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Outlook broke after Office 365 update to 16.0.19328.20158 – cannot open emails Windows Server 2016
Hello everyone,
posting to report that after the latest automatic update to Microsoft Office 365 version 16.0.19328.20158, we are experiencing a critical issue on multiple company machines running Windows Server 2016:
- The Outlook desktop application launches normally, but when trying to open any email, the following error appears:
“There was a problem opening this item... The text formatting command is not available... Reinstall Microsoft Outlook.” - Launching Outlook in safe mode (Outlook /safe) does not help.
- Creating the FORMS2 folder (suggested workaround) does not fix it.
- Attempting a downgrade via OfficeC2RClient.exe fails with error 30183-27 (400).
- Quick/online repair from Control Panel also has no effect.
In our environment, this issue appeared simultaneously on many workstations and servers, right after the Office update today.
Temporary solution:
We are instructing users to access their mail via Outlook Web App (OWA), which is not affected by this bug.
We would like to know:
- If others have experienced this bug with this build, including on Windows Server 2016
- If any working workaround exists, or an official fix timeframe from Microsoft
Thanks to anyone who can share their experience or updates!
5 Replies
We had the same problem. The only solution was a downgrade to an older version of office 365 and disable the automatic update:
cd %ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun\
OfficeC2RClient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.19231.20216
Note: The official support for Windows Server 2016 in combination with the Microsoft 365 Apps has ended last month.
We had the same problem. The only solution was a downgrade to an older version of office 365 and disable the automatic update:
cd %ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun\
OfficeC2RClient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.19231.20216
Note: The official support for Windows Server 2016 in combination with the Microsoft 365 Apps has ended last month.
We had the same Problem. Make a rollback and disable the updates is the only solution at this time.
cd %ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun\
OfficeC2RClient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.19231.20216
Note: The combination Microsoft 365 apps with Windows 2016 will no longer supported by microsoft. The official support ended last month
Outlook 365 broke for us too. Seems to be only server 2016 (terminal server) after the update on 11/1
Hi wcalkins. Actually the only way i've found is upgrate to W2k25 but is not easily applied to all.
I've now 100 VDI with this error. I hope Microsoft found a solution shortly
