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

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-08-27T14:55:42+00:00

    Hello,

    I get this message also but I also get it when I have read a message and try to move it to a folder to save it outside of my inbox.  I run a tight ship with my inbox and use a .pst file with lots of folders to be very organized.

    Sincerely,

    Princess Wonder Woman

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-08-17T11:17:21+00:00

    We also have this problem, and the above is quite simply beyond us. It's driving us mad and loosing us plenty of time having to rework e-mails. Always been a fan of Outlook, but not so impressed anymore.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-07-28T14:35:48+00:00

    John, I dont 'know' for sure however I am going to say probably yes.  I think the issue is that the IMAP mailboxes need to send those 'changes you have made' before it will let you do anything else to it.  Obviously this doesnt happen on each and every click so there is a lag - just a guess but never experienced it with POP or Exchange.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-07-28T14:28:05+00:00

    Chris

    Thanks for that info - do you (or anyone else?) have any idea if removing the account and then re-establishing it via a POP3 mailbox instead of an IMAP one would "solve" the problem??

    John

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-07-28T13:39:32+00:00

    Hi Sue

    You need to be careful with that INBOX setting as its to do with the way that IMAP is set up and changing back and forth can create extra folders and syncing issues trust me.

    I have the same issue as you with flagging and unflagging emails, again I think it is because of an IMAP mailbox and it has been reported all over the place with noone doing anything to resolve.   It is so bad I think I am going to have to move away from Outlook entirely and use a more competent mail program.

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