{"id":180017,"date":"2025-03-28T10:18:36","date_gmt":"2025-03-28T10:18:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/?p=180017"},"modified":"2025-05-20T03:58:21","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T03:58:21","slug":"operation-cannot-be-performed-because-the-message-has-been-changed-in-outlook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/operation-cannot-be-performed-because-the-message-has-been-changed-in-outlook\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Fix “The Operation cannot be Performed because the Message has been Changed” in Outlook?"},"content":{"rendered":"

While attempting to move an email from Inbox to some other folder, you may get an error message, stating “The operation cannot be performed because the message has been changed.”<\/p>

\"Error<\/figure>

You may get this error while attempting to reply to an email as well. This can cause workflow problems as you might miss an important reply. Besides, it can result in a cluttered mailbox since you won’t be able to sort your emails. This guide will explain the causes behind this error and help you resolve it.<\/p>

Causes behind the “Operation cannot be Performed because the Message has been Changed” Error in Outlook<\/h2>

There can be several factors that can cause Outlook to display this error. Some of them are listed as under:<\/p>

    \n
  1. Multiple instances of email are running.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Problematic or faulty add-ins.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Conflicts with anti-virus application.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Incorrect Outlook Settings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Corrupt Outlook profile.<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Corrupt Outlook data file (PST).<\/li>\n<\/ol>

    Methods to Resolve “Operation cannot be Performed because the Message has been Changed” Error in Outlook<\/h2>

    First, check if the same email is opened in multiple tabs. If yes, you need to close all the instances of the email. If this is not the case, follow the methods mentioned below to resolve the error.<\/p>

    Method 1: Disable Security Applications Temporarily<\/strong><\/h3>

    During routine scanning, security applications, such as antivirus and Windows Firewall, can lock the Outlook data file. This can prevent you from moving emails to another folder, resulting in the error. To investigate whether your Firewall or antivirus  application is causing the error, you can temporarily disable the application. If Outlook works fine, you can add Outlook and related processes as exception in these applications. Alternatively, you can switch to another security application that is compatible with Outlook.<\/p>

    Method 2: Remove Faulty Add-ins<\/strong><\/h3>

    A faulty or incompatible add-in can interfere with normal functioning of Outlook, resulting in the error. To identify the faulty add-in and remove it, follow the steps below:<\/p>