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
    2020-10-27T17:50:39+00:00

    I will just get at the back of the line, too. I tried all of this stuff many times to no avail. 

    Microsoft should just FIX THIS!!!!!! 

    I do my part and pay my subscription every year.  I could not even move the G*D D*mn Subscription Paid Confirmation email into a "RECEIPTS" folder..., because "Cannot perform this operation because this message has changed".

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-10-24T12:00:43+00:00

    Why doesn't MS just fix this issue, rather than offering excuses and workarounds?

    This was not a problem for me until moving to MS 365.  No issue with Office 2013, 2010, so can't be that difficult to fix.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-10-15T22:50:22+00:00

    Hi George,

    Your solution triggers another problem: the disappearance of the folders of the mailbox.

    Please, provide a solution to this one too but without triggering another problem.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-10-13T13:59:44+00:00

    The only fix that I have found for this #*^$&^@!* problem when replying to an email is to open a new reply to the same email, cut and paste the text and attachments of my failed reply to the new reply window, and transfer the addressee emails to the new reply.  It is a quick fix, but it should NOT be necessary, Microsoft!!!

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-10-12T17:11:49+00:00

    I am on Office 365 and I have had the same problem for some time. None of the fixes work. It is really poor that we all have to suffer this massive inefficiency. Why are we paying our subscriptions? PLEASE lets have some action Microsoft! And don't forget to notify us when it is fixed!!!

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