Keep Getting "Outlook closed while you had items open. Reopen items from last session?" Even Though It's Not True

Anonymous
2023-07-05T13:34:20+00:00

This just started happening. Whenever I open Outlook, I get the message "Outlook closed while you had items open. Reopen items from last session?" even though this is not true -- I did not have items open when I closed Outlook. Using Windows 11. Screenshot of what version of Outlook I have:

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For business

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Anonymous
2023-07-07T17:46:51+00:00

I'm on build 2306. Is this the reg key in question?

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences
DWORD: ReopenWindowsOption
Value: 1

Yes.

Some users that updated to 2306 have reported that the key was not already in the Registry and had to add it and the value.

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-08-07T04:11:56+00:00

    Thats it. The ‘ /restore’ comes after the target closing quotation mark

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-08-06T21:47:58+00:00

    Obviously I am doing something incorrectly because when I follow your instructions, whether with my existing Outlook shortcut icon or by creating a new Outlook desktop icon, I revise the "target" to add in that ' /restore' (yes, with that leading space) and get the message "The name 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\Outlook.exe /restore' specified in the Target box is not valid. Make sure the path and file name are correct."

    Well, since I didn't get that "Reopen Closed Items?" message this morning when I cranked up Outlook, I'm just going to call it a day and let things lay the way they are. If I get that message again (sporadically I hope) I know it's bogus and will just ignore/work around it.

    Thanks to all who responded to my initial comments and continue to have a nice day.

    Update: DOH!!! Put the ' /restore' AFTER the single quote mark in the 'target' field....

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-08-06T21:21:54+00:00

    It worked! At least so far...I'm the one complaining that the fixes were waaaaay to complicated for a non-computer programmer, but this I could handle. I agree Michael Mead, genius. No thanks to Microsoft btw.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-08-06T16:32:31+00:00

    Michael; I'm getting credit for your fix which appears to be working. I am telling everyone i can that it was your idea and not mine. So thank goodness geniuses like you are about because its still working for me .

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