How Do I Fix a Messaging Interface Error in Microsoft Outlook?

When using Outlook, you may receive a messaging interface error.

When you try to open or send an email message in the Microsoft Outlook application, you may receive a warning concerning a messaging interface error. This error message indicates that your primary PST file, which contains all of your email data on your hard drive, has become corrupted or is not being read properly. If this happens, you need to use the Inbox Repair Utility to scan and repair your PST file.

Things You'll Need

• PC running WIndows XP or later
• Microsoft Outlook 2003 or later

Instructions

1. Make sure the Microsoft Outlook program is closed and not running.

2. Open the Start menu. Go to Control Panel and double-click on Mail.

3. Press the Data Files button and write down the file path that appears in the pop-up window. This file path indicates where your primary PST file is located.

4. Open the Start menu again and click on My Computer.

5. Navigate to the C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\1033 folder and double-click on the icon labeled scanpst.exe to launch the Inbox Repair Utility.

6. Type the exact file path you found in Step 3 into the text field in the pop-up window.

7. Press the Start button to begin scanning the PST file for errors. When prompted, choose to repair all found errors and then click OK when the process has finished. You can now reopen Outlook and send and receive messages normally again.

References

• Microsoft Support: When you try to read or to delete e-mail, or when you click "Send/Receive" in Outlook, you receive error message: "Messaging interface has caused an unknown error"