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
    2021-04-07T01:27:25+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:

    Image

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

    Yours Sincerely,

    George

    When I put INBOX in the root folder path, I lost other Folders such as Drafts, Sent Mail, Trash, Important, Spam, and Starred. How do I restored these folders?

    Need your assistance please.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-03-19T15:39:28+00:00

    I should also point out for those with a problem moving a message - I have found that if I open and save the message (sometimes save twice) just back to the same folder, the old unmovable message is at least temporarily overwritten and now the message can be moved to a different folder. However, do it quickly - if you wait the issue can pop up again.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-03-19T15:37:15+00:00

    I found another interesting article on this topic or related topic at Gmail IMAP - Solving the [Gmail] separation - HowTo-Outlook (howto-outlook.com)

    I'm wondering if the issue is caused by the two sets of folder/label structures?  Has anyone tried aligning with [GMAIL] as the root folder and did that solve the problem?  (Unfortunately, it takes additional work to be able to see the gmail folders if one does this - this might also help those who have switched to [INBOX] and back and "lost" folders in the process.

    If this is part of the issue, I can better understand part of the issue of correcting it - it could take a great deal of work, and then a minor change in GMAIL could cause that work to need to be redone.

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-03-17T07:08:07+00:00

    !!!!! I searched for a solution for this.  On page 6 ....  it seems we are Still waiting for a fix.

    Well said Bruce.

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-03-11T19:01:17+00:00

    Your work around and several others mentioned above are appreciated so we can use Outlook for the purpose of its subscription. However, Microsoft needs to accept reality that its product is not working for its subscribers. Waiting for users to solve the problem is unconscionable. If one of the lights on the dashboard of my car lights up, I would not accept the dealer/manufacturer giving me a list of potential solutions that other owners have had some success. MICROSOFT HOPEFULLY YOU MONITOR THIS FORUM AND REALIZE IT'S TIME TO LIVE UP TO THE PROMISE OF THE PRODUCT I PAID FOR; THAT IT WOULD WORK WHEN I NEED IT TO. I never promised to Help Microsoft solve their product shortcomings.

    reno-attorney

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