Outlook AutoComplete/AutoFill Not Working – Problem Fixed!
When you start entering an email address in the “To” section of an email in Outlook, the AutoComplete feature displays potential matches (email addresses). If your Outlook client’s AutoComplete feature has ceased functioning, use the suggestions in this article to address the underlying problems and remedy the Outlook AutoComplete not working issue.
Microsoft Outlook is one of the most popular email clients in the world, thanks to its powerful features and user-friendly interface. One of the features that many users rely on is AutoComplete, which suggests email addresses as you begin typing in the “To,” “Cc,” or “Bcc” fields. However, sometimes users encounter issues with AutoComplete not working as expected. In this article, we’ll explore common reasons why AutoComplete may stop functioning and provide solutions to fix the problem.
Common Causes of the Not Working Outlook AutoComplete Issue
The following factors could be to blame for the problem with Outlook AutoComplete not working:
- Not enabled is AutoComplete
- corruption of the AutoComplete cache
- Older outlook
- Incompatible or problematic third-party add-ins.
- Cache for AutoComplete is full
- OST file that is inconsistent or too large
- oversized mailbox
- a damaged RoamCache folder
- faulty user profiles
- program files for MS Office (Outlook) that are damaged
Solutions to Troubleshoot and Resolve the Outlook AutoComplete Problem
You can use the solutions listed below to troubleshoot and fix any issues you are having with Outlook’s AutoComplete feature.
1. Switch on AutoComplete
The Outlook AutoComplete not working issue could be caused by the AutoComplete setting not being enabled. To check and activate the option, simply follow the procedures listed below:
- Navigate to File > Options > Mail in Outlook after opening it.
- Make sure to Use the Auto-Complete List to suggest names while typing in the To, Cc, and Bcc lines box checked under the Send messages section.
- Click Yes after selecting Empty Auto-Complete List and continue.
- Now, press the OK button
After that, attempt to send a fresh email to check if the problem has been fixed.
2. Update Outlook
The AutoComplete feature may also be impacted by outdated Outlook. To ensure that Outlook is up to date, take the following actions:
- Start Outlook.
- To access Office Account, click File.
- Select updation options.
- To download and install the Outlook updates, select Update Now from the list of options.
Additionally, you can install and check the Windows updates. Restart the computer after the update to see if the problem has been fixed.
3. Make a New RoamCache
To resolve the Outlook AutoComplete not working issue, recreate the RoamCache folder. Rename it or remove it from its default location to accomplish this. That’s how:
- Navigate to File > Info > Account Settings > Account Settings after opening Outlook.
- Click on Change > More Settings > Advanced after selecting the email account.
- Verify that Use Cached Exchange Mode is turned on (if you have an Outlook.com, Office 365, or Exchange account). Next, press OK.
- Input %LOCALAPPDATA%/Microsoft/Outlook into the box by pressing the Windows+R keys then hit Enter.
- Locate the RoamCache folder, then rename it “RoamCache_old.”
- After starting the Outlook program, give it some time to finish. After some time, a fresh RoamCache will be generated.
Try launching a fresh email compose window to see if Outlook autofill is functional.
4. Make the AutoComplete List Again
You can manually rebuild the AutoComplete list if you discover that the feature is not recommending the correct email addresses. You must email your contacts in order to accomplish this. This will create a fresh cache and refresh it.
5. Make a New Account.
Outlook features like AutoComplete may also have problems when there is a corrupted profile. To fix the problem, perform the following actions in Outlook to establish a new profile:
- To access the Control Panel, close Outlook.
- Choose Mail > Show Profiles > Add from the User Accounts menu.
- Enter a new name for your profile and press OK.
- To add your email account, follow the instructions and select Next > Finish.
- Choose “Prompt for a profile to be used” or set the newly created profile as the default.
- Press the OK button and close the Mail Dialog box.
6. Eliminate Third-Party Add-Ins That Are Incompatible
The AutoComplete feature in Outlook may also not function if you have recently installed third-party add-ins. These add-ins are checkable and removable. The following are the steps to follow:
- Once you have typed Outlook.exe /safe, press the Windows key + R and either click OK or press the Enter key.
- Next, choose File > Options > Add-Ins from the menu.
- Press the GO button next to COM add-ins.
- Click OK after deselecting every add-in.
- Restart Outlook normally after this.
If this fixes the problem, proceed to enable each add-in individually in order to identify the problematic one. Once located, remove it from Outlook to fix the problem for good.
7. Rebuild the OST file for Outlook
The OST file’s inconsistent formatting may also be the cause of your AutoComplete not working problem. To fix the problems, rebuilding the OST file will work. Take these actions to accomplish this:
- Hit Windows + R, type Control Panel, and close Outlook.
- Opt for clicking OK or using the Enter key. With this, the Control Panel is opened.
- To access Microsoft Outlook, navigate to User Accounts and select Mail.
- Choose the email account by clicking on Data Files afterward.
- The location of the OST file can be opened by clicking Open File Location.
- Put the. bak extension on the OST file and rename it. A backup OST file is produced as a result.
- Open your Outlook. It is going to synchronise all of the mailbox server’s mail items and make a new OST file.
- After synchronization is complete, AutoComplete ought to function.
The old OST file becomes orphaned and inaccessible if Outlook is unable to recreate the OST file. In this scenario, it is advised to extract the mail items from inaccessible, inconsistent, or orphaned OST files to a PST format using an OST to PST Converter tool, such as CubexSoft OST Converter. Once the PST file has been extracted, you can import it into a new Outlook profile or account to recover all of your mail. As an alternative, you can utilize the program to export OST files straight to Microsoft 365, a live Exchange server, or an existing Outlook profile.
Conclusion
Outlook’s AutoComplete feature is a time-saving tool that enhances your email experience by suggesting addresses as you type. If you find that AutoComplete is not working as expected, the steps outlined in this article should help you troubleshoot and resolve the issue. By checking for updates, ensuring AutoComplete is enabled, rebuilding the cache, or creating a new profile, you can get your AutoComplete back in working order and improve your email productivity.
