On the Edit menu, select Delete.

6. Select Yes to confirm that you want to delete this value.

7. Exit Registry Editor.

8. Start Outlook 2016.

Workaround Method 4 - Create a .reg file to reset the Outlook Frame value in the registry

1. Start Notepad.

2. Copy the following text and paste it into Notepad:

   Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
   [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Office Explorer]
   "Frame"=hex:

3. On the File menu, select Save As.

4. Browse to a convenient location to create the .reg file, such as the Desktop.

5. For Save as type, select All Files (.).

6. Enter a file name and the file name extension .reg, such as Reset Outlook Frame.reg.

7. Select Save.

8. When the issue occurs, exit Outlook and then double-click the .reg file to reset the Outlook Frame value to work around the issue.

Workaround Method 5 - Use Group Policy to delete the Outlook Frame value from the registry

1. Start the Group Policy Management Console.

   Note

   Because you may be applying the policy setting to an organizational unit and not to the whole domain, the steps may vary in this aspect of applying a policy setting. Check your Windows documentation for more information.

2. In the Group Policy Management Console, under User Configuration, expand Preferences, expand Windows Settings, and then select Registry.

3. Create a registry item that has the following properties:

   Action: Delete Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Key Path: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Office Explorer Value Name: Frame

4. Select OK.

Workaround Method 6 - Use a logon script to delete the Outlook Frame value from the registry

Include the following PowerShell command in your logon script:

remove-itemproperty 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Office Explorer' -Name Frame