How to fix "Operation cannot be performed because message has been changed" message. when using Outlook and Gmail.

Anonymous
2020-04-21T11:53:43+00:00

Over the last two years, I have been using Outlook 2013, now Office 365. I've been experiencing an ongoing issue where I receive this message "Operation cannot be performed because message has been changed" message.  Typical scenarios: 1) A new email arrives in my Outlook inbox. I preview, or read the email. I attempt to delete the email. Operation cannot... message appears.  I either type a new email, or reply to an email, go on to another task leaving the draft until later. When I return to the draft email, complete the email, and attempt to send the email, Operation cannot... message appears. I also cannot even save the draft, same error message. This is the worst part of this bug, as I've wasted/lost the time effort spent on the draft email.

I have run the Office repair utilities. I have tried unchecking the email cleanup boxes, and a variety of fixes recommended on these Microsoft answers communities. I've noticed sometimes when I come back to a message, it does allow me to move/delete the message. It's like there's a sync issue that needs time to resolve. However, nothing appears to work when a draft message gets hung in this loop. I have to start over with a new reply email.

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For home

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

82 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2020-06-11T19:14:42+00:00

    This happens to me when I save and reopen an email out of drafts. I discovered a "work around": open the email to edit, delete the saved copy in drafts. Finish editing, hit send.

    Was this answer helpful?

    100+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2020-07-20T08:11:19+00:00

    Add me to the list of people with this problem in both Outlook 2016 and 2019 (on different machines), but it didn't happen with Outlook 2010 which I was using until earlier this year on the m/c that now has the 2019 version.

    In my case I have a number of IMAP accounts including Gmail, and it appears to happen with any/all of them - sometimes "randomly"!

    Therefore it looks to have been caused by the change in coding when Outlook 2016 was developed - and therefore Microsoft REALLY SHOULD take the responsibilty and FIX IT! :(.

    Was this answer helpful?

    90+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2020-04-21T12:32:33+00:00

    Hi KeithLwood,

    Thank you for the detail issue description.

    May I first confirm with you if you are using Gmail account at outlook client or you are using Office365 account with its mailbox, it will be great if you tell us your account type. 

    Since you have already did almost all the troubleshooting steps, regarding with the clean up boxes, can I ask if you did this as well?

    Open Outlook > File > Options > Mail > Under Conversation Clean up, Uncheck When a reply modifies a message, don't move the original > Restart Outlook (it is is already unchecked, check it Restart Outlook, Uncheck it and Restart Outlook)

    Also, try to Account Settings > Open your account > More settings > Under Advanced tab, put INBOX in Root Folder Path. (If your all folders disappear, simply remove INBOX from here)

    Last, we would like you to create a new profile, navigate to control panel, Mail, and create a new one for your convience:

    Let me know if the above steps work to some extent, apprecaite it.

    Kind Regards,

    George

    Was this answer helpful?

    50+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2020-04-21T12:14:02+00:00

    When you get this error if you select an other folder, then go back to the original is the problem replicated

    Was this answer helpful?

    30+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2020-04-22T07:50:13+00:00

    Hi KeithLwood,

    In terms of the google account setting:

    1. In Outlook 2016/2019, navigate to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
    2. Select the IMAP account and click Change (or double-click the IMAP account name)
    3. Enter INBOX in the Root folder path field

    You will see the window below:

    Put INBOX in Root Folder Path, type the "INBOX".

    Yours Sincerely,

    George

    Was this answer helpful?

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments