Outlook Tips

Learning Microsoft Outlook One Tip At A Time

Outlook 2013 Absolute Beginner's Guide Diane Poremsky [Outlook MVP]

Delete a message stuck in Outlook's Outbox

If you are unable to delete the message while in offline mode or cannot go into offline mode, you'll need to change your default delivery location.

Note that this option should be rarely needed – if you are patient and wait a few minutes for Outlook to stop the message spooler, or close Outlook and restart it in offline mode, in almost all cases, the stuck message will delete without issue.

Change the Default Delivery Location

  1. Outlook 2010: Open File, Account Settings dialog
    Outlook 2007: Go to Tools, Account settings

    2. Accounts setting dialog in 2010 and 2013

  2. Select Data Files tab (1) then click Add (2). Create a new PST for your profile then select it and click the Set as Default link (3).

    3. Change Default data file

  3. Close Outlook then restart it.
  4. Show the folder list, using Ctrl+6 if necessary, and find the old Outbox. Delete the message.
  5. Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3, restoring the original pst as the default delivery location.
  6. Show the folder list and move any new messages from the new pst  to the original pst.
  7. Right click on the new folder's name and Choose Close to remove it from your profile.

    8. close data file

    Last reviewed on December 17, 2015.

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305 Comments on "Delete a message stuck in Outlook's Outbox"

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Brenda

I used Bill's simple method too -- thanks so much for the easiest fix of all, it works!

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November 4, 2017 4:19 pm
Cyril House

Brian's method worked for me.....Thanks...........

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July 4, 2017 9:46 pm
Irene

Thank you. The first method using the Search box to locate the file worked. I followed the instructions to put in "outbox" and it found the file and I deleted it.

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January 3, 2017 8:22 pm
Liz Poole

Thanks so much I have no fixed my outbox

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October 8, 2016 9:39 am
garymac

Thank you for your assistance. The "Work Offline" solutions worked for me. Thank you again!

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September 30, 2016 2:36 pm