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

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

109 answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2016-01-27T13:55:15+00:00

    I have requested PRIVATE MESSAGE several times but still not received...

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2016-01-27T16:05:36+00:00

    And I also think that this OFFICIAL SILENCE about this problem is very disconcerting and puzzling...

    It only makes sense if Microsoft is phasing out email service.  They apparently aren't willing to devote enough resources to maintain the status quo.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2016-01-28T14:37:53+00:00

    Hello

    Could you also consider fixing my account? I removed folder before removing rule redirecting to this folder and it started to happen that time. I followed suggestion "Ooloo Roo" wrote and moved all my e-mails from folders back to inbox and then deleted all the folders I had. But this didn't help.

    Thanks

    Peter

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2016-01-31T10:28:33+00:00

    Hi Peter,

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

    I would like to know the number of rules you have created for your account?

    This issue might occur if you have created a multiple rules again and again.

    You can try the following workaround:

    If you have a less/few numbers of rules created for your account, then try deleting them and logout from your account. Later, login to your account and try recreating the rules and check if the issue persists.

    Note: If the issue resolves then do not create multiple rules again, which might cause the same issue.

    Hope the above information helps. Reply with necessary information and the result to help you further.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2016-01-31T11:56:54+00:00

    Hello

    Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I cannot apply your suggestions because I cannot open "manage rules" page.

    Number of rules I have is about 25. They are dispatching incoming e-mails to separate folders, there are also some rules that delete old e-mails in specific folders. 

    Recently I tried to rearrange my e-mail directory from folder-based to category-based. I started to assign categories to e-mails in specific folders and move the e-mails back to in-box, then modify appropriate rules so that they don't dispatch to folders but assign categories instead. 

    Once I deleted folder before modifying the rule that is dispatching to this folder. This is when my problems started. Since that time I cannot open "manage rules" page.

    Thanks

    Peter

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments