If you've ever encountered the issue where Microsoft Outlook doesn't exit properly and won't reopen unless you manually end its process in Task Manager, you're not alone. This is a common glitch in many versions of Outlook—especially when add-ins or background sync tasks hang after closing.

To solve this problem quickly, you can create a batch file that forcefully closes Outlook and then reopens it cleanly with just one click.

? Step-by-Step: Create a Batch File to Restart Outlook

✅ Step 1: Open Notepad

Click Start → Search “Notepad” → Open it.

✅ Step 2: Paste the Following Code

bat
CopyEdit
@echo off
echo Closing any running instance of Microsoft Outlook...
taskkill /f /im outlook.exe >nul 2>&1

echo Waiting for Outlook to shut down...
timeout /t 2 >nul

echo Starting Outlook...
start "" "outlook.exe"

exit

✅ Step 3: Save the File

• Go to File → Save As.

• Change Save as type to All Files.

• Name it: restart_outlook.bat

✅ Step 4: Run It Anytime

Double-click the batch file whenever Outlook is stuck or refuses to launch.

(Optional) Right-click the file → Send to → Desktop (Create shortcut) for quicker access.

⚠️ Important Tips:

• This script force-closes Outlook, so ensure you’ve saved all drafts or unsent emails before using it.

• If outlook.exe is not recognized, replace the start line with the full path:

bat
CopyEdit
start "" "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\OUTLOOK.EXE"

✅ Benefits:

• No more manual Task Manager hassle.

• Great for regular Outlook users or system admins.

• Works on Windows 10, Windows 11, and most Outlook versions.