Restore Opened Windows from Last Outlook Session

There are instances when Outlook may close unexpectedly, such as a system update requiring a reboot. Any windows that were open before the program closed are not reopened by default and it can be difficult to resume work from the last session. If you want to restore the open windows from your last session, you will need to run a command prompt.

How to restore windows from your last Outlook session

Open a command prompt window and run the command below (note the space before the /):

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office15\OUTLOOK.EXE /restore 

A desktop shortcut can be created to quickly and easily do this anytime it may be needed in the future. To add a shortcut, 

1. Navigate to the OUTLOOK.EXE file.

   1. From Windows (C:), click Program Files (x86).

   2. Click Microsoft Office.

   3. Click Office15.

   4. Locate the OUTLOOK.EXE file.

2. Right-click OUTLOOK.EXE.

3. From the drop-down menu, select Create shortcut.

4. Right-click on the OUTLOOK.EXE shortcut you just created.

5. Select Properties.

6. In the Target field, add a space plus /restore to the end of the text. It should look like the following:  C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office15\OUTLOOK.EXE /restore 

7. The next time Outlook closes unexpectedly, use this shortcut to restore your last session.