Microsoft Outlook is Crashing with Error Code 0xc0000005? Here’s What To Do!

  Tej Pratap Shukla
Written By Tej Pratap Shukla
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh
Modified On November 12th, 2025
Reading Time 5 Min Read

If your MS Outlook is crashing with error code 0x0000005, you’re not alone. This recurring issue first appeared globally in July 2020 due to a faulty Microsoft 365 update. Till date, similar crashes have continued to appear in later Outlook versions across Windows 10 and 11. The most tragic part of this error is that all the users of Microsoft Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, and Outlook 365 around the world facing this crashing problem.

The Outlook error 0xc0000005 usually occurs when Outlook fails to launch properly due to corrupted updates, a damaged PST file, or incompatible/faulty add-ins. When this happens, Outlook closes immediately, and the Event Viewer logs show “OUTLOOK.EXE crashed with error code 0x0000005.”

Therefore, we have drafted this guide for you to fix Microsoft Outlook error code 0x0000005 with manual as well as automated solutions. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in!

What’s the cause for Outlook Error Code 0xc0000005?

According to users when they launch the Microsoft Outlook, then it will crash automatically when opening and generate an error code 0xc0000005 in the Event Viewer. The issue of Outlook crashing is noticed by the users last night (15/07/2020) and tweets or reports were flooding all over the world in just a few hours.

The users who tried to examine their application Event Log files after encountering the crashing issue has got detailed description. The error log states that, the OUTLOOK.EXE program has crashed with an error code 0xc0000005.

What Microsoft Said About the 0xc0000005 Error Code?

The Official Microsoft 365 Status Twitter handle informed the users about this issue and said that this Outlook crashing issue is being caused by the new update and we are investigating the issue. Microsoft 365 Admin Center titled this issue “EX218604“. And suggests the users to use the web version and the mobile client until the problem is resolved.

Crashing Issue of Microsoft Outlook – Best Way to Save Your Outlook Data

Losing MS Outlook data is crucial and not appreciable. For safeguarding your Outlook data items (emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, notes, journals, attachments, events, appointments, to-do lists) we suggest easy and simple methods

1: Take backup of your Outlook data if you’re having IMAP account. Convert OST to PST file format. This will help to save your Outlook data locally on your system for later use. It will convert entire Outlook data items into an independently accessible file format of Outlook easily.

2: Safe Outlook PST Data: Use a safe and secure solution to protect your Outlook data. If you have already affected by the issue: Outlook crashes on launch – error code 0xc0000005, the best way is to use reliable applications to protect your data. Use SysTools PST Repair Tool to protect and save your Outlook PST files. It can repair corrupted PST safely and securely. The software supports multiple PST files at a time without any file size limitation.

Importantly, it provides the previews of all your Outlook PST data items in the preview panel. You can view, filter, sort, and read data in the mail, contacts, calendars, tasks, notes, attachments, etc.

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Download the free demo edition of the software, and view and save your data from corrupted/damaged PST files efficiently without any loss. The Full Version can save complete data from your PST file safely in your local-drive in the chosen file format.

For Mac Outlook Users:

If You are getting any issue in Mac Outlook, then try the Mac Outlook Recovery Tool.

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How to Manually Fix Microsoft Outlook 0xc0000005 Crash?

Now, let us move ahead and discuss each of these methods in detail so you could choose whichever method you find better.

Steps to Roll-back the Update of Microsoft Outlook

  • First, open your command prompt or CMD
  • Now, enter the following code in CMD cd “\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun” and press enter.
  • Once the code executed you will see that you are in ClicktoRun folder. Now, type officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.12827.20470 and press enter.
  • Once you completed the coding part Microsoft Outlook will start to download the specified version of Microsoft Office and roll back to the previous version.

Steps to Start Microsoft Outlook in Safe Mode

If you don’t want to do any technical workaround, then you can try to launch the Microsoft Outlook in safe mode to fix these crash issue. Follow the listed below steps to open Microsoft Outlook in safe mode

  • Hold the control key and then launch the Microsoft Outlook.
  • In a few seconds, a popup will appear on your computer screen that will ask “Do you want to start Outlook in safe mode?”
  • Now, press the yes button to start the Microsoft Outlook.

Wrapping Up

The Outlook error code 0x0000005 remains one of the most reported crash issues since its first appearance in 2020. The quickest fix is to roll back to the previous Outlook version or start Outlook in Safe Mode. However, the most reliable way is definitely the SysTools Outlook Recovery Software. Ensure regularly backing up and recovering email from your PST file data to ensure preventing any such crashes in future.

  author

By Tej Pratap Shukla

A versatile technocrat, always in the search for new and interesting areas related to technology. Works on multiple technical problems faced by users frequently. Provides the user-friendly solutions to deal with numerous technical issues.