Fix ‘Outlook Cannot Display the Folder’ Error – Easy Solutions

Outlook keeps your inbox organized by allowing you to set up different folders. However, sometimes users encounter issues while accessing these folders. They see errors like “Cannot display the Folder” or “Unable to expand the folder. Client Operation failed.” These can block access and disrupt the workflow. But why did that error occur? This guide will walk you through several methods to fix this issue and introduce you to reliable software for an efficient and error-free solution. Read on to get started. 

Understanding Error “Outlook Cannot Display the Folder in Outlook”

The error in Outlook typically occurs when Microsoft Outlook is unable to open a folder. This can be in shared folders, public folders, or additional accounts. This error is triggered when trying to open a folder to access the email content. It can be due to incorrect permissions, internet connectivity issues, or misconfigured Outlook settings. 

Why Does “Microsoft Outlook Cannot Expand the Folder”?

The potential causes of this Outlook error are outlined below. Take a look:

• Outlook profile corruption due to viruses or malware.
• Problems with your Computer’s hard drive where your OST files are stored.
• If Outlook shuts down improperly, it might stop working correctly.
• Outlook Data Files, OST/PST, might get corrupted or damaged.
• Conflicts from extra plugins or add-ins may block Outlook.
• There may be issues with Microsoft Office and Outlook components.
• Missing or misconfigured permissions to view folders.
• Insufficient memory or system resource issues.
• Mistakenly deleted files or folders in Exchange.
• Improper or incomplete syncing between local and server-side mailboxes.

Ways to Fix Outlook Cannot Display the Folder

In this section, we will look at how to fix the error in Outlook. Now that you understand the potential causes of this error, let’s implement the solutions to help you use Outlook seamlessly.

Delete or Rename the OST File

Users facing this Outlook error while using an OST File may be due to synchronization problems. To resolve this issue, either delete or rename the OST File. 

Note: Before deleting an OST File, make sure to create a backup to avoid losing data. Also, before starting the process, close Microsoft Outlook completely. 

Follow the steps given below to delete an OST File:

1. Open the Run prompt by pressing Win+R on your system.
2. Now, paste the command given below:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Outlook

3. The Folder will open, containing your OST File. 
4. Manually look through the corrupt file. Right-click on it and choose Delete.

Change Folder Visible Permission if Outlook is Unable to Display the Folder

This approach is only applicable if you have administrative rights to the shared Outlook mailbox. It allows you to resolve the issue by controlling who can access the folder.

Note: This process requires both an Exchange Email account and a Microsoft Exchange Server. 

After that, follow these steps to update the folder visibility permissions in a shared Outlook account:

1. Right-click on the public folder. Choose Properties.
2. Now, under the Permissions tab, choose Permissions and choose the level of your permissions.
3. In the Other section, ensure to check the Folder Visible.
4. If the permission is not assigned, click on Edit, approve the permission, and then click on Ok to save. 

Disable the Outlook “Anywhere” Protocol

Outlook Anywhere is a feature included in Microsoft Outlook that enables users to access their mailboxes remotely. However, if there are misconfigured protocol settings, it may lead to a “Cannot display the folder” error. 

Note: You need to have administrative rights before proceeding with this method.

The following are the steps to fix the issue:

1. Open the Outlook application and go to File.
2. Click on Info > Account Settings > Account Settings.
3. Select the desired configured email account.
4. Now, click on More Settings > Connection and disable the Outlook Anywhere option. 

Disable the Cached Exchange Mode

Cached Exchange Mode in Outlook saves a local copy of your mailbox in an OST File, enabling offline access. If the OST File is corrupted or extremely large, Outlook may fail to load folders showing error “Cannot display the Folder”.

Below are the steps to disable the cached exchange mode:

1. Open MS Outlook. 
2. Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
3. Under the Email section, select your email account and click on Change.
4. In the Offline Settings, uncheck Use Cached Exchange Mode.
5. Click on Next > Finish and reopen Outlook. 

The Easiest Way to Fix “Outlook Cannot Display the Folder” Error

We have gone through multiple troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue. However, if your OST File still won’t work after trying the above options, repairing it is the only available solution. For this, we recommend the Cigati OST Repair Tool, which will safely fix the issue. It is especially designed to repair the corrupted or damaged OST File, without risking the data. 

Simple steps to repair the damaged OST File:

1. Launch the software on your system.
2. Click on Open and locate the OST Files on your system. 
3. Now, choose the Recovery Mode and enter the OST File Details.
4. Wait for the scan to get complete and then, click on Ok.
5. Then, choose the preferred File Format and location to save the repaired OST File.
6. Navigate to Save to save the repaired OST File on your system.
7. Lastly, click on Ok.

Conclusion

To conclude, the Outlook Cannot Display the Folder error may arise from multiple issues. This includes limited access permissions, corrupted OST Files, syncing issues, etc. You can address these issues manually and by using a dedicated Cigati OST Repair Tool for error-free and reliable results. Some of the manual solutions include adjusting folder visibility, repairing the Outlook data file, disabling cached exchange mode, etc. The following fixes will help restore Outlook’s normal operations. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q – How to fix cannot display the folder in Outlook? 

Ans – Some of the methods include:

• Disable the Cached Exchange Mode
• Repairing the corrupted OST File/Outlook Data File
• By disabling the Outlook Anywhere protocol
• Adjusting the Folder Visibility permissions, etc.

Q – How do I fix Cannot expand folder error in Outlook?

Ans – While there can be various factors causing this error, one of them could be folder visibility permission settings. Let’s try to fix this. First, right-click on the shared public folder and choose Properties > Permissions > Others and check the Folder Visible checkbox.

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