{"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":"2026-11-03T04:18:12","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T04:18:12","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":"

You may encounter the error – “The operation cannot be performed because the message has been changed,” when Outlook cannot complete the action you were trying to perform, such as sending an email, deleting a mail item, moving an email from Inbox to another folder, or updating a mail item.<\/p>

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This issue can disrupt your day-to-day email communication and workflow. For resolving the issue, you should identify and understand the root cause behind it. In this guide, we will discuss the causes of this error and see how to fix it.<\/p>

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

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

1. Outlook AutoSave Feature Updates the Item:<\/strong> Outlook’s AutoSave feature periodically saves changes to emails and meeting requests. If AutoSave feature is updating the item while you are still editing it, Outlook may detect a version conflict and display the error.<\/p>

2. Mailbox Synchronization Issues:<\/strong> When Outlook synchronizes the mailbox data with the mail server, changes made on the server can overwrite or update the local copy. If synchronization occurs while the mail item you are working on is open, a conflict may arise, causing the error.<\/p>

3. Multiple Devices Accessing the Same Mailbox:<\/strong> If the same email account is open on multiple devices, such as Outlook on a desktop, laptop, or mobile phone, changes made on one device can conflict with another device.<\/p>

4. Shared Mailbox or Delegate Access:<\/strong> In shared mailboxes or delegate scenarios, another user may update the same email or calendar item while you are editing it, resulting in a version mismatch.<\/p>

5. Corrupted Outlook Data File:<\/strong> Damaged or corrupted data file (PST) may cause Outlook to incorrectly detect changes or fail to read the data, generating the error message.<\/p>

6. Conversation Clean Up Feature:<\/strong> Outlook’s Conversation Clean Up feature can move or remove redundant messages from a conversation. If a message is modified during this process, Outlook may be unable to complete the requested operation.<\/p>

7. Corrupted Outlook Profile:<\/strong> If your profile is corrupted, Outlook may have trouble synchronizing mailbox items, updating messages, or performing certain actions correctly.<\/p>

8. Damaged Outlook\/MS Office Installation Files:<\/strong> Damaged or corrupted installation files of the Outlook\/MS Office program can also prevent the application from performing certain functions properly.<\/p>

9. Incompatible Add-ins:<\/strong> Faulty or incompatible add-ins in Outlook can interfere with normal functioning of application, resulting in the error.<\/p>

10. Conflicting Antivirus Software:<\/strong> Sometimes, antivirus software can interfere with normal functionality of Outlook, causing errors when performing actions.<\/p>

Quick Workarounds to Fix the “Operation cannot be Performed because the Message has been Changed” Error in Outlook<\/strong><\/h2>

You can first try the following simple workarounds to fix the issue.<\/p>

1. Close and Reopen the Message<\/strong><\/h3>

Sometimes, Outlook displays the error because the message or meeting you are working on is not the recent copy. You can close the mail item and open it again. This can refresh the item and resolve temporary version conflicts.<\/p>

2. Save the Changes and Retry<\/strong><\/h3>

If you have made changes to an email or meeting request, save your work before attempting the operation again. This creates an updated version of the item that Outlook can synchronize, avoiding conflicts between the open and stored copies.<\/p>

3. Wait for Mailbox Synchronization to Complete<\/strong><\/h3>

If mailbox synchronization is in progress while you are editing an item, Outlook may detect a mismatch and trigger the error. In such a case, you can wait for the sync process to complete.<\/p>

4. Restart Outlook<\/strong><\/h3>

Sometimes, temporary glitches, synchronization delays, or caching issues can cause Outlook to incorrectly detect changes. Restart the application to refresh it, reload mailbox data, and clear temporary issues.<\/p>

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

If the workarounds mentioned above didn’t work for you, follow the methods mentioned below to fix the issue.<\/p>

Method 1: Close Multiple Instances of the Email<\/strong><\/h3>

The error may occur if the same email is opened in multiple Outlook windows or views at the same time. For example, the email is opened in a separate window, displayed in the Reading Pane, or opened as a draft, reply, or forwarded message. When Outlook detects multiple versions of the same email, it may be unable to determine which version contains the latest changes. This can create conflict, preventing the application from completing the requested action.<\/p>

You can check if the email is opened in any additional windows and close them. Then, try moving, replying to, deleting, or sending the message again.<\/p>

Method 2: Temporarily Disable Security Applications<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>

At times, security applications, such as antivirus, can interfere with Outlook’s normal functionality, which may cause delays in updating messages or create conflicts when Outlook tries to modify, move, send, or synchronize an item.<\/p>

To check whether your security application is causing the issue, you can temporarily disable it and then perform the action again. If the error no longer appears, then configure the application to exclude Outlook processes from scanning.   <\/p>

Note:<\/strong> Disable the security application temporarily and for testing only. Enable it once the issue is resolved.<\/em><\/p>

Method 3: 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>