This tutorial will hopefully address the Outlook auto complete not working problem and restore its functionality.
Microsoft Outlook maintains the Auto Complete list. The list is used by both the automatic name-checking feature and the automatic completion feature. The Auto Complete list, also known as the nickname cache, is generated automatically when you send email messages from Outlook. The list contains SMTP addresses, LegacyExchangeDN entries, and display names for people to whom you have sent mail previously.
Symptom:
The auto complete entries get deleted every time a user closes and launches Outlook.
Cause:
Corrupted auto complete DAT file.
Resolution:
We will follow the steps below to resolve the issue.
Step 1: Back up the Auto Complete cache.
- Close all sessions of Outlook and OWA for the user.
- Download and install MFCMAPI from here.
- Run mfcmapi.exe.
- On the Session menu, click Logon.
- Select the desired profile name, and then click OK.
- In the top pane, select the line that corresponds to the affected mailbox, and then double-click it.
- In the left-side navigation pane, expand Root Container, and then expand Top of Information Store or IPM_SUBTREE.
- Right-click the Inbox folder, and then click Open Associated Content Table. This action opens a new MFCMAPI window that contains various properties.
- Under the Subject column, double-click the item that has the subject IPM.Configuration.Autocomplete, and then search for the property with the tag “0x7C09000A”.
- Double click on that property and then copy the data under the Stream (Binary) section.
- Paste the data into a Notepad file and save it.
Step 2: Delete the hidden auto complete message.
- Run mfcmapi.exe.
- On the Session menu, click Logon.
- Select the desired profile name, and then click OK.
- In the top pane, select the line that corresponds to the affected mailbox, and then double-click it.
- In the left-side navigation pane, expand Root Container, and then expand Top of Information Store or IPM_SUBTREE.
- Right-click the Inbox folder, and then click Open Associated Content Table. This action opens a new MFCMAPI window that contains various properties.
- In the Subject column, locate the item that has the subject IPM.Configuration.Autocomplete.
- Right-click the item, and then click Delete message.
- In the drop-down list, select Permanent deletion (deletes to deleted item retention if supported), and then click OK.
- Navigate to %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook.
- Rename the ROAMCACHE folder to ROAMCACHE.old.
- Select Start, and then select Run.
- Launch Outlook using the “Outlook.exe /cleanautocompletecache” switch.
Step 3: Convert the binary autocomplete data backed up and import it to Outlook.
- Force Outlook to Work offline (Send/Receive > Work Offline).
- Paste the retrieved auto complete entries into a new email. (From Step 1).
- Hit CTRL+K.
- Click ‘Send’. The email will not go through since Outlook is set to Work offline.
- Navigate to the Outbox and delete the email.
- Close and launch Outlook.
I hope you have learned how to fix the Outlook auto complete not working issue.
Also read: How to Use Search in Outlook to Find Emails Fast?
For more information about troubleshooting Outlook search issues, visit the Microsoft website.
Now I’d like to hear from you:
Which finding from today’s report did you find most interesting? Or maybe you have a question about something that I covered.
Either way, I’d like to hear from you. So go ahead and leave a comment below.
