Resolve Outlook Error: ‘The attempted operation failed. An object could not be found.’

Everything seems normal in Outlook until one click triggers an unexpected error message:

Outlook says it can’t find an object, but it doesn’t tell you which object is missing. Since the error arises for various reasons, its detection and resolution become quite difficult.

Therefore, we will help you figure out the real causes and resolve the troubleshooting challenges for the ‘Operation Failed’ error in Outlook.

Let’s begin by exploring the reasons first.

Why Are You Facing ‘Operation Failed’ Error in Outlook? – Know Possible Causes

You may encounter the error in different versions of Outlook, including 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Outlook 365 configured with Exchange Servers. The error generally appears for these reasons.

• Corrupted or damaged Outlook profile.
• Outlook data file corruption or damage.
• Missing permissions for certain objects.
• Outlook Compatibility Mode is enabled.
• Antivirus or Add-ins interfere with Outlook.
• Third-party apps and services block Outlook performance.
• Problems associated with the Microsoft 365 installed program.

Top 7 Manual Ways to Resolve” Error In Outlook

We have tried various solutions to fix Outlook error: The Operation Failed. An object could not be found. Out of all, only the ones given worked for us. So, try them individually to identify the most suitable one for yourself.

Method 1. Check for Compatibility Mode

Compatibility Mode runs Outlook in emulated older Windows settings that block access to modern profile files, APIs, and address book objects. So, turn it off to fix the related issues by using the steps below:

Step 1. Search for Outlook and right-click on it.

Step 2. Tap on Open file location to continue.

Step 3. Locate OUTLOOK.EXE and go to Properties.

Step 4. Uncheck the Run this program in compatibility mode for option.

Step 5. Then, Apply changes and click OK.

Method 2. Repair Microsoft 365 Installed Program

You can repair the installed Office 365 program to reset broken registry keys and restore missing DLL components. So, follow the given steps to solve the error ‘the operation failed. An object could not be found.”

Step 1. Access the Run dialog box and type appwiz.cpl.

Step 2. Then, click OK to proceed.

Step 3. Locate & right-click on the Microsoft 365 installed program.

Step 4. Tap on the Change option to continue.

Step 5. Now, choose the applicable repair option:

• Quick Repair
• Online Repair

Once done, click Repair.

Step 6. Wait for the repair process to complete.

Method 3. Disable Antivirus Programs Temporarily

An antivirus program scans emails for threats during the send or receive operations. It blocks or interferes with outgoing/incoming emails and Outlook data files. So, disable it temporarily to check “The attempted operation failed. An object could not be found.” error is resolved or not.

Note: You can also try to remove and reinstall the software if disabling it fails to fix the error. Also, make sure that the email scanning option is turned off from the start when you reinstall the antivirus program.

Method 4. Turn Off Faulty Outlook Add-ins

Sometimes, third-party add-ins block the Outlook access to contacts, folders, or email sending functions. Therefore, remove them with the help of these steps:

Note: You can also open Outlook in Safe Mode to check whether the issue occurred due to Add-ins or not.

Step 1. Click on File menu and proceed to Options.

Step 2. Locate the Add-ins section and Go to COM Add-ins.

Step 3. Uncheck all the Add-ins and click OK.

Step 4. If the issue is resolved, then one of the add-ins is responsible for the error.

Step 5. Enable them one-by-one to identify or remove the problematic Add-in.

Method 5. Create a New Outlook Profile

In many cases, the Outlook profile is corrupt or damaged. So, solve the error ” The operation failed. An object could not be found.” by creating a new one. Here’s how:

Step 1. Close all the Outlook instances.

Step 2. Open the Control Panel and go to Mail (Microsoft Outlook).

Step 3. Tap on Show Profiles to view the existing ones.

Step 4. Click Add to Create New Profile.

Step 5. Enter a Profile Name and hit OK.

Note: Choose the Always use this profile option to make the profile default.

Step 6. Provide the account credentials to set up the account properly.

Step 7. Then, click Next to Finish the process.

Method 6. Clean Boot Windows

A clean boot in Windows helps you resolve “Operation Failed” error by clearing startup services and software. Here are the complete steps to perform it.

Step 1. Access the Run dialog box and type msconfig.

Step 2. Then, click OK to access System Configuration.

Step 3. Navigate to the General tab and choose Selective startup option.

Step 4. Uncheck the following settings:

• Load system services
• Load startup items

Once done, click OK to proceed.

Step 5. Locate the Services tab and Hide all Microsoft services.

Step 6. Tap the Disable all option to unselect the third-party services.

Step 7. Apply the changes and click OK.

Step 8. Select the Restart option in the pop-up window.

Method 7. Use the SCANPST to Repair Outlook Data Files

“The attempted operation failed. An object could not be found.” error in Outlook may also appear due to corrupt or damaged data files. You can repair them with the help of the Inbox Repair Tool. Follow the given steps to do the same:

Step 1. Make sure all the Outlook instances are closed.

Step 2. Locate the SCANPST tool on your system at the location below.

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office1X\SCANPST.EXE

X refers to the last digit of the Office version; for example, Office 16 x will be 6.

Step 3. Browse to choose the data file and Start the process.

Step 4. Repair the scanned inconsistencies in the file.

Step 5. Click OK once the process is completed.

Important to know: The SCANPST tool isn’t optimized for large PST files. As a result, it has a higher failure rate with large and severely corrupted PST files. Therefore, using our dedicated Recoveryfix Outlook PST Repair tool will be the best approach. It repairs all available versions of PST files.

Free Download

Closing Remarks

We have covered different solutions to fix Outlook Error: “The operation failed. An object could not be found.” because it doesn’t have one universal cause. You can use the structured approach to find and apply the most appropriate solutions as per your needs. But if the case is related to file corruption, then go with the recommended solution. The software easily repairs large PST files without any restrictions.