Can't add new rules, can't access page to manage rules

Anonymous
2015-12-19T22:59:43+00:00

I started adding a lot of rules to my account on Outlook.com. The rules I have set up are working fine. But now when trying to add any new rules it's failing and when I go to Settings>Manage Rules I go to a blank page with an error message.

Details:

Adding new rule. Right-click on a message>Create Rule. Dialog comes up, I'm able to fill in all fields and click Apply/Okay:

    - I get a message at the top of the screen stating "Sorry, Outlook.com wasn’t able to complete this request." at some point while filling in the fields.

    - When clicking on Apply/Okay I then get red text at the bottom of the dialog stating "Unable to cast object of type ‘Microsoft.Msn.Hotmail.FDCommon.Data.Xfs.XfsException’ to type ‘Microsoft.Msn.Hotmail.InboundMail.MailRules’."

Going to Settings>Manage Rules:

    - I get to the settings page, but none of my rules (The ones that still function normally when receiving mails) are present and there's a message at the top of the screen stating "Something happened at our end. Please refresh your browser or close it and sign in again."

   - When trying to create a new rule within this page, I get the same error as when on the main page stating "Unable to cast object of type ‘Microsoft.Msn.Hotmail.FDCommon.Data.Xfs.XfsException’ to type ‘Microsoft.Msn.Hotmail.InboundMail.MailRules’."

Have I hit some limit on the amount of rules Outlook is able to process? I have created a lot of them, over a page of rules, all of them just moving stuff into folders based on sender name.

Is there a way to clear my rules so I can start again?

Have tried this on the following operating systems and browsers: Windows 7 Professional, OSX 10.11.2, Safari 9.0.2, Internet Explorer 9, Firefox 43.0.1 (and at least one earlier version), adblockers and virus/malware checkers all disabled at some point in case that was an issue.

Also, tried the above steps on my girlfriend's account (which has no rules set up yet) and it works fine. Can create new rules, and access the manage rules page fine.

What can I do?

If I can't access the Mange Rules page to delete some rules that might be causing this, then I need someone from Outlook.com support to do something right?

Cheers.

Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Settings

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-01-26T18:40:52+00:00

    This is getting really frustrating. 

    It's time to move on. If I can't sort my email automatically, I need to find another solution. This means I am going away from Outlook. 

    No replies, no workarounds, no fixes. Just silence.

    Is anyone working on this?

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-01-26T15:44:46+00:00

    "I suggest you to refer to the following reponse careted by Uttam Yadav on **Unable to move folders, it says folder with the same name already exists**and check if it helps."

    It doesn't seem to be an issue now as none of the folders exist anymore at any level.  I've eliminated all the POP3 accounts from Outlook.com.  After seeing a steady decline in its reliability since going there from Hotmail.com, I've decided to strip it down to bare bones.  The Manage Rules problem has not changed.  It's been about two months now since I've been able to get in.  One reason I'm doing that is that my other webmail supports IMAP.  Outlook.com only allows you to import a snapshot of an IMAP account.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-01-26T09:57:39+00:00

    Hi,

    We appreciate your time and effort for getting back to us.

    I suggest you to refer to the following reponse careted by Uttam Yadav on **Unable to move folders, it says folder with the same name already exists**and check if it helps.

    If you need any further assistance let us know and we would be glad to assist you.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-01-25T17:44:26+00:00

     I remember that this started to happen when I've deleted a sub-folder linked to one of my previous rules and created a new folder elsewhere with the same name as the previous one that was deleted.

    I have a variation on that.  I moved three folders under my Inbox from their top level positions.  I tried moving them back and got this message:

    The folder couldn't be moved. A folder with the same name already exists.

    Well, actually they didn't, but I was able to recreate them as top level and they were empty.  The three folders were for POP3 accounts.  It looks like there must be a problem in allowing the same names on different levels.  When you create a POP3 account, you have an option to direct the mail to another folder, but there is no option to later change that rule, which has never shown up in Manage Rules.

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-01-25T16:58:29+00:00

    I've been searching for an answer for this issue, and this thread seems to be the only one I could find that looks promising.

    Hi everyone,

    I am also experiencing the exact same issue as the OP since yesterday. I remember that this started to happen when I've deleted a sub-folder linked to one of my previous rules and created a new folder elsewhere with the same name as the previous one that was deleted. 

    I've also asked the question in a new thread at http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook_com/forum/oemail-ocleanup/receiving-error-when-trying-to-manage-or-create/5ff06570-5e8a-4093-afc6-a2100631cd48 , and have attached the screenshots in case someone from support staff decides to look.

    Thanks.

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