Outlook MS Pro+ 2021 Start-up Options Disappeared

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A few weeks ago, I was receiving the following annoying Outlook pop-up every time I opened Outlook: Outlook Closed while you had items open. Reopen those items from your last session?

I was able to disable this pop-up by going to Outlook > File > Options > General < Startup Options and changing the setting as shown below:

However, now the start-up options section is blank…all that is there is the heading:

On my wife’s desktop which has the same Outlook version (Outlook MS Pro+ 2021), her startup options section is blank and she is still receiving the annoying pop-up every time she opens Outlook.
Is there a registry key or some other option for disabling the annoying pop-up on her desktop?  Thanks for any assistance.

 

 

 

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Have you tried a repair of the Office installation?

--Joe

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Hi 77JOE84:

Just an FYI that I use MS Office Home and Business 2019 C2R (Current Channel release) and started seeing these occasional “Outlook closed while you had items open. Reopen those items from your last session?” pop-ups about a week ago, although I’m still not sure exactly what conditions (i.e., “open items” on exit) cause this pop-up to appear the next time my Outlook 2019 is opened.

After reading your original post I checked my Outlook 2019 settings at File | Options | General and was surprised to see that my Start Up Options are also blank.  So far I have been unable to find any information about a registry entry or Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) setting that controls the behaviour of this pop-up.

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FYI: No solution, but not a new problem:

Outlook Start Up Options [19 months ago]

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Not sure if this will help or not, but is easy to try.

Open Outlook in safe mode and see in the Options > General if the Startup options are there.
To open Outlook in safe mode: Open a Run box (WinKey +R), enter Outlook.exe /safe, and press the Enter key. Note the space between Outlook.exe and /safe.

HTH, Dana:))

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Drcard:)) wrote:

… To open Outlook in safe mode: Open a Run box (WinKey +R), enter Outlook.exe /safe …

Hi Drcard:)):

Starting my MS Outlook 2019 in safe mode has no effect – the setting(s) at File | Options | General | Start Up Options are still blank.
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Thank you but startup options don’t appear in safe mode for my Outlook 2021.

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FYI – I have the same version of Outlook and the same problem with “Outlook closed while you had items open. Reopen those items from your last session?” pop-up on starting Outlook. I tried the repair to no avail and the Start Up options are missing.

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I am now getting this “Outlook closed while you had items opened…” every single time I open Office now, and I never close it with items open – it just started yesterday.  I also have no options under start up, that section is completely blank for me.  Running Office Pro 2019…

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lmacri wrote:

MS Office Home and Business 2019 C2R

lmacri wrote:

Microsoft Office 2019 Home and Business 2019 Version 2306 / Build 16529.20154 C2R

I have the exact same Office software with the exact same Version and build that you have.  I don’t get those popup messages and I do have all three of the start up options in my Outlook 2019 settings.  To help isolate the cause, compare your setup to mine to see where the difference lies between our setups.

My Setup

Window 10 Home 22H2 Build 19045.3086 (Noticed that yours is Pro. Does everyone experiencing this use Windows 10 Pro?)
Microsoft Office installed on the PC
All accounts are IMAP
I use Eset to monitor my email (in addition to Outlook and G-Mail security features)
All emails are moved to Trash or to a separate PST data file stored on an external drive before closing Outlook and have Outlook to delete the Trash upon closing, thus no emails in the main Outlook data file when closed.
I occasionally leave an email in the Inbox upon closing to handle later, but I don’t see that message when I reopen Outlook.

I think a possible reason I don’t see that message is because I rarely ever open an email and read nearly all emails in the reading pane. But this doesn’t explain the lack of those start up options for the same version and build and points to something outside of Outlook removing those “user options”.

HTH, Dana:))

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Robert wrote:

… I don’t get those popup messages and I do have all three of the start up options in my Outlook 2019 settings …

Hi Drcard:)) :

What option have you chosen from the dropdown list at File | Options | General | Start Up Options | When Outlook Opens:?  Also, I only know of two settings at File | Options | General | Start Up Options (see the image in 77JOE84’s post # 2571141 ) so a screenshot of your current Start Up  Options might be helpful.

Original poster 77JOE84 said in post # 2571141 that the Start Up Options in their MS Outlook 2021 Pro Plus settings did not disappear until after they changed the setting in that dropdown to prevent the “Outlook closed while you had items open. Reopen those items from your last session?” prompt from appearing at startup. The three options for that dropdown list (including “Never Reopen Previous Items“) are shown in the 27-Jul-2020 OfficeWatch.com article Outlook Gets Better Restart and Reopen Options so I have no idea why it took almost 3 years before I started seeing this prompt appear intermittently at my MS Office 2019 startups.

Drcard:)) wrote:

To help isolate the cause, compare your setup to mine to see where the difference lies between our setups.

I have a mix of both IMAP (for my ISP email address) and Microsoft Exchange (for my free Microsoft / Outlook.com email address) accounts in my MS Outlook 2019.

I do not monitor my email with any third-party add-ins like an antivirus anti-spam module but I have created some custom rules to send emails with certain key words in the subject line straight to my Junk folder.  I also have rules so that incoming emails from certain “safe” senders are automatically moved to different subfolders I have created under my Inbox.

Both my email accounts are set up to sync with the backend mail servers so I see the same thing whether I’m using my local MS Outlook 2019 client or logged in to the webmail application. For example, if I manually move an email to a subfolder or create a new contact for my free MS email account (<myusername>@live.com) in my local MS Outlook 2019 client then the same changes are automatically made in the webmail app at Outlook.com, and vice versa.

I’m guessing there are several configuration changes I’ve made in MS Outlook 2019 (e.g., I’ve disabled all settings at File | Options | General | Privacy Settings to prevent optional data sharing, connected experiences and personalized offers) that are too numerous to list but might differ from your own settings.
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You can add me to that list of those that don’t have any options on the Options > General tab of Outlook 2019. The Start up options a few days ago (as best as my memory)
1) Always open previous items
2) Never open previous items
3) Ask to open previous items

I had mine set to Never open previous items.

A few days ago when this thread was first started I checked and the above was my settings. Today when I was going to make a screen shot, there are no settings there. Yesterday I notice the Outlook had added the nagging “Try the new Outlook” box and switch which indicates a recent update. I checked my version and build just before my last post, but didn’t check the option at that time. It appears the update to the current version removes those startup options. That being said, I still don’t get that message box when I open Outlook. To test I opened an email and closed Outlook with the email still open. Reopened Outlook and no message box and the email did not open again.

So, no startup options any longer and no popup box when I open Outlook.
I wonder if Microsoft will fix this with the next update.
Anyway, I got rid of the “try me” switch.

HTH, Dana:))

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Office 2019 here.  It’s been happening to me for a week or so.  I can’t get rid of the message, and my startup options are also gone.

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In my situation:

The Outlook upgrade to version 2306 build 16529.20154 that was released June 26, 2023 was installed on my PC on July 5, 2023.  This update removed the three options under Start up options on the General tab of Outlook Options.

To prove this I undid the update by reverting to a prior version and build (Version 2305 build 16501.20210).  Once Outlook was back to the prior version, the options reappeared  as seen in my screenshot below.

Not sure why you get the Outlook box and question when you open it.  It may be based upon what the setting was when the update occurred.  I may wait on Microsoft to release the next update before I let it update again.

 

HTH, Dana:))

2 users thanked author for this post.

lmacri, b

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Drcard:)) wrote:

… To prove this I undid the update by reverting to a prior version and build (Version 2305 build 16501.20210). Once Outlook was back to the prior version, the options reappeared as seen in my screenshot below …

Hi Drcard:)) :

Thanks for confirming that the update to Version 2306 / Build 16529.20154 (rel. 26-Jun-2023) likely has a bug that removes the dropdown list at File | Options | General | Start Up Options | When Outlook Opens: that controls the appearance of the “Outlook closed while you had items open. Reopen those items from your last session?” prompt at startup.

One odd thing I noticed, though. Your latest image in post # 2571671 is still missing the check box at File | Options | General | Start Up Options | Make Outlook the Default Program for E-mail, Contacts, and Calendar (see 77JOE84’s image in their original post # 2571141). According to the MS support article Outlook Options (General) that check box should be present at File | Options | General | Start Up Options so your rollback to Version 2305 / Build 16501.20210 doesn’t seem to have restored that missing check box.
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I keep my Outlook on the semi-annual channel, so I must not have not yet gotten whatever update took away this option. Digging around I found the underlying registry entry for this is

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences]
“ReopenWindowsOption”=dword:00000000

For that dword, set 0 to get a prompt, set 1 to never reopen, or set 2 to always reopen.

So, no guarantees, but you can try making the registry entry and seeing if you can get the behavior that you’re looking for.

4 users thanked author for this post.

SeizeDub, windbg, lmacri, Drcard:))

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Same problem, but ForrestGump’s solution worked for me; my registry was missing that key, added it and set it to ‘1’ and no more annoying popup dialog every single time Outlook starts.

Thank you!

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ForrestGump wrote:

… Digging around I found the underlying registry entry for this is [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences] “ReopenWindowsOption”=dword:00000000 For that dword, set 0 to get a prompt, set 1 to never reopen, or set 2 to always reopen …

Hi ForrestGump:

Thank you for that information.

My MS Office Home and Business 2019 C2R is on the current Version 2306 / Build 16529.20154 (rel. 26-Jun-2023) and I also do not have a REG_DWORD registry entry for ReopenWindowsOption at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences. I don’t know if the latest update has removed that registry entry or if it even existed before Version 2306 was installed.

The prompt saying “Outlook closed while you had items open. Reopen those items from your last session?” doesn’t appear every time I start Outlook so it isn’t really bothering me, but I am concerned that the setting to control this feature at File | Options | General | Start Up Options | When Outlook Opens: is missing. Instead of tweaking my Windows registry to manually create the ReopenWindowsOption value I think I’ll wait for now and see if this issue is fixed in a future release of MS Office C2R.

In the mean time I’ve reported this bug to Microsoft via my Feedback Hub app (https://aka.ms/AAlgmdg) and included a link to this thread in my report. I have disabled Connected Experiences in Outlook at File | Options | General | Privacy Settings so I don’t think there’s a way for me to send feedback to Microsoft from within my MS Outlook 2019 app.
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Legend, that registry DWORD add did the trick.  Life saver…

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Thank You! It worked for me.

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Thank you ForrestGump.  Worked for me to add the missing registry key.

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Thanks forrestgump.  I didnt have that registry entry.  I made it and it worked beautifully

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had to add that key and then the annoying popup stopped. THANKS!!

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Thank You!  That fixed my issue.

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Forrest Gump, your suggestion worked for me.

THANKS!!!!!

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This problem’s been frustrating me forever.  I’ve added the registry key and wow, it’s gone.  I closed any reopened Outlook 15 more times just to be sure.  Thanks ForrestGump

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Thanks, worked for me.

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ForrestGump wrote:

Digging around I found the underlying registry entry for this is [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences] “ReopenWindowsOption”=dword:00000000 For that dword, set 0 to get a prompt, set 1 to never reopen, or set 2 to always reopen.

I checked my Registry and that key’s value is set to 1 which matches my Never setting in Outlook.

 

HTH, Dana:))

1 user thanked author for this post.

windbg

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Thank you Forrest. Adding the key worked ☺

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Thank you Forrest!  Adding the  key and the value of 1 did the trick!  There is still no dropdown box with the three selections under Startup Options but the program does not give that annoying message any more so I am happy!

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lmacri wrote:

The prompt saying “Outlook closed while you had items open. Reopen those items from your last session?” doesn’t appear every time I start Outlook so it isn’t really bothering me, but I am concerned that the setting to control this feature at File | Options | General | Start Up Options | When Outlook Opens: is missing. Instead of tweaking my Windows registry to manually create the ReopenWindowsOption value I think I’ll wait for now and see if this issue is fixed in a future release of MS Office C2R.

Not having that registry key is the glitch in that update.  When I reverted to 2305 version either the key was created by the 2306 update and not removed by the reversion to 2305 OR that key was not there and replaced there by the 2305 reversion, as that key is already there in my 2305 version.  I will find out when I let it update to 2036 again if Microsoft hasn’t fixed it by then.  Following this problem on a Microsoft forum I read that a Microsoft MVP stated that their contact at Microsoft Support said that a bug report of this problem for Outlook 2019 and 2021 had been submitted.

 

HTH, Dana:))

1 user thanked author for this post.

lmacri

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Drcard:)) wrote:

.. Following this problem on a Microsoft forum I read that a Microsoft MVP stated that their contact at Microsoft Support said that a bug report of this problem for Outlook 2019 and 2021 had been submitted…

Hi Drcard:)) :

That’s good news. Do you recall the link to that Microsoft forum thread?

I posted in CSG-08’s 04-Jul-2023 My Outlook 2016 “Start Up Options menu” has no drop down submenu in the Outlook for Windows board of the MS Answers forum (I post there as user Great White North) and the forum mod who replied in that thread didn’t appear to know that a bug report has been filed. Their only suggestion was to try to repair Office, which doesn’t solve the problem.
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lmacri wrote:

Do you recall the link to that Microsoft forum thread?

Here’s the link. Scroll thru the posts from the Microsoft MVP.

Keep Getting “Outlook closed while you had items open. Reopen items from last session?” Even Though It’s Not True

Note that the MVP advises to restart Outlook at least once a day to help catch the next update (which we hope will fix the bug).

HTH, Dana:))

1 user thanked author for this post.

lmacri

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Many thanks to Forest Gump, the added key with a value of 1 worked first time on v2019 after the 2306 update removed the start-up option. No more annoyance for my personal preference.

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I have the problem, very temperamental, sometimes there sometimes not, but I have a theory, with mine it SEEMS to occur when in “Phone Link” e-mails are in the notifications panel, how many people have the problem and use “Phone Link”?

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I had the same issue, on Office 2021.  Before I found this thread, I saw that not only does it show the option to not open items, but some showed default options.  So I checked my default apps, and at some point one of the recent updates reset it to be the MS Mail program. Once I set Outlook as my default again, while it didn’t show me the options still, it DID stop giving me the nag of nonexistent things being open every time I opened outlook now…

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Regkey [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences]
“ReopenWindowsOption” did not work for my user on Outlook 2016 in Win11.

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I had the same issue. Came across this article and was just about to make the registry entry when I decided to Start Outlook – Run As Administrator instead.

Outlook opened up no problem. Closed outlook and reopen normally – Issue fixed !

 

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I also occasionally getting the pop up dialogue box in my Outlook saying ‘Outlook closed while you had items open. Reopen those items from your last session?‘

My StartUp Option within my Outlook 2019 has also gone missing. All I am seeing is Start up options and nothing below it.

I’ve been doing a search on the internet and it seems that this all started sometime in June 2023. I haven’t yet found a fix for this. Obviously someone at MS has screwed up! Hopefully MS will do a fix for this soon.

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Office 2016 on Windows 11 here. Added the Dword and all sorted, thanks very much

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I followed the above advice and launched outlook “run as administrator” once.  I was regularly getting the annoying prompt, now it’s gone.

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I inserted the registry entry as above and things were good for a while, but then the problem came back in Outlook 2019 pro. After running Outlook as administrator, the registry entry was REG_DWORD 0x000001 (1). So far, problem is staying away again.

 

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I had the same problem on Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 a week ago, and I surmized the the registry addition might work, and I tried it.

1. regedit
2. find the following…
3. add the dword 32 key
4. set to 1
5. voila! for now…

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences

ReopenWindowsOption  REG_DWORD (32) set to 1

 

 

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“Run as administer” did not work for me. However, the REG_DWORD registry key worked well for me. Thank you! Hopefully, MS will fix and put back the Start up option.

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Outlook 2021, recent update took away ‘startup options’ but  Registry Reopen’ Dword is there and was set properly to ‘1’ to ‘never reopen’ but, still get the popup.  Will likely await an update, don’t wish to revert an update.

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I was having the same issue with message when starting Outlook. I was hesitant to perform the registry edit. So I check my windows default mail application setting. It was set to Office but I changed it to Mail then back to Office. I have not been able to recreate the problem. I will update if problem returns. But for now, it appears to be working.

Thanks for the help!

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I spoke to soon. Problem returned.

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Confirming that registry fix was working up until today (22/7).

The preference setting now remains present in the registry but it’s not having any effect even when set to 1.

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I right clicked on the outlook shortcut in the task bar and removed recents from the list and the problem went away for me!  sounds simple, but it seems to have worked.

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Recents? Please explain.

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Just so everybody is clear on this issue.

Outlook version 2305 had 3 start up options in its General page of Outlook Options that controlled items that were open when Outlook closed when Outlook reopens. Those options are Never reopen, Always reopen, or Ask to reopen. The choice of which option was stored in this registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences
DWORD: ReopenWindowsOption
Value: 0 = Ask, 1 = Never, 2 = Always

The popup box asking if to reopen those items only occurs when the setting is set to 0.

Outlook update to Version 2306 (Build 16529.20154) that was released June 23,2023 removed those Start up options from Outlook’s General Options page. The heading for those options is still on that page, but the option choices are gone (big hint that the removal of the options wasn’t intended or the heading would have been removed too). This update in removing the options also removed the registry key that held the choice the user made.
It was suggested that adding the registry key with the value set to 1 = Never to the 2306 version would stop Outlook from “Asking”. There are mixed reports about the added registry key stopping the Ask box with some users saying it doesn’t stop the boxes. There are numerous other ‘methods” used to stop the Ask boxes and some work for some but none works for all all the time. The only method that stops the popup Ask boxes 100% of the time on all setups is:
Stop Outlook (Office) updates
Revert to the prior 2305 version of Outlook
Wait until Microsoft issues an update to fix that update and resume updates.

For those that wish to revert to the prior 2305 version, the attached PDF is detailed instructions on how to do the reversion (simple commands in an Administrator Command Prompt)

Undo-an-Outlook-Update

Some have expressed concern over the reversion and the stopping of updates will stop security updates as well. The June 26,2023 version 2306 update did not have any security updates, but the 2nd 2306 version update on July 11, 2023 does have security updates as indicated at this link:

Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates

Review those security updates and decide for yourself to wait for Microsoft to fix things and delay further updates or don’t revert to a prior version and live with the popup Ask boxes for a while.

Before you ask, I have no idea how long it will take Microsoft to fix this glitch.

HTH, Dana:))

2 users thanked author for this post.

77JOE84, windbg

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Hi Drcard:))  Just wanted to say thinks for the great summary of this issue and a possible solution.  I am just surprised that Microsoft hasn’t fixed the glitch as of yet.  Joe

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I reverted to 2305 build 16501.20210 and now have my start up options back and have selected Never which I understand is value 1. Of course I have disabled Outlook Updates. Maybe a silly question but . . . how will I ever find out whether or not Microsoft has fixed this missing Start Up Options bug??

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I have version Version 2306 Build 16.0.16529.20164 64-bit and the option is there.

--Joe

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joep517 wrote:

I have version Version 2306 Build 16.0.16529.20164 64-bit and the option is there.

That made me look and guess what?

• We fixed an issue where Outlook would prompt the user to save changes to a meeting when no changes were made.

at the following Microsoft link.
Office Release Notes

Version 2307 (Build 16626.20132) Released today July 26, 2023

Turn the Updates back on.

HTH, Dana:))

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I have just updated to Version 2307 (Build 16626.20132) Released today July 26, 2023.  No problems:

There are no options under Start up options on the General tab of Outlook’s Options.

The registry key for the ReopenWindowsOption is still there and is still set to 1 (=Never).

HTH, Dana:))

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I have MS Office Professional Plus (2021) with the Outlook version 2306 Build 16529.20182 64 bit and the Start-up option heading is in the Outlook’s General Options but no options below it are displayed.

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joep517 wrote:

I have version Version 2306 Build 16.0.16529.20164 64-bit and the option is there.

Hi Joe517:

What is your Windows OS (please include the version and build) and what is the full name and release channel of your perpetual MS Office Click-to-Run (C2R) product?  I just checked the Update History for retail version of MS Office 2016 C2R and 2019 C2R at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-office-2019#retail-versions-of-office-2016-c2r-and-office-2019 and don’t see see a Version 2306 / Build 16529.20164 listed there for the Current Channel releases.
____________________________

Just an FYI for other users that I also checked the Update History <here> for M365  and it looks like a new Version 2307 / Build 16626.20132 was released today (26-Jul-2023), so hopefully that new build will start pushing out to perpetual editions of MS Office C2R soon.  Fingers crossed Version 2307 has a fix for the bug being discussed in this thread.
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Drcard:)) wrote:

Version 2307 (Build 16626.20132) Released today July 26, 2023 Turn the Updates back on.

There has been no change in my MS Outlook 2019 since I updated to Version 2307 / Build 16626.20132 *** .  I still see the occasional “Outlook closed while you had items open. Reopen those items from your last session?” prompt at Outlook startup, the settings under the  Start Up Options header at settings at File | Options | General | Start Up Options are still missing, and my registry value ReopenWindowsOption at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences is also missing.

Please note that I have not tried any of the temporary workarounds suggested by other users like rolling back MS Office to Version 2305, manually creating the ReopenWindowsOption (value type = REG_DWORD, value = 1) in my registry, or disabling the “Store my Outlook Settings in the Cloud” checkbox at File | Options | General | Cloud Storage Options (which isn’t present in my MS Office 2019 settings) to try and fix these problems.
________________________

*** The update history <here> for  retail editions of MS Office 2016/2019 Click-to-Run (Current Channel) shows a newer Version 2307 / Build 16626.20134 was released 27-Jul-2023 to fix a minor font display problem.  See the release notes <here>.
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lmacri wrote:

There has been no change in my MS Outlook 2019 since I updated to Version 2307 / Build 16626.20132 *** .  I still see the occasional “Outlook closed while you had items open. Reopen those items from your last session?” prompt at Outlook startup, the settings under the  Start Up Options header at settings at File | Options | General | Start Up Options are still missing, and my registry value ReopenWindowsOption at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences is also missing.

You are correct that the problem still exists.  Upon review I had misinterpreted the version 2307  release notes stating:

• We fixed an issue where Outlook would prompt the user to save changes to a meeting when no changes were made.

I thought this applied to the pop up box, which I realize now may applied to a glitch I knew nothing about.  I apologize for my error.

Since I have updated to version 2307, I still have that registry key set at value of 1 (Never).  I have not had that popup box at all and I even have closed Outlook with emails open to test it. My Outlook is acting like its fixed.

HTH, Dana:))

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Heb deze pop up – melding ook.

Gisteren in het register de waarde op 1 gezet zoals hierboven beschreven.

Daarn ageen melding gehad – duimen maar

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The same for me. I got the annoying ‘you closed with emails open’ message everytime I opened outlook, even when I had double-checked that everything was closed and rebooted. So I did the fix in “start up options” as you suggested. Today I am again getting the ‘you closed with emails open’ message but when I went into options to do the fix, there is NO menu under startup options.

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This was caused by an update and the only 100% way to get rid of the popup message is to revert to version 2305 (3 updates ago). Microsoft has not issued a fix for this.
Some say that they didn’t revert to prior version and added the registry key, but have mixed results of working for a while and then not. Another “fix” that some say stops the messages without reverting to the prior version is adding /restore to the Outlook shortcut you use to open Outlook.
I am currently on version 2307 and I have never had that popup message thru all the different versions while others have reported it. The difference may be how I handle my emails. I transfer the emails downloaded to my Inbox to a separate Outlook Data file I store on one of my drives. All emails not transferred are deleted from Outlook and the mail server. There are no emails in this Outlook account in Outlook or online on the mail server to “open” when I open Outlook so no triggers (even false ones) to cause the query.
Choices are:
1) Add the registry key and see if that stops the pop messages.
2) Try adding the /restore operator to the Outlook open shortcut.
3) Revert to version 2305 and set the startup option to Never open
4) Don’t leave emails in Outlook or on the mail server.
5) Live with the popup messages until Microsoft issues a fix for it.

HTH, Dana:))

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lmacri

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Microsoft have finally (after only 20 months) acknowledged the issue and documented the workaround:

STATUS: WORKAROUND

The Outlook Team is investigating this issue. We will update this topic when the fix status is available.

Outlook unexpectedly prompts to reopen items from your last session

Last Updated: August 3, 2023

(Currently headed “Outlook for Microsoft 365” 🙄)

2 users thanked author for this post.

windbg, lmacri

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b wrote:

Outlook unexpectedly prompts to reopen items from your last session Last Updated: August 3, 2023…

Hi b:

Thanks for the heads up.  I posted a link to that support article in a few related topics in the MS Answers Outlook board so more affected users know that Microsoft has finally acknowledged the issue.
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b

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b wrote:

Microsoft have finally (after only 20 months) acknowledged the issue and documented the workaround:

Looks like the coffee break finally got over or that glitch hit someone who works at Microsoft.

HTH, Dana:))

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I have the same problem of the Outlook pop up saying Outlook closed when I had windows open when I had closed all windows. I also have no options under Start Up Options. I’ve looked through this post and I’m just more confused than ever. Talk about Register key changes means nothing to me. I’d be grateful to know if there are some simple easy to follow instructions as to how I can fix this annoying problem. I have version 2307

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Bruce wrote:

I’ve looked through this post and I’m just more confused than ever. Talk about Register key changes means nothing to me. I’d be grateful to know if there are some simple easy to follow instructions as to how I can fix this annoying problem

Adding the Registry key is Microsoft’s suggested work around for this glitch, but many users don’t feel comfortable editing the Registry.

Another work around that many claim it stops the Outlook popup, is the modified Outlook shortcut as follows:

• With Outlook closed, right click the Outlook icon you click to open Outlook and select Properties from the menu that opens.  If your Outlook icon is on the Taskbar you will need to hold the Shift key down while right clicking to get the correct menu with Properties in the list to display.
• It will open the Properties window for this shortcut to the Shortcut tab.  The Path address in the Target box will be highlighted.
• Place the mouse pointer at the end of the Path address (after OUTLOOK.EXE”) and left click once to activate the cursor.  The flashing I beam cursor must be in the space after the last quotation mark.  Use the right and left arrow to move the cursor to get to that position. Do not use the spacebar to get just after the quotation mark.
• With the cursor just after the quotation mark: Press the Spacebar once for one space, enter /restore.  This will make the Path address look like this:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\OUTLOOK.EXE" /restore

• Click the Apply and then the OK buttons.
• This will add _/restore to the Path address which is an operator code that tells Outlook to open as it was on the last session which negates Outlook requesting to open prior items since it will not be a new session of Outlook.

Post back if you need more info.

HTH, Dana:))

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Over a month later, multiple Office 365 updates and still nothing under ‘Options’! Are microsoft going to fix this?

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Hi 77JOE84:

Just an FYI that the MS support article Outlook Unexpectedly Prompts to Reopen Items From Your Last Session was updated on 14-Sep-2023 and now states:

“This problem is currently scheduled to be fixed in Version 2310 with an estimated release in late October 2023. We will update this topic with more specific information as we get closer to release.”

Kudos to Forum Mod Gabriel Bratton for alerting readers to this upcoming fix in their 18-Sep-2023 post in CSG-08’s My Outlook 2016 “Start Up Options menu” has no drop down submenu in the MS Answers forum.
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lmacri wrote:

Just an FYI that the MS support article Outlook Unexpectedly Prompts to Reopen Items From Your Last Session was updated on 14-Sep-2023 and now states: “This problem is currently scheduled to be fixed in Version 2310 with an estimated release in late October 2023. We will update this topic with more specific information as we get closer to release.”

Hi 77JOE84:

Microsoft Answers Forum Moderator Gabriel Bratton just posted in CSG-08’s My Outlook 2016 “Start Up Options menu” has no drop down submenu that that the upcoming Version 2309 Build 16827.20130 that has just started rolling out contains a bug fix.

I haven’t tried a manual update (File | Office Account | Update Options | Update Now) to confirm but so far reports from early testers are promising.  I think I’ll wait until the official release notes at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/current-channel are posted and/or the Microsoft support article Outlook Unexpectedly Prompts to Reopen Items From Your Last Session (last updated  14-Sep-2023) is revised to confirm a bug fix has been released.

EDIT:

Spoke too soon. The Microsoft support article Outlook Unexpectedly Prompts to Reopen Items From Your Last Session was just updated and now states :

STATUS: FIXED

This issue is fixed in Version 2309 Build 16827.20130. To install the update immediately select File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now“.

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Installed the update to version 2309 to my Outlook 2019 C2R and the Start up Options have returned and accepted my current registry setting to Never open previous items.

 

HTH, Dana:))

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lmacri

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