Open Outlook Offline
What
Outlook IMAP/Exchange accounts usually connect and start updating as soon as Outlook is opened. There are times you want to open Outlook without it connecting to the mail server which Outlook calls Working Offline. The setting that controls how Outlook opens online or offline is a registry key value in Windows Registry. Changing the value of this Registry key while Outlook is closed will determine how Outlook will open (online or offline).
Why
An Outlook that “hangs” when opening that has an IMAP/Exchange account could be caused by Outlook or a server connection that Outlook is “waiting” on. Starting Outlook in Offline mode can quickly set you on the correct path to fixing the problem. Also some Exchange users like to open Outlook and work offline before clicking the button in Outlook to go online and update with the server.
How
Notice: This should work for many different versions of Windows and Outlook. Works great on Windows 10 and Outlook 2019.
o The registry key that controls how Outlook opens as online or offline is:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Profiles\Outlook\0a0d020000000000c000000000000046 “00030398”
o The value of 00030398 has hex data in a binary field as follows:
02 00 00 00 which is the default setting to open Outlook in the Online mode
or
01 00 00 00 which will open Outlook in the Offline mode
o In the Registry Editor you can right click the 00030398 Value and modify the hex data manually. Be careful as modifying a hex data in a binary field can be tricky. For ease and speed I created a reg file for each setting (offline and online), as described below. A simple Merge of the reg file and the change is made without having to open the Registry.
Create Reg Files to Open Outlook Offline or Online
o Open a new document in Notepad.
o Copy the following text without adding extra lines and paste in the document so the text starts on the first line and on the left margin.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Profiles\Outlook\0a0d020000000000c000000000000046] "00030398"=hex:01,00,00,00
o Select File > Save as to open the Save as window. Select a location to save the file. Click the dropdown arrow on the right side of the box next to Save as type: and select All Files. In the box next to File name: enter OutlookOFFline.reg as the file name (the .reg must be included as part of the name). Press Save to save this reg file.
o After saving, the Save as window will close and return to the document. Highlight the number 1 digit in the hex code 01,00,00,00. Enter the number 2 to replace the 1 in the code so the code looks like this: 02,00,00,00.
o Select File > Save as to open the Save as window. Select a location to save the file. Click the dropdown arrow on the right side of the box next to Save as type: and select All Files. In the box next to File name: enter OutlookONline.reg as the file name (the .reg must be included as part of the name). Press Save to save this reg file.
o Close the document.
Using the Reg Files
o You must have administrator’s privileges to run reg files.
o Close Outlook before using reg files. If Outlook is open when the reg files is ran, Outlook will have to be closed and restarted for the change to occur.
o Right click the reg file to have Outlook open as you want, OutlookOFFline.reg to open Outlook offline or OutlookONline.reg to open Outlook online.
o Select Merge which will cause the UAC query box to open to allow the merge. Click Yes to this query. A warning box will open about making changes to the registry and asking if you want to continue which you click Yes.
o A box will open indicating that the registry change has been added. Close this notification box.
o The effects are immediate and Outlook will open as you selected.
o Outlook will continue to open as set by the value of that key, so if you have Outlook opening offline and wish to return to Outlook opening online you will need to run the OutlookONline.reg file to change how Outlook opens.
Comments
These reg files will work on many Windows/Outlook combinations and should be readily accessible for troubleshooting Outlook “hang on opening” on different PCs.
HTH, Dana:))
