Why does Microsoft Outlook automatically close when I click on a particular email which opens for just a few seconds

Windows Version Windows 11 Pro 25H2 OS Build 26200.7922

My brother forwards me a email of a monthly newsletter.

The email is from a trusted UK site (CSPA newsletter) and is forwarded to me by my brother, when I click the email to read it Microsoft Outlook Classic closes after a few seconds!

I am able to read the email in the outlook.com web app without any issues.

Things I have tried;

Key Troubleshooting Steps to Stop Crashes:

• Run in Safe Mode: Press Win + R, type outlook.exe /safe, and click OK. If it works, a third-party add-in is likely the cause; disable them via File > Options > Add-ins.
• Clear WebView2 Cache: Close Outlook, navigate to %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Olk\, and rename the EBWebView folder to EBWebView.old.
• Repair Office/Outlook: Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features, select your Office installation, and choose "Change" then "Repair".
• Delete the Email via Webmail: Log into your email via a browser (e.g., outlook.office.com), locate the problematic email, and delete it or move it to a different folder to prevent the desktop app from crashing when loading it. (Did not delete the email as I would not have been able to read it, but moved it to another folder it still closes Outlook)
• Update Windows/Office: Ensure you have the latest updates, as some bugs, such as those related to specific builds, are fixed in newer updates.
• Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration: Sometimes, disabling this in File > Options > Advanced can prevent rendering crashes. (Disabled Graphics Acceleration in my browser Edge as my pc does not have a dedicated GPU)

None of the above has worked in stopping Microsoft Outlook Classic from closing automatically when opening this email!

I can read the email on the outlook.com web app without any issues.

Open the faulty email again to generate another crash then head over to Event Viewer. Look under Windows Logs -> Application and see if you can find that event. It'll be either listed as an Application Error or Windows Error Reporting. If it mentions Outlook in the details then copy everything then paste it into your reply for me to look at.

Hi @Secret Squirrel pasted below are the three Windows Error Reporting in Event Viewer but cannot see Outlook being mentioned.
Log Name: Application
Source: Windows Error Reporting
Date: Wed,11,03,2026 11:23:39
Event ID: 1001
Task Category: None
Level: Information
Keywords:
User: SYSTEM
Computer: DESKTOP-8I46C8F
Description:
Fault bucket , type 0
Event Name: WindowsWcpOtherFailure3
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: 10.0.26100.7911:1
P2: wcp\componentstore\storelayout.cpp
P3: ComponentStore::CRawStoreLayout::OpenComponentFile
P4: 2203
P5: 800f0983
P6: 0x1888f1af
P7:
P8:
P9:
P10:

Attached files:
\\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.f8d37900-1cc1-42a9-bbc6-ac13fd628c18.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml

These files may be available here:
\\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive\Critical_10.0.26100.7911__3318d84c734a8377730c3572c28657a3ea39d5d_00000000_bae738f5-20aa-4aea-9882-dd135b29483d

Analysis symbol:
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: bae738f5-20aa-4aea-9882-dd135b29483d
Report Status: 2147491840
Hashed bucket:
Cab Guid: 0
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Windows Error Reporting" Guid="{0ead09bd-2157-539a-8d6d-c87f95b64d70}" />
<EventID>1001</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>4</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2026-03-11T11:23:39.0759094Z" />
<EventRecordID>80224</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="10116" ThreadID="14888" />
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>DESKTOP-8I46C8F</Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data Name="Bucket">
</Data>
<Data Name="BucketType">0</Data>
<Data Name="EventName">WindowsWcpOtherFailure3</Data>
<Data Name="Response">Not available</Data>
<Data Name="CabId">0</Data>
<Data Name="P1">10.0.26100.7911:1</Data>
<Data Name="P2">wcp\componentstore\storelayout.cpp</Data>
<Data Name="P3">ComponentStore::CRawStoreLayout::OpenComponentFile</Data>
<Data Name="P4">2203</Data>
<Data Name="P5">800f0983</Data>
<Data Name="P6">0x1888f1af</Data>
<Data Name="P7">
</Data>
<Data Name="P8">
</Data>
<Data Name="P9">
</Data>
<Data Name="P10">
</Data>
<Data Name="AttachedFiles">
\\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.f8d37900-1cc1-42a9-bbc6-ac13fd628c18.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml</Data>
<Data Name="StorePath">\\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive\Critical_10.0.26100.7911__3318d84c734a8377730c3572c28657a3ea39d5d_00000000_bae738f5-20aa-4aea-9882-dd135b29483d</Data>
<Data Name="AnalysisSymbol">
</Data>
<Data Name="Rechecking">0</Data>
<Data Name="ReportId">bae738f5-20aa-4aea-9882-dd135b29483d</Data>
<Data Name="ReportStatus">2147491840</Data>
<Data Name="HashedBucket">
</Data>
<Data Name="CabGuid">0</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

Log Name: Application
Source: Windows Error Reporting
Date: Wed,11,03,2026 11:23:37
Event ID: 1001
Task Category: None
Level: Information
Keywords:
User: SYSTEM
Computer: DESKTOP-8I46C8F
Description:
Fault bucket , type 0
Event Name: WindowsWcpOtherFailure3
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: 10.0.26100.7911:1
P2: wcp\componentstore\storelayout.cpp
P3: ComponentStore::CRawStoreLayout::OpenComponentFile
P4: 2203
P5: 800f0983
P6: 0x1888f1af
P7:
P8:
P9:
P10:

Attached files:
\\?\C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log
\\?\C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20260307135832.log
\\?\C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20260302204131.cab
\\?\C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20260227110753.cab
\\?\C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\container.etl
\\?\C:\WINDOWS\servicing\Sessions\Sessions.xml
\\?\C:\WINDOWS\WinSxs\poqexec.log
\\?\C:\WINDOWS\Logs\Cbs\FilterList.log

These files may be available here:
NULL

Analysis symbol:
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: bae738f5-20aa-4aea-9882-dd135b29483d
Report Status: 262148
Hashed bucket:
Cab Guid: 0
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Windows Error Reporting" Guid="{0ead09bd-2157-539a-8d6d-c87f95b64d70}" />
<EventID>1001</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>4</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2026-03-11T11:23:37.6963179Z" />
<EventRecordID>80223</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="8448" ThreadID="20136" />
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>DESKTOP-8I46C8F</Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data Name="Bucket">
</Data>
<Data Name="BucketType">0</Data>
<Data Name="EventName">WindowsWcpOtherFailure3</Data>
<Data Name="Response">Not available</Data>
<Data Name="CabId">0</Data>
<Data Name="P1">10.0.26100.7911:1</Data>
<Data Name="P2">wcp\componentstore\storelayout.cpp</Data>
<Data Name="P3">ComponentStore::CRawStoreLayout::OpenComponentFile</Data>
<Data Name="P4">2203</Data>
<Data Name="P5">800f0983</Data>
<Data Name="P6">0x1888f1af</Data>
<Data Name="P7">
</Data>
<Data Name="P8">
</Data>
<Data Name="P9">
</Data>
<Data Name="P10">
</Data>
<Data Name="AttachedFiles">
\\?\C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log
\\?\C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20260307135832.log
\\?\C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20260302204131.cab
\\?\C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20260227110753.cab
\\?\C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\container.etl
\\?\C:\WINDOWS\servicing\Sessions\Sessions.xml
\\?\C:\WINDOWS\WinSxs\poqexec.log
\\?\C:\WINDOWS\Logs\Cbs\FilterList.log</Data>
<Data Name="StorePath">NULL</Data>
<Data Name="AnalysisSymbol">
</Data>
<Data Name="Rechecking">0</Data>
<Data Name="ReportId">bae738f5-20aa-4aea-9882-dd135b29483d</Data>
<Data Name="ReportStatus">262148</Data>
<Data Name="HashedBucket">
</Data>
<Data Name="CabGuid">0</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

Log Name: Application
Source: Windows Error Reporting
Date: Wed,11,03,2026 11:23:37
Event ID: 1001
Task Category: None
Level: Information
Keywords:
User: SYSTEM
Computer: DESKTOP-8I46C8F
Description:
Fault bucket , type 0
Event Name: WindowsWcpOtherFailure3
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: 10.0.26100.7911:1
P2: wcp\componentstore\storelayout.cpp
P3: ComponentStore::CRawStoreLayout::OpenComponentFile
P4: 2203
P5: 800f0983
P6: 0x1888f1af
P7:
P8:
P9:
P10:

Attached files:

These files may be available here:
\\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportQueue\Critical_10.0.26100.7911__3318d84c734a8377730c3572c28657a3ea39d5d_00000000_bae738f5-20aa-4aea-9882-dd135b29483d

Analysis symbol:
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: bae738f5-20aa-4aea-9882-dd135b29483d
Report Status: 4
Hashed bucket:
Cab Guid: 0
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Windows Error Reporting" Guid="{0ead09bd-2157-539a-8d6d-c87f95b64d70}" />
<EventID>1001</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>4</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2026-03-11T11:23:37.6918579Z" />
<EventRecordID>80222</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="18832" ThreadID="19268" />
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>DESKTOP-8I46C8F</Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data Name="Bucket">
</Data>
<Data Name="BucketType">0</Data>
<Data Name="EventName">WindowsWcpOtherFailure3</Data>
<Data Name="Response">Not available</Data>
<Data Name="CabId">0</Data>
<Data Name="P1">10.0.26100.7911:1</Data>
<Data Name="P2">wcp\componentstore\storelayout.cpp</Data>
<Data Name="P3">ComponentStore::CRawStoreLayout::OpenComponentFile</Data>
<Data Name="P4">2203</Data>
<Data Name="P5">800f0983</Data>
<Data Name="P6">0x1888f1af</Data>
<Data Name="P7">
</Data>
<Data Name="P8">
</Data>
<Data Name="P9">
</Data>
<Data Name="P10">
</Data>
<Data Name="AttachedFiles">
</Data>
<Data Name="StorePath">\\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportQueue\Critical_10.0.26100.7911__3318d84c734a8377730c3572c28657a3ea39d5d_00000000_bae738f5-20aa-4aea-9882-dd135b29483d</Data>
<Data Name="AnalysisSymbol">
</Data>
<Data Name="Rechecking">0</Data>
<Data Name="ReportId">bae738f5-20aa-4aea-9882-dd135b29483d</Data>
<Data Name="ReportStatus">4</Data>
<Data Name="HashedBucket">
</Data>
<Data Name="CabGuid">0</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

The Outlook Event ID 45, 30, and 30 are as follows

Log Name: Application
Source: Outlook
Date: Wed,11,03,2026 11:24:05
Event ID: 45
Task Category: None
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: DESKTOP-8I46C8F
Description:
Outlook loaded the following add-in(s):


Name: Microsoft Exchange Add-in
Description: Exchange support for Unified Messaging, e-mail permission rules, and calendar availability.
ProgID: UmOutlookAddin.FormRegionAddin
GUID: {F959DBBB-3867-41F2-8E5F-3B8BEFAA81B3}
Load Behavior: 3
HKLM: 1
Location: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ADDINS\UmOutlookAddin.dll
Boot Time (Milliseconds): 16

Name: OneNote Notes about Outlook Items
Description: Adds Send to OneNote and Notes about this Item buttons to the command bar
ProgID: OneNote.OutlookAddin
GUID: {93E5752E-B889-47C5-8545-654EE2533C64}
Load Behavior: 3
HKLM: 1
Location: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ONBttnOL.dll
Boot Time (Milliseconds): 0

Name: Microsoft VBA for Outlook Addin
Description:
ProgID: Microsoft.VbaAddinForOutlook.1
GUID: {799ED9EA-FB5E-11D1-B7D6-00C04FC2AAE2}
Load Behavior: 9
HKLM: 1
Location: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ADDINS\OUTLVBA.DLL
Boot Time (Milliseconds): 0

Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Outlook" />
<EventID Qualifiers="16384">45</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>4</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2026-03-11T11:24:05.6757909Z" />
<EventRecordID>80228</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="12796" ThreadID="0" />
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>DESKTOP-8I46C8F</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>Outlook loaded the following add-in(s):


Name: Microsoft Exchange Add-in
Description: Exchange support for Unified Messaging, e-mail permission rules, and calendar availability.
ProgID: UmOutlookAddin.FormRegionAddin
GUID: {F959DBBB-3867-41F2-8E5F-3B8BEFAA81B3}
Load Behavior: 3
HKLM: 1
Location: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ADDINS\UmOutlookAddin.dll
Boot Time (Milliseconds): 16

Name: OneNote Notes about Outlook Items
Description: Adds Send to OneNote and Notes about this Item buttons to the command bar
ProgID: OneNote.OutlookAddin
GUID: {93E5752E-B889-47C5-8545-654EE2533C64}
Load Behavior: 3
HKLM: 1
Location: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ONBttnOL.dll
Boot Time (Milliseconds): 0

Name: Microsoft VBA for Outlook Addin
Description:
ProgID: Microsoft.VbaAddinForOutlook.1
GUID: {799ED9EA-FB5E-11D1-B7D6-00C04FC2AAE2}
Load Behavior: 9
HKLM: 1
Location: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ADDINS\OUTLVBA.DLL
Boot Time (Milliseconds): 0
</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

Log Name: Application
Source: Outlook
Date: Wed,11,03,2026 11:24:04
Event ID: 30
Task Category: None
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: DESKTOP-8I46C8F
Description:
Starting reconciliation for the store C:\Users\Robert\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\[email protected] for the following reason: The store was last opened on a different machine.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Outlook" />
<EventID Qualifiers="16384">30</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>4</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2026-03-11T11:24:04.9078094Z" />
<EventRecordID>80226</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="12796" ThreadID="0" />
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>DESKTOP-8I46C8F</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>C:\Users\Robert\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\[email protected]</Data> (I altered the email address for security reasons)
<Data>The store was last opened on a different machine</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>
Log Name: Application
Source: Outlook
Date: Wed,11,03,2026 11:24:04
Event ID: 30
Task Category: None
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: DESKTOP-8I46C8F
Description:
Starting reconciliation for the store C:\Users\Robert\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\@.co.uk.ost for the following reason: The store was last opened on a different machine.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Outlook" />
<EventID Qualifiers="16384">30</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>4</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2026-03-11T11:24:04.8742483Z" />
<EventRecordID>80225</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="12796" ThreadID="0" />
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>DESKTOP-8I46C8F</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>C:\Users\Robert\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\@.co.uk.ost</Data> (Emails addresses altered for security reasons)
<Data>The store was last opened on a different machine</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

Thanks for providing details of those events. Sadly, they're not relevant.

Outlook Classic and the web version use different renderers so the culprit is either a malformed image, corrupted HTML tag, or a font that Classic doesn't like.

As a test, click the View menu then turn the Reading Pane off. Next, select the email then press CTRL+ALT+F to forward the message as an attachment. That'll cause Outlook to rebuild it. Send it to yourself. Does it open successfully?

Also, while you've got the Reading pane turned off, does double clicking on the message work?

Secret Squirrel said:

As a test, click the View menu then turn the Reading Pane off. Next, select the email then press CTRL+ALT+F to forward the message as an attachment. That'll cause Outlook to rebuild it. Send it to yourself. Does it open successfully?

Also, while you've got the Reading pane turned off, does double clicking on the message work?

Click to expand...

Hi @Secret Squirrel
Thank you for that.
In answer to both questions no it did not work. There must be some configuration in the content in the email that Outlook does not like and therefore it closes to protect the Outlook application.

I'm not bothered by this as it is only a newsletter and if I really want to read it I can just open it in the Outlook Web App.

So, thanks for your help.

Here is the email itself with altered email addresses!

From: S T - CSPA <[email protected]>
Sent: 29 January 2026 10:08
To: Jose <[email protected]>
Subject: CSPA January News and Updates

​ ​ Welcome to 2026 from Sally and the HQ Team It is too far into January to say the words, Happy New Year, however as my first e-newsletter of the year I’d like to extend my very best wishes to you, your families and loved ones – have a great 2026! The phones are still busy at CSPA HQ as we take calls from CSPA members and some non-members about the difficulties they’re having in attempting to contact Capita about their pensions. Members commonly relay tales of having to hold on for 3 hours or more, before calls are answered by Capita, and worse still, some people have even been cut off after waiting several hours. We have been told this is due to the Contact Centre struggling to cope with unusually high demands – 3 to 4 times as many incoming calls as usual - and a backlog of some 86,000 cases Capita ‘inherited’ from MyCSP. That’s as may be, but it simply isn’t acceptable from our members point of view, and we have been doing all we can to escalate the issues our members are experiencing to Capita, the Cabinet office and elsewhere, and have recently written to the Chair of the Civil Service Pension Board, the relevant Ministers and the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee. The issues, especially cases where people’s pension payments are not being made, are now also making their way into the House of Commons, as numerous MPs have raised PMQs for their constituents, and into the mainstream media, with coverage from the BBC and national newspapers. We have recently received the update below on how Capita is planning to address the most immediate issues, but we will continue to push for answers and service improvements on behalf of CSPA members. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ WASPI Along with the NPC, and other organisations, we are urging members to help WASPI campaigners send a million letters to MPs, asking them to support the 50s-born women’s claim for compensation. This response from WASPI – Women Against State Pension Inequality – comes as the Government reconsiders its earlier decision to reject compensation for these women. ​ ​ Mandatory eye tests for older drivers: Have your say On 7 January 2026, the Government launched a consultation on proposals to implement mandatory eye tests for older drivers. The LLA partners have discussed this, and we have agreed to submit a response to the consultation by the deadline of 31 March 2026. To ensure that the LLA response is based on the views of members, it would be helpful if you could answer the five simple questions on our short survey. ​ ​ Member benefit updates: ​ Vision Express: FREE EYE TEST ​ ​ When you spend £50 or more -- PLUS -- 30% off when you spend £50 or more Available on glasses, prescription sunglasses and contact lenses. Vouchers are free to download and use - see instructions below. 1. Hit 'Get your voucher' button and proceed to the Vision Express website 2. Enter your details to to download a voucher 3. Book your eye test online 4. Bring your voucher with you to the appointment to redeem discounts ​ ​ Car insurance from CSIS We are excited to share that our friends at CSIS are offering a 10% discount on car insurance to our members! With the rising cost of car insurance over the past few years, now is the perfect time to see if you can save some money when your renewal is due. With optional extras such as European Breakdown and Motor Legal Expenses, along with their great customer service, you’ll have peace of mind that you are in good hands. ​ Call today on 01622 766960 (Mon-Fri 9am – 5pm) for a quotation ​ ​ We are Quilter Invest; a new investment app that’s designed to help you learn, save, and invest with confidence. We are part of Quilter, a well‑established FTSE 250 company, you can be assured you’re in trusted hands. Use promo code NEWYEAR26 and unlock zero commission, zero subscription trading with Quilter Invest. If you open an account and invest before 1st March 2026, you will just pay our 0.15% annual platform fee. We make it simple to start saving and investing online, giving you the tools to shape your financial future, your way. ​ Remember, with investing your capital is at risk and so you may not get back all that you originally invested ​ It seems like the 2025 AGM was just a few weeks ago, but work is already underway on this year's event, which will be on Wednesday 7th to Thursday 8th October 2026, at Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth. Groups and Branches will be invited to submit Motions for discussion and Nominations for the posts of members of the Executive Council and Standing Orders Committee, later this year. S T CSPA General Secretary ​ ​ Share Forward CSPA, 160 Falcon Road, London, SW11 2LN CSPA has been working hard for 70 years on behalf of our members. We meet regularly with Cabinet Office to protect the value of civil service pensions, provide excellent membership services and great value for money. We are a powerful, independent voice for retired civil servants and older people. As a member of CSPA you have provided your email address and are receiving this newsletter as part of our member communications. If you do not wish to receive further emails please unsubscribe at the link below. ​

Sorry that I couldn't help. Outlook Classic’s old Word‑based rendering engine is almost certainly the culprit.