Win 11 Microsoft 365 Outlook classic cannot open

If it goes straight to “Something went wrong” without ever asking for a password, Outlook isn’t even getting to the Microsoft sign‑in page. That usually points to a broken Office/Microsoft sign‑in component (WebView2/WAM) or a Windows network/proxy/TLS setting—not your password (your Edge web login proves the password is fine).
Here’s the fastest, most reliable set of fixes (do them in order). Stop when it starts asking for the password/sign-in screen.

1) Check the basics that can block the sign-in window​

  1. Settings → Time & language → Date & time
    • Turn on Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically
  2. If you use VPN/Proxy, turn them off:
    • Settings → Network & internet → Proxy → make sure it’s Off
  3. Reset WinHTTP proxy (safe):
    • Open Command Prompt (Admin) and run:
      netsh winhttp reset proxy
Reboot once and try adding the Outlook.com account again.

2) Repair / reinstall Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime (very common cause)​

Outlook’s sign-in window uses WebView2. If WebView2 is broken, you often get “Something went wrong” immediately.
  1. Settings → Apps → Installed apps
  2. Search for Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime
    • If it’s missing: install it (search “WebView2 Runtime Microsoft” in Edge and install from Microsoft).
    • If it’s present: also make sure Microsoft Edge itself is up to date.
  3. Reboot and try again.

3) Clear Office/Microsoft sign-in cache (fixes “Something went wrong” loops)​

  1. Close Outlook and all Office apps (Word/Excel/Teams).
  2. In Task Manager, end (if present):
    • OUTLOOK.EXE
    • WINWORD.EXE, EXCEL.EXE
    • Microsoft.AAD.BrokerPlugin (if you see it)
  3. Now delete these folders (they are caches and will be recreated):
    • Press Win + R → paste each one → delete the folder contents (or rename the folder by adding .old):
      • %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneAuth
      • %localappdata%\Microsoft\IdentityCache
Reboot and try adding [email]giulianogini@outlook.com[/email] again.

4) Add the Outlook.com account from Control Panel (often works better than the in-app wizard)​

  1. Control Panel → Mail (Microsoft Outlook)
  2. Email Accounts… → New…
  3. Add [email]giulianogini@outlook.com[/email]
If it still fails instantly, don’t worry—see the “quick workaround” below.

Quick workaround (so you don’t lose time)​

Since you said this Outlook.com address is not important, you can simply skip adding it to Outlook Classic and use:
  • Outlook.com in Edge, or
  • New Outlook for Windows (it usually connects to Outlook.com accounts very easily)
Your important working setup (POP [email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] + local PST on C:\Outlook Files\) can remain unchanged.

One question (to pinpoint the cause in 1 reply)​

In Installed apps, do you see Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime listed? (Yes/No)
If you answer that, I’ll tell you the single best next step.
 
Understood when I have spare time I will do it by following your instructions, for now i will keep outlook mail accessible by edge or google via web.

I will now try to install the ggini@ngi.it as earlier I had a problem. Thank you
 
Got it — let’s add ggini@ngi.it (IMAP) to your working Outlook Test profile.
For @ngi.it mailboxes (EOLO/NGI), EOLO’s own guide says to use these manual settings if auto-setup fails: IMAP = mail-in.eolo.it (993 SSL) and SMTP = mail-out.eolo.it (465 SSL).

Add ggini@ngi.it to Outlook (Classic) — manual method​

1) In Outlook (Classic) open:
  • File → Account Settings → Account Settings → New…
2) Enter: [email]ggini@ngi.it[/email]
3) Click Advanced options and tick:
  • Let me set up my account manually
4) Click Connect → choose IMAP
5) Fill in IMAP (incoming):
  • Server: mail-in.eolo.it
  • Port: 993
  • Encryption: SSL/TLS
  • Username: [email]ggini@ngi.it[/email]
  • Password: your webmail password
6) Fill in SMTP (outgoing):
  • Server: mail-out.eolo.it
  • Port: 465
  • Encryption: SSL/TLS
  • Outgoing server requires authentication: ON (use same username/password)
7) Finish and restart Outlook once.

If it refuses to connect (important note)​

EOLO notes that, for security, access may be blocked outside Italy.
So if you’re currently traveling or using a VPN that exits outside Italy, turn the VPN off and try again.

If receiving works but sending fails​

Some connections block SMTP on certain ports/servers; one workaround sometimes used on NGI/EOLO connections is using smtp.ngi.it for outbound (historically discussed due to port 25 restrictions).
But try the EOLO settings first (mail-out.eolo.it:465 SSL). That’s the cleanest setup.

Quick question (so I can give the exact next fix if it errors)​

When you try to add ggini@ngi.it, what is the exact error message Outlook shows (or post a screenshot)? Also tell me whether you can log into its webmail successfully with the same password.
 
Great — glad to hear ggini@ngi.it (IMAP) is working now.
To keep Outlook stable going forward, here are the 3 quick “do/don’t” items (based on what caused the trouble):
1) Keep all PST files out of OneDrive
  • Only store them in something like C:\Outlook Files\….
2) Keep “Outlook Test” as the only default profile
  • Control Panel → Mail → Show Profiles → Always use this profile: Outlook Test.
3) Before deleting anything
  • Keep your C:\Outlook Files Backup From OneDrive folder for a few days (or until your next full backup), then you can delete it if everything remains OK.
If Outlook Classic ever hangs again, tell me the exact message and whether it happens only on startup or after sleep/hibernate and we’ll fix it quickly.
 
Hello, windows C: outlook files now that all pst is in this folder and no longer in Onedrive in order to make save space which is safe to delete or is it ok to keep as it is shown on the photo?
also i had a a look and i don't have Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime ? therefore can I download it from this site as per in photo is it the correct one because i can't see the word Runtime?






 
Hi Julian — both questions are straightforward now.

1) In C:\Outlook Files: what is safe to delete to save space?​

From your photo, you have:
  • ggini1@tin.it – Outlook GG.pst (≈7.48 GB) → DO NOT delete (this is your main POP mail storage).
  • Giuliano ggini1@tin.it – Outlook Test.pst (≈58.8 MB) → maybe deletable (only if Outlook is not using it).
  • ggini1@tin.it – Outlook GG.bak (≈7.48 GB) → this is a backup created by ScanPST repair. If Outlook is working fine now and you already have your external image backup, you can delete it to save the most space.
  • ggini1@tin.it – Outlook GG.log (small) → safe to delete (it’s just a log file).

Safest way (so you don’t delete something Outlook still uses)​

  1. Open Outlook (Classic) → File → Account Settings → Account Settings → Data Files.
  2. If “Giuliano … Outlook Test.pst” is listed there, select it → Remove (this removes it from Outlook only).
  3. Close Outlook.
  4. Now you can delete “Giuliano … Outlook Test.pst” from C:\Outlook Files if you want.
About the .BAK:
If you want to be extra safe, keep …Outlook GG.bak for 2–7 days. If Outlook stays stable, delete it later. If you need space now, deleting the .bak is usually fine (especially since you have external backups).

2) WebView2 Runtime: is that the correct download page?​

Yes — the site in your screenshot (developer.microsoft.com → Microsoft Edge WebView2) is Microsoft’s official WebView2 page. (developer.microsoft.com)
Even though your Apps list doesn’t show “Runtime”, that page’s Download button leads to the WebView2 Runtime installers (Evergreen Bootstrapper / Evergreen Standalone Installer). (developer.microsoft.com)

What to download (simple choice)​

On that page, scroll to “Download the WebView2 Runtime” and choose:
Install it, then reboot.

Note​

Microsoft 365 Apps often install WebView2 automatically, but it may still be missing or broken on some systems—installing it again is OK.
If you want, post one screenshot of Outlook → Data Files and I’ll tell you exactly whether “Outlook Test.pst” is unused and safe to delete.
 
Thanks Julian — this screenshot is exactly what we needed.

What your Outlook is using right now​

In Outlook → Account Settings → Data Files, I can see only these two data files:
1) ggini@ngi.it – Outlook Test.ost
C:\Users\ggini\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\... .ost
Keep it. (OST is a cache file for IMAP; Outlook needs it. Don’t move it.)
2) ggini1@tin.it – Outlook GG.pst
C:\Outlook Files Backup From OneDrive\...Outlook GG.pst
Keep it. (This is your POP mail storage—your real email history.)
Importantly: there is NO “Outlook Test.pst” listed anymore, so Outlook is not using that file.

What is safe to delete in C:\Outlook Files to save space​

From your earlier folder photo, you had these files:

Safe to delete (after Outlook is closed)​

  • [email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] - Outlook GG.bak (the big ~7.48 GB file)
    This is just a backup created by the ScanPST repair.
    If Outlook is working now, this is the main space hog you can delete.
  • [email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] - Outlook GG.log (small)
    Safe to delete.
  • Giuliano [email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] - Outlook Test.pst (small ~58 MB)
    Since it is not listed in Data Files anymore, it’s safe to delete if you want.

Do NOT delete​

  • [email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] - Outlook GG.pst (your POP mail)
  • Any .ost file in the AppData Outlook folder
Tip (extra safe): If you’re nervous, you can keep the .bak for a couple of days; but if disk space is tight, deleting it now is normally fine (especially since you do image backups).

Optional tidy-up (not required)​

Right now your PST is stored in:
C:\Outlook Files Backup From OneDrive\...Outlook GG.pst
That’s OK, but if you want it cleaner you can move the PST to:
C:\Outlook Files\
If you do, Outlook may ask you to “locate” the PST once; you just browse to the new location.

WebView2 Runtime​

Yes, you should install Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime (it helps Outlook sign-in screens). The Microsoft page you showed earlier on developer.microsoft.com is the correct official place—choose the WebView2 Runtime / Evergreen Standalone Installer (x64).
If you want, tell me what you see on the download page (a screenshot of the download choices) and I’ll point to the exact button to click.
If you delete the GG.bak file, how much free space do you get back on C:?
 
You’re on the correct Microsoft page. From the three choices shown, the one you want in almost all cases is:

Evergreen Standalone Installer → x64​

Click Evergreen Standalone Installer, then click x64.

Why this one?​

  • Standalone Installer = full installer (doesn’t depend as much on downloading pieces during install).
  • Evergreen = it stays up to date automatically afterward.
  • x64 = correct for almost all Windows 11 laptops/desktops (Intel/AMD).

When to choose something else​

  • Choose ARM64 only if your PC is ARM-based (for example Snapdragon/“Windows on ARM” devices).
  • Evergreen Bootstrapper also works, but it’s a small “downloader” installer—Standalone is usually simpler/reliable.
Do not use “Fixed Version” unless you specifically need an older pinned version for IT/testing. (Also your screenshot shows arm64 selected there, which is likely wrong for your PC.)

After downloading​

  1. Run the downloaded installer (it may be named similar to a WebView2 Runtime installer).
  2. Reboot once.
  3. Confirm it installed:
    • Settings → Apps → Installed apps
    • Search for WebView2 (it should appear as Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime)
If you tell me whether your laptop CPU is Intel/AMD (most likely) or ARM/Snapdragon, I can confirm 100% you should pick x64 (but based on typical Windows 11 laptops: pick x64).
 
Yes — that message means WebView2 Runtime is already installed on your PC, so you don’t need to install it again.

Why you “can’t see it” in the Programs list​

Sometimes WebView2 is installed as a system component (often together with Microsoft Edge / Microsoft 365) and it doesn’t always appear in Control Panel → Programs and Features as a separate “WebView2 Runtime” entry.
Your installer is checking Windows and reporting: it’s already there.

How to confirm it’s installed (easy check)​

  • Open File Explorer
  • Go to:
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeWebView\Application
  • If you see folders with numbers and a file called msedgewebview2.exe, then WebView2 Runtime is installed.
(Optional: right‑click msedgewebview2.exe → Properties → Details to see the version.)

What to do going forward​

Just keep Microsoft Edge updated (Edge updates keep the Evergreen WebView2 runtime updated too).

About saving space in C:\Outlook Files​

From your earlier screenshot you have (typical after ScanPST repair):
  • …Outlook GG.pst KEEP (this is your real POP mail storage)
  • …Outlook GG.bak Safe to delete if Outlook is now working (this is the repair backup, and it’s usually the biggest file)
  • …Outlook GG.log Safe to delete (small log)
  • …Outlook Test.pst Safe to delete only if it is NOT listed in Outlook → Account Settings → Data Files
Important: Close Outlook first before deleting any PST/BAK files (and check Task Manager that OUTLOOK.EXE is not running).
If you want, post a quick screenshot of C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeWebView\Application (just the folder view) and I’ll confirm WebView2 is present.
 
You’re very close to a “clean” setup now — the only issue is that you currently have two copies of the same big PST (~7.48 GB) in two different folders, so you’re wasting disk space.
From your photos I can see:
  • C:\Outlook Files contains
    [email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] - Outlook GG.pst (~7.48 GB)
  • C:\Outlook Files Backup From OneDrive contains
    [email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] - Outlook GG.pst (~7.48 GB) (duplicate copy)
    [email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] - Outlook GG.log (small log)
    My Outlook Data File (1).pst (265 KB, tiny)
So the question is: which of the two big PST copies is Outlook actually using right now?
We must keep the one Outlook uses, and we can delete the duplicate.

Step 1 (MOST IMPORTANT): Identify the PST that Outlook is using​

In Outlook (Classic):
  1. File → Account Settings → Account Settings → Data Files
  2. Click the line for ggini1@tin.it (the PST)
  3. Click Open File Location…
Whatever folder opens is the PST that Outlook is using.

Step 2: What you can safely delete (to save space)​

A) Always safe to delete (after closing Outlook)​

  • [email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] - Outlook GG.log (small text log)

B) The big space saving (delete ONE of the duplicate PSTs)​

After you’ve done Step 1:
  • Keep the PST in the folder that Open File Location… opens.
  • Close Outlook and confirm in Task Manager that OUTLOOK.EXE is not running.
  • Then delete the other [email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] - Outlook GG.pst (the duplicate one).
That will immediately free about 7.48 GB.

C) “My Outlook Data File (1).pst” (265 KB)​

This is tiny. You can delete it only if it is not listed in Data Files in Outlook. If it’s not listed, it’s unused.

Recommended “tidy” arrangement (optional, but nice)​

To keep things simple long term, I suggest you keep the active file here:
C:\Outlook Files\[email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] - Outlook GG.pst
So if Outlook is currently using the PST inside C:\Outlook Files Backup From OneDrive, you can move it over to C:\Outlook Files and then delete the entire Backup From OneDrive folder.
(If you want, tell me which folder opens in Step 1 and I’ll give you the exact click-by-click “move + reattach” steps.)

One quick question​

When you click Open File Location… for the [email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] data file, does it open:
1) C:\Outlook Files\
or
2) C:\Outlook Files Backup From OneDrive\ ?
Reply with 1 or 2, and I’ll tell you exactly which PST you can delete safely.
 
Great — your screenshot confirms the answer clearly:
Outlook is currently using this PST as your active (in-use) POP data file:
C:\Outlook Files Backup From OneDrive\[email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] - Outlook GG.pst
So do not delete that file or that folder yet, otherwise Outlook will break again.
You can still save space, because you have a duplicate copy elsewhere.

What you can delete right now (safe)​

1) Delete small junk/log files (safe)​

In C:\Outlook Files Backup From OneDrive\ you can delete:
  • [email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] - Outlook GG.log (small text log)
(Only do it when Outlook is closed.)

How to free the BIG space (7.5 GB) safely​

Right now you have the same big PST in two places:
  • Active (used by Outlook): C:\Outlook Files Backup From OneDrive\...\Outlook GG.pst
  • Duplicate (not needed once we tidy): likely C:\Outlook Files\...\Outlook GG.pst

The safest method is:​

Step A — Move Outlook to use the PST in C:\Outlook Files\​

  1. Close Outlook
  2. Open Task Manager → end OUTLOOK.EXE (if it’s still running)
  3. Go to C:\Outlook Files\
    • If there is already an ...Outlook GG.pst there, rename it to something like:
    • [email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] - Outlook GG (old).pst
      (This avoids overwriting anything.)
  4. Now go to C:\Outlook Files Backup From OneDrive\
    • Copy [email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] - Outlook GG.pst
    • Paste it into C:\Outlook Files\

Step B — Tell Outlook to use the new location​

  1. Open Outlook → File → Account Settings → Account Settings → Data Files
  2. Click Add…
  3. Select the PST you just copied:
    • C:\Outlook Files\[email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] - Outlook GG.pst
  4. Select that new PST and click Set as Default
  5. Close Outlook and open it again

Step C — Confirm, then delete the old folder​

  1. Go back to Data Files and confirm the tin.it PST now shows:
    • C:\Outlook Files\...Outlook GG.pst
Only after that confirmation:
  • You can delete the old copy in C:\Outlook Files Backup From OneDrive\
  • And then delete the whole C:\Outlook Files Backup From OneDrive\ folder (to save space)

Important notes​

  • Do not delete the .ost file for [email]ggini@ngi.it[/email] (that’s normal cache).
  • Keep your PST backups until you’ve rebooted once and Outlook still opens fine.
If you want, after you do Step B, post one more screenshot of Data Files and I’ll confirm “OK—safe to delete the Backup From OneDrive folder now.”
 
Can I just simply delete the Folder: outlook files above and just keep the Folder currently active below named: outlook files backup from OneDrive which is in use and that would be it?




 
Yes — you can do it that way, as long as Outlook is not using anything inside C:\Outlook Files.
From your last screenshot, Outlook is currently using:
C:\Outlook Files Backup From OneDrive\[email]ggini1@tin.it[/email] - Outlook GG.pst
So keeping “Outlook Files Backup From OneDrive” is fine (the name is confusing, but harmless).

Do this safe check first (30 seconds)​

  1. Open Outlook → File → Account Settings → Account Settings → Data Files
  2. Look at the Location column:
    • If nothing points to C:\Outlook Files\... then it’s safe to delete that folder.
(Your earlier screenshot showed only the .ost in AppData and the .pst in “Backup From OneDrive”, so you’re likely OK.)

Then delete the folder safely​

  1. Close Outlook
  2. Open Task Manager → make sure OUTLOOK.EXE is not running
  3. Delete:
    • C:\Outlook Files
That’s it.

Important warning​

Before deleting, quickly open C:\Outlook Files and make sure it does not contain the only copy of anything you still want (for example an extra PST archive). If it contains only duplicates or old files you don’t need, delete it.

Optional (recommended later)​

When you have time, you can also rename the active folder to something clearer (renaming the folder is OK if Outlook is closed, but you must then re-point Outlook to the PST or it will ask you to locate it). Not necessary right now—only for tidiness.
If you want, post a quick screenshot of the contents of C:\Outlook Files and I’ll tell you “safe to delete / don’t delete” with 100% certainty.
 
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