Lyra Martin Tech 08.01.2022 21:Aug PM EDT

Microsoft Says Emails with Tables Cause Outlook, Word to Stop Responding

When you open and read emails with tables, like Uber's receipt emails, Outlook crashes. This also stops Microsoft Word from working.

Outlook Crashes When Opening and Reading Emails

According to Microsoft, the Outlook email client will crash when opening and reading emails that include tables, such as the emails that Uber sends as receipts.

According to an internal support document provided by the firm, "Outlook stops responding when opening, replying to or forwarding some emails that involve complicated tables."

The situation is made much more difficult because emails with identical table contents will likewise cause the Microsoft Word program to stop responding.

Even though the known problem only affects Microsoft 365, which uses the Current Channel Version 2206 Build 15330.20196 or a higher version, it can potentially cause freezes in both the current Beta and Current Channel Preview releases.

The team working on Microsoft Word has already devised a remedy, and when it has been tested and validated, it will shortly be made available to consumers of the Beta channel.

On Tuesday, August 9, 2022, users who use Outlook versions that are part of the Current Channel will get the patch as part of the monthly patch Tuesday update that Microsoft is distributing.

Microsoft Proposes a Solution for Users Who Can't Wait for the Remedy

Microsoft also offers a workaround that requires users to go back to a version that isn't affected by this known problem for customers who can't wait for the update to start rolling out.

You will need to take the following actions in order to resolve this problem by rolling back your Office installation to a previous build:

Launch a Command Prompt as an Administrator
Press Enter after each command you type, copy, or paste into the Command Prompt window.
Go to the Common Files/Microsoft Shared folder under program files.
ClickToRun
/update user updatetoversion=16.0.15225.20288 officec2rclient.exe

Microsoft fixed another Outlook bug last month when desktop applications for Windows 11 computers could not show recent emails when using Outlook Search.

Only users of POP, IMAP, and offline Exchange accounts that utilize the neighborhood Windows Search service to index email were impacted.

In January, Redmond also resolved problems with Outlook search brought by the November 2021 and subsequent Windows 10 security upgrades.

Users have also encountered search difficulties in Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2019, and Outlook 2016 after switching to Windows 11, as BleepingComputer reported in December.

Microsoft Released Outlook Lite for Android

A new Outlook Lite software from Microsoft is being made available to Android users in a few areas starting August 1. Although it comes in a 5 MB package designed for phones with only 1GB of RAM, the new app supports all of the primary functions of the standard Outlook app for Android.

Outlook Lite, in the words of Microsoft, "offers quick performance for lightweight devices on any network." According to Microsoft, the software should function well on 2G and 3G networks and consumes less battery life than the default Outlook app for Android.

It utilizes a bottom navigation bar to access emails, calendars, and contacts, unlike Outlook for Android. The search button has been relocated to the top right corner of the program. The Focused Inbox function is still available if you prefer it.

However, the software currently only supports Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live, MSN, Microsoft 365, and Microsoft Exchange Online accounts.

Only Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Mexico, Peru, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Venezuela presently provide Outlook Lite for download. The business said, "We will examine extending support for more nations in the future."