Guide: Fix ‘Cannot Expand Folder Error in Outlook’ Issue
For over a decade, Microsoft Outlook users have been plagued by a bug that causes a pop-up error message reading “Cannot expand folder” when attempting to open shared folders or folders in secondary mailboxes. This issue has persisted through all versions of Outlook, including Office 365.
Office users may be better off upgrading to the latest version, as an error persists in earlier versions.
1. Folder limit
Microsoft Outlook has a maximum of 1000 folders, 500 for Outlook and versions, with a limit of 100,000 items per folder. Exceeding these limits can cause performance issues.
2. Disable add-ons
Do you have any add-ins installed in your Microsoft Outlook account? If so, they may be causing a conflict that results in the error “Cannot expand folder in Outlook.” To troubleshoot, try opening Outlook in Safe Mode or disabling all add-ons. If the error disappears, re-enable each add-in one by one to identify which was responsible.
3. Turn off cache mode
Disabling cache mode may be the solution to resolving the “Unable to expand the folder” issue in Outlook when using an Exchange account or shared mailbox.
File menu must be clicked.
Go to Account Settings by selecting it from the drop-down menu.
Double-click the email ID causing the “Cannot Expand Folder” error to view a list of all associated email accounts.
Uncheck the Cached Exchange Mode box to save changes.
To fix Outlook folder issues, turn off cache mode and restart the program. This will force Outlook to sync and download folders and emails, resolving any strange behavior.
4. Repair the Outlook app
To access Control Panel, open the Start menu and select it.
To uninstall a program, open the Control Panel and search for “Uninstall.”
If you have the standalone Outlook app or Microsoft Office suite installed, click the Change button on the top to access it.
Users have two options to fix common errors: a Quick Repair or an Online Repair. The Quick Repair works offline and should be attempted first. If it doesn’t work, then the Online Repair should be used.
Connecting a laptop to a Wi-Fi network and power source is necessary for optimal performance.
Create a new Outlook profile
Before creating a new profile, it is recommended to rename the folder that cannot be expanded in Outlook. Right-click on the folder and select Rename. Make a backup if necessary, and delete any existing profiles from the server or cloud.
Restart your computer to ensure the username and drive letter match your Windows installation.
To access Account Settings, open Outlook and select Manage Profiles from the Files menu.
Create a new profile by clicking “Add.”
Users can now add email accounts to their newly created profile and check if the error message “Cannot expand the folder” still appears.
6. Repair PST and OST file
Outlook users who experience a “Cannot expand folder” error can choose between two methods of saving their email account information, depending on the type of account they are using. For IMAP or POP accounts, the information is saved in a .PST file, while Office 365 or Exchange accounts require an .OST file.
Go to the Control Panel, select User Account> Email> View Profiles, and click Properties for the profile you’re having trouble with. Then choose Data Files from the popup that appears.
To access an email account data file, click ‘Open File Location’.
Delete the .OST file, restart your computer, and Outlook will recreate it.
Press Windows key + R to open the Run prompt, then enter the file path for Office, Office and Office 365 - but note that this won’t work for .PST files.
Microsoft Office 2016 is now available for download in the Program Files (x86) folder.
Microsoft Office 15 is now available for download in the Program Files (x86) folder.
Wish no more: double-clicking the SCANPST.EXE file is the quickest way to launch Microsoft Outlook’s Inbox repair tool.
After clicking the prompt, a pop-up will appear with a “Browse” option.
The Start button can be clicked after locating the .PST file in a newly opened Explorer window.
Ensure your scanned file is safe by selecting the option to create a backup before repairing it.
Restore now to begin.
Beware
Microsoft has released a plethora of Outlook versions, making troubleshooting more complex. We strive to provide the best solutions, but if you have any other ideas for fixing the “Unable to open folder” error message in Outlook, please share them in the comments.
Make the most of Microsoft Outlook on your smartphone with these nine helpful tips and tricks for Android and iOS users.
Fix ‘Cannot Expand Folder Error in Outlook’ Issue: benefits
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Final note
This guide provides a solution to the “Cannot Expand Folder Error” issue in Outlook. If you have any questions, please contact us. Help spread the word by sharing this article with your friends.
If you have any questions about fixing the “Cannot Expand Folder Error in Outlook” issue, please ask us in the comments section or contact us directly. This guide is for educational purposes only. If you want to correct any misinformation about this guide, please contact us. If anyone wants to add more methods to this guide, they can also contact us. For help, use our contact page or follow us on Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter. We usually respond within 24-48 hours (weekends excluded). For software updates and discussion join our Telegram channel.
