Classic Outlook Crashes and Re-opens after Selecting New Form when Creating a New Message

Question

Classic Outlook Crashes and Re-opens after Selecting New Form when Creating a New Message

Alan Berow 35

Classic Outlook Crashes and Re-opens after Selecting New Form when Creating a New Message.

I am using the classic Outlook desktop app from my Microsoft 365 subscription on a Windows 11 Pro PC. My Custom Office Templates folder was moved from my C: drive.

I experience the crash when I open Outlook, then Select "New Email" => "More Items" => "Choose Form". A few seconds later, Outlook closes and re-opens.

I can open the file from its storage location.

I don't know if this is material; however, I recently had to rebuild my system from re-installing the OS on. When I noticed that I could not choose a Word template when creating a new document, I created the pointer to the correct location of Customer Office Templates folder. It was blank. I noticed that problem when testing. Most templates I use are for an organization, so if I could not see the template, I assumed I was relying on the master copy stored on the organization's server, and got a copy to use.

I found a reference to this problem from 2020 which said to be patient while Microsoft came up with a solution.

Alan Berow 35 Reputation points

2026-05-06T17:13:04.2766667+00:00

I am on the latest version of Microsoft 365.

I already have a FORMS2 directory there. I changed its name to FORMS1, created a new FORMS2 directory and reopened Outlook. The problem continues.

Both directories have an .ibr sub-directory containing FRMDATA64.DAT. The older directory also has a .9f0 sub-directory containing FRMDATA64.DAT. The older directory's .ibr sub-directory also has a 12 byte file titled Outlook-[my email address]. That file contains "TH02" - no quote marks - followed by 8 null characters.

1 answer

Your answer

Alan Berow 35 Reputation points

2026-05-06T17:13:04.2766667+00:00

I am on the latest version of Microsoft 365.

I already have a FORMS2 directory there. I changed its name to FORMS1, created a new FORMS2 directory and reopened Outlook. The problem continues.

Both directories have an .ibr sub-directory containing FRMDATA64.DAT. The older directory also has a .9f0 sub-directory containing FRMDATA64.DAT. The older directory's .ibr sub-directory also has a 12 byte file titled Outlook-[my email address]. That file contains "TH02" - no quote marks - followed by 8 null characters.

Answer 1

This behavior matches a known issue where classic Outlook crashes when opening or starting a new email because it cannot open the Forms Library. The issue is associated with the June 10, 2025 public updates for Microsoft 365 Apps and affects scenarios like using “Choose Form” when creating a new message.

Resolution options:

Update Outlook/Office to a fixed build The issue is marked as fixed in newer builds of Outlook/Microsoft 365 Apps. Install the latest updates so that Outlook is on one of the listed fixed versions/builds for the channel in use (Current Channel, Monthly Enterprise, Semi-Annual, etc.). For exact build numbers and channels, see the update history in the article and ensure Outlook is updated beyond the affected June 10, 2025 builds.
Temporary workaround: create the FORMS2 folder If updating is not immediately possible, a workaround is to create the expected Forms folder:
1. Close Outlook and all other Office applications.
2. Press Start → Run, type: %localappdata%\Microsoft and select OK.
3. In File Explorer, select New → Folder and name it exactly: FORMS2
4. Reopen Outlook and test New Email → More Items → Choose Form again.

This workaround addresses crashes caused by Outlook failing to find/open the Forms Library path, which aligns with the symptoms described.

References:

Classic Outlook crashes opening or starting a new email