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Carmine89's avatar
Carmine89
Copper Contributor
Nov 03, 2025

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!

admin
exchange
office 365
outlook for windows

7 Replies

  • VisWeb's avatar
    VisWeb
    Copper Contributor
    Nov 24, 2025

    Same error message here in Outlook about the "Text formatting command". I tried the downgrade that rinkep​ mentioned above but when I go into Outlook again after the update it has not been downgraded to the 16.0.19231.20216 version. 

  • Robert251's avatar
    Robert251
    Copper Contributor
    Nov 10, 2025

    I have had this issue across 7 or 8 servers in the last week. All Server 2016 RDS. For now we have been switching the Office update channel from Current to Semi-Annual Enterprise as a workaround.

  • Sluggern's avatar
    Sluggern
    Copper Contributor
    Nov 06, 2025

    We have the same the same problems and the same environment.

    I've not found any solution yet, waiting for Microsoft...

  • rinkep's avatar
    rinkep
    Copper Contributor
    Nov 04, 2025

    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.

  • wcalkins's avatar
    wcalkins
    Copper Contributor
    Nov 04, 2025

    Outlook 365 broke for us too.  Seems to be only server 2016 (terminal server) after the update on 11/1

     

    • Carmine89's avatar
      Carmine89
      Copper Contributor
      Nov 04, 2025

      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

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