Outlook won't open, splash screen comes up briefly and then disappears again and the program quits

Anonymous
2012-09-13T03:11:43+00:00

My mother's installation of Outlook 2011 has suddenly stopped working.  When she tries to run it, the splash screen comes up briefly (like for about a second or less) and then disappears again and the program quits.  This is all that it does.  It does not display any kind of error message.  It just quits.  There is a file sitting on her Desktop titled Sent Items.mbox and the Get Info window and icon suggest that this file is connected to Outlook.  I assume that this is the file containing her sent emails, but I can’t find where it is supposed to go.

What I am think is that my mom was poking around in folders that she should not have been in an accidentally moved this file out of its correct location and that Outlook, not finding it, is simply quitting.  Is this what is happening?  Can someone tell me where this file is supposed to go?

Outlook | MacOS | Legacy Outlook for Mac | For business

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2015-05-26T15:32:33+00:00

It might not be on autoupdate yet (no idea what's holding it up).

You can download and install manually from there though:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3048688

          Corentin

Was this answer helpful?

10+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

53 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2013-04-25T16:16:50+00:00

    Well forget about the preference file if the library cannot be rebuilt. That's the root of your problem :-\

    Your problem is different then and you should have created a seaprate thread…

    You might have to resort to a Hail Mary:

    http://www.officeformachelp.com/outlook/troubleshoot/#hailmary

    Corentin

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2014-01-07T19:07:34+00:00

    I had the same problem after attempting to download the latest microsoft office update.  after I did, my outlook blinked then wouldn't open.  As cortig suggested, I held the option button down and it worked!  It let me rebuild the identity, after which outlook is working great!  Thanks for the suggestion!

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2014-01-21T10:08:27+00:00

    Best answer I've found yet!! Removed the library preference and then did a rebuild and it's working perfectly!! Fantastic thanks!!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2014-01-22T17:57:43+00:00

    I am new to Mac - and also have a problem with outlook - the splash screen comes up briefly (for about a second or less) and then disappears again and the program quits.  This is all that it does.  It does not display any kind of error message.  It just quits.   

    Where is the option key? I am on an iMac - have been on to apple support and they have taken me through a series of editing libraries, etc.,  but they can do no more, gave me a UK no for microsoft support but it does not work from Ireland...

    All my other programs in office for mac (excel, word, ppt) are opening ok.  only outlook is doing this 'flash' and then nothing.  It opens ok on the other profile....

    I am using Office for Mac 2011 - have the latest update installed 14.3.9 - and am using the latest version of mavericks.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments