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

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
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

40+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

178 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. 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....

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2023-08-07T04:11:56+00:00

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

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-08-07T11:17:52+00:00

    FYI about the quotes marks...

    Quotation marks for a Path address are no longer needed.

    You can still use quotation marks, but they must be entered correctly.

    Therefore, to prevent mistakes of what gets quotation marks and what doesn't; don't use quotation marks at all.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2023-08-07T12:36:47+00:00

    Thank you. Its maddening that users are left to seek the advice of other users in the community. Thank goodness that people like you exist; if it were left to Microsoft we would all be stuffed!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments