Outlook – Sorry we are having trouble opening this item. This could be temporary

If you’ve ever opened an email in Microsoft Outlook only to be greeted by the message:

“Sorry, we’re having trouble opening this item. This could be temporary, but if you see it again you might want to restart Outlook.”

you know how frustrating it can be. This error may seem sporadic, often affecting just a few emails while others open without issue.

For IT professionals managing enterprise environments, this error can indicate anything from corrupted views to profile inconsistencies or even cached mailbox data conflicts. In this guide, we’ll break down root causes, troubleshooting steps, and permanent solutions—all informed by real-world enterprise experience.

Common Causes

This Outlook error can be triggered by multiple factors:

1. Corrupt view settings – Misconfigured or corrupted folder views can prevent items from rendering correctly.
2. Damaged Outlook profiles – Exchange profiles can become corrupted, especially after migrations or crashes.
3. Outdated software – Missing Windows or Office updates can lead to unexpected behavior.
4. Corrupted RoamCache – Outlook caches frequently used mailbox data in the RoamCache folder; corruption here can block emails from opening.
5. Add-in conflicts – Third-party add-ins sometimes interfere with Outlook’s rendering engine.

Step 1: Reset Outlook View Settings

Corrupted views are often the simplest cause and the easiest fix. Outlook stores view configurations for folders, including columns, sorting, and filters. A corrupt view can prevent an email from opening properly.

Steps to reset views:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type: Outlook.exe /cleanviews and press Enter. This resets all folder views to default.
3. Next, reset the navigation pane, which can also cause rendering issues: Outlook.exe /resetnavpane
4. Restart your computer and launch Outlook.

Tip: This method is safe and won’t delete emails or account data. It only affects the layout and view settings.

Step 2: Rebuild Your Outlook Profile

A damaged profile is one of the most common causes of persistent Outlook issues. Rebuilding the profile forces Outlook to create a fresh connection to the Exchange server and re-download mailbox data.

Steps to rebuild a profile:

1. Open Control Panel → Mail → Show Profiles.
2. Click Add…, give the new profile a name, and let Outlook auto-configure using your credentials.
3. Check “Prompt for a profile to be used” and restart Outlook.
4. Select the new profile at login to confirm it works.
5. Once confirmed, go back to Control Panel → Mail → Show Profiles, select Always use this profile, and choose the new profile. Apply changes.
6. Restart Outlook.

Real-world experience: In enterprise environments, rebuilding the profile often resolves stubborn errors within minutes, particularly after Exchange migrations or when users have been using cached mode for years.

Step 3: Update Windows and Office

Outdated systems can cause unexpected conflicts with Office applications, including Outlook. Make sure both Windows updates and Office updates are installed.

Manual Windows Update steps:

1. Open Start → Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update.
2. Click Check for Updates.
3. Install all pending updates and restart the system if prompted.

Office updates:

1. Open any Office application.
2. Go to File → Account → Update Options → Update Now.

In enterprise networks, it’s common to see errors like this resolved simply by applying cumulative updates to both Windows and Office, especially after feature updates.

Step 4: Clear the Outlook RoamCache Folder

If rebuilding the profile is not an option, clearing Outlook’s RoamCache folder often resolves the error. This folder caches mailbox data, templates, and recently used items, and corruption here can block email access.

Steps to clear RoamCache:

1. Close Outlook.
2. Navigate to the RoamCache folder: %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\RoamCache
3. Delete all contents of the folder (do not delete the parent folder).
4. Reopen Outlook.

Pro tip: RoamCache is recreated automatically by Outlook. Clearing it is safe and has no impact on mailbox data stored on the server.

Step 5: Check for Add-in Conflicts

Third-party add-ins can interfere with Outlook. A good diagnostic step is to start Outlook in Safe Mode:

Outlook.exe /safe

If emails open correctly in Safe Mode, disable add-ins one by one via:

File → Options → Add-ins → COM Add-ins → Go…

In real-world troubleshooting, add-in conflicts are often overlooked but are a common culprit, especially in organizations that use CRM or productivity plugins.

Additional Tips and Best Practices

• Regularly rebuild or refresh profiles for long-term users, particularly after migrations.
• Keep Windows, Office, and add-ins updated to avoid compatibility issues.
• Encourage cached mode only for users with reliable connections; sometimes switching to online mode resolves temporary sync issues.
• Back up Outlook PST files before making major changes.

Conclusion

The Outlook error “Sorry, we’re having trouble opening this item” can be frustrating, especially when it affects only a subset of emails. However, with a structured troubleshooting approach, you can usually resolve it quickly:

1. Reset Outlook views and navigation pane.
2. Rebuild the Outlook profile.
3. Apply all Windows and Office updates.
4. Clear the RoamCache folder.
5. Check and manage add-ins.

From enterprise experience, the profile rebuild and RoamCache clear steps are the most effective for persistent cases, while view resets often fix intermittent issues. By understanding these root causes and having a step-by-step approach, IT professionals can resolve the error efficiently and minimize user downtime.

Daniel Lutton

From my early days on the helpdesk through roles as a service desk manager, systems administrator, and network engineer, I’ve spent more than 25 years in the IT world. As I transition into cyber security, my goal is to make tech a little less confusing by sharing what I’ve learned and helping others wherever I can.