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

Outlook 2010 runs in Safe Mode after Update

In Outlook 2010, all of my options were reset to their defaults and when I change them, the changes don't stick. As soon as I close Outlook and restart it, everything is back to its default.

This is caused by installing KB3114409 – it causes Outlook to run in Safe mode, which uses the default settings. Your customizations aren't lost, they just aren't being used when Outlook is in Safe mode.

Microsoft removed the update, so users who haven't installed the December updates yet won't be affected. Users who are affected have two choices to fix this: uninstall KB3114409 or set a registry key to disable Safe mode.

To set the registry key:

  1. Open the Registry editor by pressing Windows key + R
  2. Type regedit in the Open: field. Then click Ok.
  3. Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook\Security\ key on the left side of the Registry Editor
  4. If any key in the path is missing, you'll need to create it. Right click on the last key, choose New > Key and type the missing key name.
  5. Right click on Security key and choose New, and then DWORD Value.
  6. Type DisableSafeMode, and then press Enter.
  7. Right-click on DisableSafeMode, and then click Modify.
    Set the registry key
  8. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
  9. If you have 64bit Windows and 32bit Office, also add DisableSafeMode, Value: 1 to this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook\Security\
  10. Restart Outlook or reboot the computer.

If you don't want to edit the registry, you can use this reg file: DisableSafeMode.reg DisableSafeMode.reg for Outlook 32 bit on Windows 64-bit

Uninstall KB3114409

To uninstall updates, open Control Panel, then find Programs & Features. Click on View Installed Updates on the left. Type KB3114409 in the Search Updates field. Select it and click Uninstall.

Published December 9, 2015. Last reviewed on December 10, 2015.

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18 Comments on "Outlook 2010 runs in Safe Mode after Update"

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LF

Thank you so much for these instructions! What a great help!

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January 6, 2016 6:27 pm
Janno

Am I the only person surprised by the fact that Microsoft have apparently not revised the original update and corrected it? Do they really now think that it is OK for sysadmins to have to wander around an SME network manually uninstalling/running registry patches?
In all my networking years, I have never seen this kind of Msft scr*w-up not be corrected by an updated patch - if this is the New Microsoft, not at all keen!!

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January 3, 2016 12:19 pm
Diane Poremsky

They issued an update on Dec 16 - with everything going on, I forgot to update this page (sorry!).
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3114560

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January 3, 2016 1:17 pm
Janno
Hey, apologies not needed - you do enough already! ;O) Yes, found that update but weirdly a) it is not being offered up by WSUS on SBS2010, b) WSUS on SBS2010 has still not withdrawn the original faulty patch (I had to manually decline for the remaining PCs which had not been turned on over holidays), and c) even if you try a manual Windows Update from a networked PC, it does not find this new update. In short, it is as if Msft are treating this new update as an optional Hotfix, rather than an urgent update to correct… Read more »
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January 5, 2016 7:28 am
Diane Poremsky

I'm looking into it - someone else brought the issues with WSUS to my attention yesterday and wondered if the update would be pushed out on wsus this month. (Not expecting it, Jan is historically a slow time for updates.) It definitely doesn't make sense.

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January 6, 2016 9:07 pm
Emily

This is the FIRST website to explain how to fix this problem step by step for machines using 64bit Windows and 32 bit Office. I can't thank you enough. I have spent 3 days trying to fix this problem. I tried chatting with Microsoft and of course they were of NO help. I asked him if he could help me edit the registry like I found on other websites and he had no idea what I was talking about. These instructions allowed me to edit the registry step by step. THANK YOU!!!

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December 14, 2015 1:14 pm
Colin

So glad I found this - yesterday I realised that I was not going mad, and outlook seemed to be losing my reading pane and other settings since the Dec 8th update. Found several old references to Outlook not saving settings, and just this morning I realised it was starting in Safe mode. Changed my search and found this page.
Uninstalled the specific update (no messing with the registry). All is now OK.
Thanks a lot.

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December 12, 2015 5:54 am
Gabe

Are you suggesting to create the Security key? Your instructions explain to navigate to it but in our environment none of our computers have it (all Win7).

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December 10, 2015 3:07 pm
Sandie

OOOps i neglected to say it is office 32 bit running on a win 10 64 bit system in my previous statement.

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December 10, 2015 8:34 pm
Diane Poremsky

You'll need to add the key under the WOW path too. Or download and run the reg files - you can open them in notepad to see what they contain.

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December 10, 2015 9:51 pm
Diane Poremsky

Yes, if the key does not exist, you'll need to create it.

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December 10, 2015 3:51 pm
Sandie
I'm running office 2010 in 64 bit win 10 pro upgraded from 64 bit win 7 pro. Do I understand that I must add the sub-directory "security"?. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftOffice14.0OutlookSecurity 4. Right click on Security key and choose New, and then DWORD Value. 5. Type DisableSafeMode, and then press Enter. 6. Right-click on DisableSafeMode, and then click Modify. 7. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK. 8. If you have 64bit Windows and 32bit Office, also add DisableSafeMode, Value: 1 to this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeMicrosoftOffice14.0OutlookSecurity 9. Restart Outlook or reboot the computer. I do not have the security direcory… Read more »
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December 10, 2015 8:31 pm
Diane Poremsky

Right click on the last key in the path - I'm assuming it's Outlook since you didn't mention it was missing - and choose New > Key.

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December 10, 2015 9:42 pm
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