Fix “The Set of Folders Cannot Be Opened” Error in Outlook

Are you an Outlook user? Are you getting “ Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window. The set of folders cannot be opened. The operation failed “ error pop up screen?. Do you want to fix it? Go through the article to get a fix on this issue.

The reason behind the error:

The Error note indicates that the data file, where outlook has stored all the information stocked cannot be opened. Because you may have opened Back up files sometime. Outlook data files may get corrupted or deleted.

But no one knows the exact cause of this error. Whatever it may be the cause, you need a fix for it. Follow the below steps to get a fix for this issue.

How to Fix The Set of Folders Cannot Be Opened?

Method 1: Resetting the Navigation Pane configuration file

In many circumstances, the main reason for this error is the corrupted configuration file in the navigation pane. We need to fix that first to solve the issue.

Before going into the steps close Microsoft Outlook Application.

1. Go to the Start Menu in your Windows OS
2. Depending on the version of Windows you are using, you may find a run window or type of command.
3. Open Run from the start menu.
4. Type the following command box. Proceed with the OK button.

“outlook.exe /resetnavpane”

This can take to the retrieval of the navigation pane, and the problems you face should be resolved.

If you cannot perform this command to reset the navigation pane, you can attempt to delete the files that the navigation pane sets.

Method 2: Start Outlook in Safe Mode

Among these methods, the finest way to fix this error is to run Outlook in safe mode. why?

In Safe Mode, Outlook starts loading without any complicated or malware add-ins. To achieve this, follow this procedure:

1. Go to Run command.
2. Type the following comand. Press OK.

“Outlook /safe”

After you enter this it automatically takes it to safe mode. But there is a possibility to have some issues. This is because of add-ins. You have to disable add-ins. We will fix those problems in the upcoming method.

If you do not face any issue then your outlook will get open now in safe mode to check this is in safe mode or not follow the figure.

Disable add-ins :

• Go to the File tab.
• Select Options–>Add-ins.
• Choose “COM Add-ins” in the Manage select box at the bottom.
• Press the Go button.

• It will take it to the Next Com add-in screen. Uncheck all the tick marks and press OK.

Method 3: Create a New Outlook Profile

Rather than all of the time, it may be caused due to the corruption occurred in your outlook profile. To fix this kind of corruption you need to create a new outlook profile.

How to create a new Outlook profile?

• Go to Control Panel.
• Open Mail (MS Outlook 2016). [The location depends on the OS. Beter search in the search box ].

• Choose Show Profiles.

• In the newly appeared screen. Click the “Add” button.
• Enter some name to the profile.

• Go to the “Auto Account Setup” window and fill the details for your email account.
• It will create a new profile and open it with the General tab initially.

• Go to When starting Outlook, use this profile part,
• Choose your newly created profile name from Always use this profile menu.
• Finally, click OK.

Method 4: Repair Outlook Data File (PST)

What is the PST file? why do we need to repair it for opening outlook?

PST is a data file of Outlook where the data such as email messages, events, contacts, and tasks, get stored. Some corruption may occur in that file. This needs to get a repair to open the outlook file.

• Go to the ScanPST.exe and enter the following path.

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

If the pst file is in this path

• Otherwise, you can browse the path Directly in the ScanPST.exe.
• Click on the start button to scan it.
• After the Scan gets done.
• The is a checkbox “Make a backup of scanned file before”. Select it before repairing.” 

• You will see the Repair button at the bottom hit it.

Method 5: Disable Microsoft Lync at Startup

• Click on Windows+ X key ( Which is used to open the secret start menu).
• Also open Task Manager.
• Right Click on the Microsoft Lync and Disable it.

• Restart your computer or laptop. And check still the issue is persisted.

Method 6: Delete Navigation Pane Settings File

If you cannot recover this file, you must adapt this XML file deletion method.

Follow the upcoming steps to perform this removal operation.

1. Go to the Start Menu and open Run command.
2. Type below command in the box. And proceed Enter.

“%appdata%\Microsoft\Outlook “

3. This will take you to the folder location of the Microsoft Outlook configuration file. See the figure for the folder below.

4. Find and delete the Outlook.xml file.

FINAL WORDS:

Do you have any other queries? we encourage you to post the queries in the Below box. Our team will try to explore the issue in it.

Article By: Gowthami Kannan (Tech Manager)