Outlook: Cannot move the items. The operation cannot be performed because the message has been changed.

Yep this question has gone around and round - I did put this workaround in my original post:

This happens even though I have not changed the message at all other than to read it.  If I select another message and then try to move the original message again, it will work.

There hasn't been any answer that fixes the problem only this work around, which means that if you are sorting out your inbox it doubles the amount of time needed to complete the task.

Why oh why isn't there an actual fix?

I've also had this problem in recent years and haven't found a way to fix it. The workaround is to select another message in the inbox, pause, then select the message I want to move and then drag-n-drop it to the destination folder. This workaround usually works for me.

BRILLIANT !!!! After all the nonsense from the techies at Microsoft, this is the workaround that works!! Thank you J.Hawkey :) Lson5, I do so agree with your frustration about lengthy, unhelpful, irrelevant suggestions.

Yes, it's only a workaround, the fix is Microsoft's responsibility - if only they will believe their customers that the problem actually exists!

I have been fighting this issue for years. I have a Gmail account linked to Outlook using IMAP. Two issues were constant, this one and the fact that messages were being duplicated in a folder called Important. I found the solution to the Important folder and it seems to have fixed the message moving issue as well.

Close Outlook

Go to https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#settings/labels

Uncheck "Show in IMAP" for both Important and Starred

Open Outlook

The Important folder should be gone.

Messages should move normally.

Here is the answer that helped me:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook_com/forum/all/important-folder-in-outlook/0a2acc2c-4e30-48c3-a407-9d664de33d8f

No, this is with a 3rd party email provider That I have used successfully with POP3 for many years. Only when I switched to IMAP the problem started.
My current workaround: If I cannot move the email, I close it and open ANOTHER email and close that and then move the problematic email from the Inbox without opening it. Usually works on the first try.

I have the same issue. For those of you have said you have it too, I have a question for you. Are you using a Microsoft email address? This only happens with my gmail addresses I have configured in Outlook. Google and MS aren't the best of partners and often can create compatibility issues.