EdbMails EDB Recovery and Migration software
  • Reseller
  • Free Trial
  • Video Tutorials
  • Support
  • FAQ
  • Free Tools
  • Knowledge Base
  • Products
    Exchange EDB / Email Recovery Tools
    • EDB Recovery and MigrationRecover EDB to PST, EDB to Office 365 and Exchange NO Duplicate Migration
    • OST Recovery and MigrationRecover OST to PST, OST to Office 365 and Exchange Migration
    • PST Recovery and MigrationRecover Outlook PST, PST to Office 365 and Exchange Migration
    • MBOX Export and MigrationExport MBOX to PST, MBOX to Office 365 and Exchange Migration
    • NSF Export and MigrationExport NSF to PST, NSF to Office 365 and Exchange Migration
    Exchange and Office 365 Migration
    • Exchange Server MigrationMigrate Exchange 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 to Office 365 tenants. Also, migrate between Exchange servers and PST
    • Office 365 MigrationMigrate Source Office 365 tenants to Destination Office 365 tenants. Also, migrate to Exchange Server and PST
    • IMAP Email Backup & MigrationMigrate all IMAP email servers (Gmail, Zimbra, Zoho, Yahoo etc.), Office 365, Exchange and Backup to Outlook PST
    • SharePoint Online MigrationMigrate documents, files and folders from SharePoint sites
    • OneDrive for Business MigrationMigrate documents, files and folders from OneDrive
    • Microsoft Teams MigrationMigrate Teams, documents, files and folders etc.
    Exchange and Office 365 Backup
    • Office 365 BackupIncremental, Granular, Encrypted and Compressed Office 365 Mailboxes Backup
    • Exchange Server BackupIncremental, Granular, Encrypted and Compressed Exchange Mailboxes Backup
    • SharePoint, OneDrive & Teams BackupBackup Online site collections, Team sites, Office 365 groups, all documents etc.
    • Duplicate Remover - Office 365 & Exchange Remove duplicate emails, calendars, contacts, journal etc. from Office 365 and Exchange
    • GAL and All Address Lists migrationDirectly migrate Exchange and Office 365 Global address list and Address Lists items
    Go to products
  • Pricing
  • Features
  • Download
  • Account
    1. Home
    2. Product
    3. The set of folders cannot be opened in Outlook [Solution]

    Fix Outlook the set of folders cannot be opened

    Steps to resolve the error cannot start Outlook set of folders

User Manual

  • Overview
  • System Requirements
  • Installation
    • Installation process
    • Reinstall or Upgrade
    • How to uninstall
  • Initial Setup
  • FAQ
    • OST to PST
    • OST to Office 365 Migration
    • OST to Exchange Migration
  • Videos
    • OST to PST Converter
    • OST to Office 365 Migration
    • OST to Exchange Migration
  • Screenshots
    • OST to PST
    • OST to Office 365 Migration
    • OST to Exchange Migration
  • How it works?
    • OST to PST Converter
    • OST to Office 365 Migration
    • OST to Exchange Migration
  • Connect to Exchange server for multiple mailboxes migration
    • Connect with Global Admin
    • Connect to multiple users using CSV file
    • Connect using full access permission
    • Connect individual users for Single / Specific user Migration
  • Connect to Hosted Exchange for its Migration
    • Connect with Full Access permissions
    • Using multiple user credentials with CSV file
    • Connecting to Individual user for its migration
  • Connect to Office 365
    • Modern Authentication Using OAuth 2.0
      • Microsoft 365 modern authentication
      • Automatic Registration
      • Manual Registration
    • Connect with Global Admin
    • Connect to Office 365 with full access permission
    • Connect to Office 365 with CSV file option
    • Connect to Office 365 as single user mailbox
  • Set Exchange Server Impersonation rights
    • Exchange 2007 and below
    • Exchange 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019
    • Set using Exchange Server GUI
  • Knowledge Base
    • Corrupt OST file recovery
    • Unicode and ANSI OST format
    • Split OST file
    • Rebuild OST file
    • Exchange mailbox backup
    • Recover orphaned OST file
    • Recover all Exchange and Outlook OST files
    • Recover metadata and attachments
    • Export unlimited OST files to PST
    • Free OST file viewer
    • Granular recovery of OST file
    • Recover encrypted OST file
    • Recover deleted mailboxes from OST
    • Export email, calendars, contacts
    • Selective OST export
    • Migrate OST to Office 365
    • OST to Live Exchange
    • Outlook OST cannot be accessed
    • Log report
    • Fix Outlook not connecting to server error
    • Fix Outlook the set of folders cannot be opened
    • Fix Outlook not syncing error
    • Outlook Cached Exchange mode
    • Fix Outlook data file cannot be accessed
    • Fix the error Outlook inbox not updating
    • Your mailbox has been temporarily moved on Exchange server
    • Open OST file in Outlook
    • Repair corrupted OST files from Outlook 365
    • Save Outlook emails to hard drive
    • Import OST file into Outlook
    • Your Outlook data file cannot be configured
    • Errors have been detected in the OST
  • Incremental Migration
  • Exchange Throttling Policy
  • Set Office 365 Impersonation rights
    • Using PowerShell commands
    • Using Office 365 GUI
  • Map the Mailboxes
  • Multifactor Authentication
    • Enable MFA in Office 365
    • Create App password for MFA
    • Disable Security Defaults

What causes the ‘Microsoft Outlook the set of folders cannot be opened’ error?

‘The set of folders cannot be opened in Outlook’ error message typically appears if there is a problem with the PST (Personal Storage Table) or OST (Offline Storage Table) files and prevents users from accessing their Outlook mail data. To resolve the issue, you can use EdbMails PST Repair tool to repair and extract the emails from the Outlook data files.

In this blog post, we discuss the various causes of this error, its symptoms, methods and the steps you can take to resolve it.

QUICK LINKS

OST file opener OST file cannot be accessed OST file cannot be opened Resolve synchronization issues in Outlook Your mailbox has been temporarily moved How to save outlook emails to a hard drive?

Outlook cannot connect to server

There are several factors that can contribute to the ‘Cannot start Microsoft Outlook set of folders’ error, including:

  1. PST file corruption: The PST file, which is the file that stores all of the user's data in Microsoft Outlook can become corrupted due to a number of reasons such as hardware failures, software bugs, viruses, or power outages, improper shutdowns, outdated software, or antivirus software interfering with the operation of Microsoft Outlook.
  2. Improper shutdown: If you shut down your computer improperly, such as by using the power button, it can cause the PST file to become corrupt and trigger the error message.
  3. Outdated software: If you are using an outdated version of Microsoft Outlook, it can cause compatibility issues that result in the ‘The set of folders cannot be opened in Outlook’ error.
  4. Antivirus software: Antivirus software can sometimes interfere with the operation of Microsoft Outlook, causing the error ‘Cannot start Outlook the set of folders cannot be opened’ to appear.

What are the symptoms of the error ‘The set of folders cannot be opened in Outlook’?

The following are some of the symptoms of the Outlook error:

  1. Error message: When you try to open Outlook, you receive the error message ‘Cannot start Microsoft Outlook the set of folders cannot be opened’.
  2. Inability to access email: If the error message appears, you will be unable to access your email, calendar, contacts or other important data stored in your Outlook account.
  3. Slow performance: If the error message appears, you may notice that Microsoft Outlook is running slow or has become unresponsive.

How to resolve the issue ‘Outlook this set of folders cannot be opened’?

The most likely cause of the error is a corrupted PST file associated with your account. If Outlook cannot connect to the server or if you are unable to access your email data as a result of the error, try the following solutions for Microsoft 2016, 2019, and 2013. The following methods are also applicable to Windows 10, 11, 8, and 7 systems.

  • Method 1: Close and relaunch Outlook
  • Method 2: Start Outlook in Safe mode
  • Method 3: Disable conflicting Outlook Add-ins
  • Method 4: Disable and enable the Antivirus software
  • Method 5: Delete the XML files from Outlook directory
  • Method 6: Delete your account from the Windows Mail App
  • Method 7: Reconfigure the Outlook user profile
  • Method 8: Reset the Outlook navigation pane
  • Method 9: Configure App password for Outlook
  • Method 10: Perform a Outlook Mailbox Cleanup
  • Method 11: Disable Outlook compatibility mode
  • Method 12: Export the OST file to PST from Outlook
  • Method 13: Repair Outlook and Microsoft Office
  • Method 14: Install a different version of MS Office
  • Method 15: Use EdbMails to fix Outlook set of folders cannot be opened

Method 1: Close and relaunch Outlook

This method is a simple and straightforward solution to resolve the error ‘Cannot start Microsoft Outlook the set of folders’. When you launch Outlook, it connects to the mail server, loads the necessary files and settings, and creates an instance of the program. Sometimes, due to various reasons such as a temporary network issue, a corrupted data file, or an outdated setting, this process may fail, resulting in the error. Closing and relaunching Outlook establishes a fresh connection to the mail server, which can help resolve any temporary network issues that may have caused the error.

If the error persists after trying this method, you can move on to other methods such as running the Inbox Repair Tool or creating a new PST file.

  • Step 1: Close Microsoft Outlook and restart your computer
    • To close Microsoft Outlook, click on the ‘File’ menu in the top-left corner of the screen
    • Click ‘Exit’.
    • Restart your computer, which can help to clear any temporary data that may be causing the error.
  • Step 2: Reopen Microsoft Outlook and check for the error
    • After restarting your computer, open Microsoft Outlook.
    • Check to see if the ‘The set of folders cannot be opened in Outlook’ error has been resolved.
    • You should now be able to access your email, calendar, and other important data.

Method 2: Start Outlook in Safe mode

Starting Outlook in safe mode can help resolve the error ‘The set of folders cannot be opened’ by launching the application with a minimal set of options and add-ins. When Outlook is started in safe mode, it loads only the core program files and services and disables third-party add-ins, customizations, and other settings that could be causing the issue. If the error is resolved when starting Outlook in safe mode, it suggests that the problem is related to one of the customizations, add-ins, or settings that were disabled. Starting the application in Safe mode is also recommended when your computer is infected with a virus or malware.

  • Step 1: Open Microsoft Outlook
    • To close Microsoft Outlook, click on the ‘File’ menu in the top-left corner of the screen
    • Click ‘Exit’ to close Microsoft Outlook and all of its associated processes.
  • Step 2: Start Microsoft Outlook in Safe Mode
    • While holding down the Ctrl key, double-click on the Microsoft Outlook icon to open it.
    • This launches a dialog box asking if you want to start Outlook in safe mode.
    • Click ‘OK’ to proceed and choose the Outlook profile name.

      outlook safe mode

  • Step 3: Verify if the error is resolved
    • After you open Microsoft Outlook in Safe mode, check to see if the error has been resolved.
    • You should now be able to access your email, calendar, and other important data.
  • Step 4: Exit Safe mode and restart Outlook
    • After you have verified that the error has been resolved, exit Safe mode by closing Microsoft Outlook.
    • Restart the application normally, without holding down the Ctrl key.

Method 3: Disable conflicting Outlook Add-ins

The error message ‘Cannot open Outlook set of folders’ can also be caused by various factors including conflicting add-ins. Add-ins are third-party tools or components that extend the functionality of Outlook. However, some add-ins may cause compatibility issues or slow down the performance of the application. If an add-in is causing the error, disabling it can help resolve the issue. If the error is resolved, you can re-enable the add-ins one by one to determine which add-in is causing the problem.

Note: It's recommended to keep only essential add-ins enabled and to disable all others to maintain optimal performance and stability of Outlook.

  • Step 1: Open Microsoft Outlook
    • Open Microsoft Outlook by double-clicking the desktop icon or finding it in the list of installed programs.
  • Step 2: Access Outlook Options and go to the Add-ins page
    • To access the Outlook Options, click on the ‘File’ menu in the top-left corner of the screen
    • Click ‘Options.’
    • In the Outlook Options window, click on ‘Add-ins’
  • Step 3: Disable the conflicting Add-ins
    • To disable an add-in, click on the ‘COM Add-ins’ option
    • Uncheck the box next to the Add-in and click ‘OK’
    • Repeat this step for each conflicting Add-in
  • Step 4: Restart Microsoft Outlook
    • After disabling the conflicting add-ins, close Microsoft Outlook
    • Reopen it to see if the ‘The set of folders cannot be opened in Outlook’ error has been resolved.

Method 4: Disable and enable the Antivirus software

Disabling and then enabling antivirus software can sometimes help resolve the error ‘The set of folders cannot be opened in Outlook’. Antivirus software can be overly aggressive in its protection, interfering with Outlook's normal operation. By disabling the software temporarily and then enabling it again, it can help to clear any conflicts and restore the normal functioning of Outlook. It is also recommended to add applications such as Outlook to your Antivirus whitelist to prevent future issues.

  • Step 1: Locate the antivirus software in your computer
    • Look for the antivirus software in the system tray or in the list of installed programs from the ‘Start Menu’
  • Step 2: Disable the antivirus software
    • Right-click on the antivirus software icon and select the option to disable or turn off the antivirus software.
    • Some antivirus software may require you to enter a password or confirm that you want to disable it.
    • If you are using Windows Security, go to ‘Virus and threat protection’ > ’Manage Settings’ and turn off the monitoring temporarily.
  • Step 3: Restart Microsoft Outlook
    • After disabling the antivirus software, close Microsoft Outlook.
    • Reopen it to see if the "The set of folders cannot be opened in Outlook" error has been resolved.
    • If the error has been fixed, you can re-enable the antivirus software again.

Method 5: Delete the XML files from Outlook directory

The XML file in the Outlook directory is responsible for storing the user's profile and customization settings. If this file is corrupt or contains incorrect information, it can prevent Outlook from opening correctly, resulting in the ‘The set of folders cannot be opened’ error. Deleting the XML file from the Outlook directory can help solve the error by removing any corrupt or incorrect entries from the file

  • Step 1: Locate the Outlook data files folder
    • Open the Windows File Explorer
    • Navigate to the following location:

      C:\Users\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

      by replacing the Username with your computer name.

  • Step 2: Delete the XML files from the folder
    • In the Outlook folder, find and delete all the XML files.
    • Do not delete any other files besides the XML files.

      don't delete xml files

  • Step 3: Restart Microsoft Outlook
    • After deleting the XML files, close Microsoft Outlook and then reopen it to see if the error has been resolved.

Method 6: Delete your account from the Windows Mail App

The error ‘Outlook set of folders cannot be opened’ can be caused by multiple factors, one of which is the presence of multiple email accounts in the Windows Mail App. The Windows Mail App is an email client integrated into Windows 10, and it can be the source of the conflict with Outlook, leading to the error message. When you remove an email account from the Windows Mail App, you reduce the number of email accounts, resolving the conflict between the two email clients and allowing Outlook to open the set of folders without any problems.

It is important to note that deleting the account from the Windows Mail App does not delete the email account or the data associated with it. The data will still be available on the email server and can be accessed through other email clients or webmail services.

  • Step 1: Open the Windows Mail App
    • Click on the ‘Windows Mail App’ icon on your taskbar or in the list of installed programs to open the app.
    • Once the Windows Mail App is open, click on the gear icon in the bottom left corner to access the Settings section.
  • Step 2: Delete the account from Account settings
    • In the Settings section, click on the option to manage accounts.
    • Then, select the account that you want to delete and click on the option to remove or delete the account.
    • You will be prompted to confirm the deletion of the account.
    • Click ‘Delete’ to confirm the deletion.

Method 7: Reconfigure the Outlook user profile

Reconfiguring the Outlook user profile can help solve the error ‘Outlook folders cannot be opened’. When you create a new Outlook profile, it creates a new set of data files that stores information such as your email messages, calendar, contacts, and other items, which helps to resolve any corruption or failure to update inbox and folders that may be causing the error message to appear.

For instance, if your original Outlook profile is experiencing issues with the data files, reconfiguring the profile creates a new data file set, which eliminates any corruption or misconfiguration in the original data files. This can also help to resolve compatibility issues that may be affecting the performance of Outlook. Additionally, reconfiguring the Outlook profile resynchronizes the data files from the server.

  • Step 1: Close Outlook and open Control Panel
    • Close Microsoft Outlook completely before you start reconfiguring your user profile.
    • Open the Control Panel on your computer by clicking on the Start menu and typing ‘Control Panel’ in the search bar.
    • You will be prompted to confirm the deletion of the account.
    • Click on the Control Panel option to open it.
  • Step 2: Choose Mail (Microsoft Outlook 2016)
    • In the Control Panel, click on the option for ‘Mail (Microsoft Outlook 2016)’ to open the Mail Setup dialog box.
    • In the Mail Setup dialog box, click ‘Show Profiles’.

      show profiles

  • Step 3: Delete the old email profile from Outlook
    • In the Mail dialog box, select the profile that you want to delete.
    • Click ‘Remove’
  • Step 4: Create a new profile and set it as default
    • After removing the old profile, click ‘Add’ to create a new profile.
    • Follow the prompts to set up the new profile by entering your email account information and password.
    • In the Mail dialog box, select the new profile that you created and then click ‘Set as Default’ to set it as the default profile.

      set it as default

Method 8: Reset the Outlook navigation pane

The navigation pane in Outlook displays the folders and items in the mailbox and any corruption or customization made to it can lead to issues when trying to open the mailbox. Resetting the Outlook navigation pane can help solve the error ‘Microsoft Outlook cannot open the set of folders’ by removing any customizations made to the navigation pane and restoring it to its default settings.

  • Step 1: Close Outlook on your computer
    • Close Microsoft Outlook completely before you start resetting the navigation pane.
  • Step 2: Hold down the Ctrl key and launch Outlook
    • Start by holding down the ‘Ctrl’ key on your keyboard.
    • While holding down the Ctrl key, double-click on the Microsoft Outlook icon on your desktop or in your list of programs to launch the application.
    • This opens Outlook in the Safe mode
  • Step 3: Restore the Navigation Pane:
    • In Outlook, go to the View tab, then select ‘Reset View’ to reset the navigation pane.

Method 9: Configure App password for Outlook

Performing a Mailbox Cleanup in Outlook can help to resolve the ‘The set of folders cannot be opened’ error in Outlook 2016 and 2019 by removing any unwanted items or corrupt data from your mailbox. Compacting the data file and repairing the data file if needed, can also help to resolve any performance issues and improve the overall stability of your Outlook experience.

  • Step 1: Enable Two-Step Verification

    To use an App Password for Outlook, you must first enable two-step verification for your Microsoft account. If your account is already enabled with the two-step verification, proceed with the following step.

    • Open your Microsoft account security settings by visiting the Microsoft website.
    • Look for the two-step verification option and turn it on if it is not already enabled.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to set up two-step verification.
  • Step 2: Generate an App Password
    • Next, you'll need to generate an App Password for Outlook.
    • In the Microsoft account security settings, find the section for app passwords.
    • Select ‘Create a new app password’ and make sure to save it somewhere secure
  • Step 3: Enter the App Password in Outlook
    • Finally, you'll need to enter the App Password you just generated into Outlook.
    • Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
    • Go ’File’> ‘Account Settings’ section in Outlook.
    • Reconfigure your account by entering the App Password you generated earlier.
    • Save the changes and restart Outlook.

      enter app password in outlook

Method 10: Perform a Outlook Mailbox Cleanup

Performing a Mailbox Cleanup in Outlook can help to resolve the ‘The set of folders cannot be opened’ error in Outlook 2016 and 2019 by removing any unwanted items or corrupt data from your mailbox. Compacting the data file and repairing the data file if needed, can also help to resolve any performance issues and improve the overall stability of your Outlook experience.

  • Step 1: Run the Mailbox Cleanup Tool
    • Open Microsoft Outlook and go to the ‘File’ menu.
    • Select ‘Tools’ and then ‘Mailbox Cleanup’.
    • Use the Cleanup tool to remove any unwanted items from your mailbox, such as deleted items, large attachments, and more.
    • Choose the cleanup options you want to perform and select the ‘Clean Up’ button to start the cleanup process.

      mailbox cleanup

  • Step 2: Compact the Outlook Data File
    • After running the Mailbox Cleanup tool, you may also want to compact your Outlook data file to help improve performance.
    • In Outlook, go to the ‘File’ menu > ‘Info’ and ‘Account Settings’
    • Click the ‘Data Files’ tab and choose the data file you want to compact from the list of data files.
    • Click ‘Settings’ and then choose ‘Compact Now’.
    • Microsoft Outlook starts compacting the file, which may take some time depending on the size.
  • Step 3: Repair the Outlook Data File
    • If compacting the data file does not resolve the issue, you may need to repair the data file.
    • Open the Inbox Repair Tool (also known as Scanpst.exe) on your computer. To locate the scanpst tool, navigate to the following locations:

      Microsoft Outlook 2019:

      C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16

      Microsoft Outlook 2016:

      C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16

      Microsoft Outlook 2013:

      C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15

      Microsoft Outlook 2010:

      C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14

    • Choose the data file you want to repair and click ‘Start’
    • After the scanning is complete, click ‘Repair’ to start repairing the Outlook data file.

Method 11: Disable Outlook compatibility mode

When compatibility mode is enabled for an earlier version of Windows, it can prevent the Outlook from working properly and cause errors to occur. By disabling the compatibility mode, Outlook will run in the latest version of Windows, which can resolve the issue and enable you to access your emails and folders.

  • Step 1: Open Outlook in Windows
    • Go to the Start menu and search for ‘Microsoft Outlook’
    • Right-click on the Microsoft Outlook icon and select ‘Run as administrator’
    • If prompted, enter your Windows login credentials to continue.
  • Step 2: Disable Compatibility Mode in Outlook
    • Click on ‘File’ in the Outlook main menu
    • Click on ‘Office Account’ and Select ‘About Outlook’
    • Look for ‘Outlook is in compatibility mode’ at the bottom of the window
    • If compatibility mode is enabled, click on the ‘Change Settings’ button
    • In the ‘Compatibility Mode Settings’ window, uncheck the option ‘Run this program in compatibility mode for’
    • Click ‘OK’ to save the changes.
  • Step 3: Restart Outlook and verify the change
    • Close the Outlook application.
    • Open Outlook again by following the same steps in Step 1.
    • Go to ‘File’ in the Outlook main menu
    • Go to ‘Office Account’ and Select ‘About Outlook’
    • Check if ‘Outlook is in compatibility mode’ is still present at the bottom of the window. If it is not present, then the compatibility mode has been successfully disabled.

Method 12: Export the OST file to PST from Outlook

The OST file is a cached copy of your email data from the server, which Outlook creates for offline use. It is created when you turn on cached Exchange mode in Outlook settings. By exporting the OST file to PST, you can create a new PST file. You can then import the PST file into Outlook bypassing the need to access the corrupted PST file, which may be causing the error. It's important to note that this method is suitable only when the mailbox server is accessible. If the OST file is orphaned or if the email server is inaccessible, you must use a professional recovery tool such as EdbMails. The following steps describe how to convert OST to PST by using Outlook.

  • Step 1: Launch Import and Export Wizard in Outlook
    • Launch Outlook and click on the ‘File’ menu.
    • Select ‘Open & Export’ and then click on ‘Import/Export’

      import and export

  • Step 2: Export the OST file to PST file format
    • From the Import and Export wizard, select ‘Export to a file’ and click on ‘Next’
    • Select ‘Microsoft Outlook Data File (.pst)’ as the file type and click on ‘Next’
    • Choose the mailbox or folder that you want to export, and click on ‘Next’
    • You will be prompted to set a password for the exported PST file (optional).
    • Click ‘OK’ to start the export process.

      export to file

      Export Outlook Data file

  • Step 3: Import the PST into Microsoft Outlook
    • Wait until the export process is completed.
    • You can view the exported PST file in the location specified.
    • To retrieve all your emails, folders and mail items, open Outlook and import the PST file by following the preceding steps and selecting ‘Import from another program or file’>

Method 13: Repair Outlook and Microsoft Office

To repair your Microsoft Outlook profile follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Open Outlook and go to File
    • Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
    • Click on the ‘File’ tab in the upper-left corner of the screen.
  • Step 2: Go to Account Settings and repair the email account
    • Click on the ‘Account Settings’ option, and then click on ‘Account Settings’ again in the drop-down menu.
    • Select the email account that you want to repair, and click ‘Repair’.
  • Step 3: Reconfigure the profile and restart Outlook
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to repair your email account.
    • Enter your email account credentials and configure various settings when prompted.
    • Once the repair process is complete, restart Microsoft Outlook and check if the issue has been resolved.

To repair Microsoft Office follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Launch Control Panel in your computer
    • Click on the Windows Start button in the lower-left corner of your screen.
    • In the search bar, type ‘Control Panel’ and click on the result.
    • In the Control Panel window, look for ‘Programs and Features’.
  • Step 2: Locate Microsoft Office in the list of installed programs
    • Scroll through the list of installed programs to find Microsoft Office.
  • Step 3: Start the Repair wizard to repair Microsoft Office
    • Right-click on the Microsoft Office program and select ‘Change’
    • Click ‘Quick Repair’ to start the repair process.
    • The repair process may take a few minutes to complete, depending on your system and the size of the installation.

      qucik repair

  • Step 4: Restart your computer and relaunch MS Office
    • After the repair process has completed, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
    • Launch Microsoft Office again to verify that the repair was successful and use the application normally without the error.

Method 14: Install a different version of MS Office

The set of folders cannot be opened in Outlook error is typically caused by a corrupt or damaged Outlook profile. If you are using a 32-bit version of Microsoft Office, it is recommended to use a 64-bit version of the application.

A 64-bit Microsoft Office helps prevent this error by providing a more stable and reliable environment for Outlook to run in. This error can occur when Outlook is trying to access a set of folders that is no longer available, or when the set of folders is corrupt. By installing a 64-bit version of Microsoft Office, you can help ensure that Outlook has a more stable platform to work with, which can help prevent the occurrence of this error.

Method 15: Use EdbMails to fix Outlook set of folders cannot be opened

EdbMails is the best solution to resolve the error ‘The set of folders cannot be opened’ in Outlook 2016 and 2019. This method is particularly useful when the original PST file is damaged and cannot be repaired using other methods, such as ScanPST or repairing the Outlook profile.

EdbMails supports multiple file formats such as PST, OST, making it a versatile solution for repairing a wide range of Outlook data files. Furthermore, the application uses advanced scanning technology to repair your Outlook data file, ensuring that even severely corrupted files can be repaired effectively. It is compatible with all Windows and Outlook versions and enables you to recover important email data such as emails, contacts, calendars, etc.

Here’s how you can use EdbMails to resolve the error ‘Outlook set of folders cannot be opened’:

  • Step 1: Download and Install EdbMails PST repair tool
    • Download and run the setup file on your computer
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to install EdbMails
  • Step 2: Select the PST file that you want to repair
    • Open EdbMails and click ‘Start Your Free Trial’
    • Select the Outlook PST file that you want to repair
    • EdbMails starts scanning the PST file and may take a few minutes to complete depending on the size of the PST file.

      browse ost file1

  • Step 3: Select all the mail items to export to a new PST
    • After the repair is complete, you can preview the repaired PST file.
    • Select the mailbox items, folders for export and click ‘Export to Outlook PST’

      export location

  • Step 4: Export the Repaired PST file to retrieve the folders
    • Choose the location where you want to save the exported PST file.
    • After the export is complete, you can access the repaired PST file in the specified location.
    • Import the healthy PST file into Outlook to recover all your mail items and folders.

Summary

In this article we described the various methods to resolve the error ‘Microsoft Outlook cannot open the set of folders’. The error is mainly caused due to corruption of the Outlook data files PST and OST. Some other causes of the error include outdated Outlook version, virus attack and improper configuration of your Outlook profile. To resolve the problem, repair the PST file with EdbMails or use the OST to PST converter tool to convert the corrupted OST file to PST. EdbMails also enables you to import the OST to Office 365 and Exchange making it the perfect solution to restore your emails without data loss.

Free Download
Buy Now
hidden msg

EdbMails Demo / Trial Version

Step 1. Download and install EdbMails

Step 2. Click the 'Start Your Free Trial' button

Demo login EdbMails

  • Home
  • Features
  • Pricing
  • Support
  • Download
  • Sitemap
  • FAQ
  • Video Tutorials
  • Technical Support
  • Live Chat
  • Contact Us
Shifttocloud Inc.
Rehoboth Beach, DE
United States
+1 (302) 416-3056

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | GDPR | Security | Press Releases

© 2023 Shifttocloud Inc.

Live Chat

Hi, May I help you?

Hide Chat Now