How to Fix Outlook ‘The Action Cannot Be Completed. The Object Has Been Deleted’

When you try to open, move, or delete an email in Outlook, you may see the error message: “The action cannot be completed. The object has been deleted.” This error occurs because Outlook is trying to access an item that no longer exists in the current folder or mailbox. The item may have been moved, deleted by another process, or corrupted in the local cache. This article explains why this error happens and provides step-by-step fixes to resolve it.

Why Outlook Displays the “Object Has Been Deleted” Error

Outlook stores a local copy of your mailbox data in an Offline Storage Table (OST) file when using Cached Exchange Mode. This local cache allows fast access to emails, calendar items, and contacts. The error occurs when the local cache contains a reference to an item that has been removed from the server or from the current folder.

Common triggers include:

• An email was moved to another folder by a rule or another device while Outlook was open.
• A shared mailbox or public folder item was deleted by another user.
• The OST file became corrupted after a crash, network interruption, or large data sync.
• An add-in interfered with Outlook’s item tracking.

The error is not a sign of data loss on the server. It only means the local cache is out of sync with the server. The fix involves refreshing or rebuilding the local cache.

Steps to Fix the “Object Has Been Deleted” Error

Try the following methods in order. Each method targets a different cause of the error.

Method 1: Use the Send/Receive Group to Force a Full Sync

1. Open the Send/Receive tab
   In Outlook, click the Send/Receive tab on the ribbon. Click Send/Receive All Folders or press F9. This forces Outlook to sync all folders with the server and clear stale references.
2. Check for the error again
   Try the action that triggered the error. If it still appears, move to Method 2.

Method 2: Disable and Re-enable Cached Exchange Mode

1. Open Account Settings
   Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings. Select your Exchange account and click Change.
2. Turn off Cached Exchange Mode
   Under Offline Settings, uncheck Use Cached Exchange Mode. Click Next and then Finish. Outlook will restart in online mode.
3. Restart Outlook and test
   Open Outlook again. Try the action that previously caused the error. If it works, re-enable Cached Exchange Mode by repeating steps 1 and 2 but checking the box this time.

Method 3: Delete the OST File and Let Outlook Rebuild It

1. Close Outlook
   Exit Outlook completely. Press Ctrl+Shift+Escape to open Task Manager and end any Outlook process still running.
2. Locate the OST file
   Press Windows+R, type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook, and press Enter. Find the OST file that matches your email address. The file name is usually your email address followed by .ost.
3. Rename or delete the OST file
   Right-click the OST file and choose Rename. Add .old to the end of the file name. Do not delete the file unless you are sure the server data is complete.
4. Restart Outlook
   Open Outlook. A new OST file will be created automatically. Outlook will download all items from the server. This process may take several minutes depending on mailbox size.

Method 4: Run the Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST)

1. Find ScanPST.exe
   Close Outlook. Go to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 (or the folder matching your Office version). Locate SCANPST.EXE.
2. Scan the OST file
   Open ScanPST, click Browse, and select the OST file from %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook. Click Start. If errors are found, click Repair.
3. Restart Outlook
   Open Outlook and check if the error is resolved.

If Outlook Still Shows the Error After the Main Fix

Outlook Shows the Error When Opening a Specific Email

The email may have been moved or deleted by a server-side rule after you clicked it. Switch to Folder List view by pressing Ctrl+6. Navigate to the folder where the email originally resided. If the email is missing, it was deleted from the server. Use the Recover Deleted Items feature: go to Folder > Recover Deleted Items and restore the email.

Outlook Shows the Error When Moving Items Between Folders

The destination folder may be corrupted. Create a new folder in the same parent folder. Move items one at a time to the new folder. If the error stops, delete the old folder. If the error persists, disable all add-ins: go to File > Options > Add-ins, click Go next to COM Add-ins, uncheck all add-ins, and restart Outlook.

Outlook Shows the Error After a Windows or Office Update

An update may have changed the default mail profile or corrupted the local cache. Create a new mail profile: go to Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles. Click Add and configure your Exchange account. Set the new profile as the default. Open Outlook with the new profile. If the error is gone, delete the old profile.

Cached Exchange Mode vs Online Mode: Key Differences

Item	Cached Exchange Mode	Online Mode
Description	Stores a local copy of mailbox data in an OST file for faster access	Connects directly to the Exchange server without local storage
Performance	Fast for recent items, slower for initial sync	Slower for large folders, depends on network speed
Offline access	Full access to cached items without internet	No offline access
Error frequency	More prone to “object deleted” errors due to cache corruption	Fewer cache-related errors
Disk space usage	Uses several GB for the OST file	No local storage required

After completing these steps, you should no longer see the “The action cannot be completed. The object has been deleted” error. If the error returns, run the Inbox Repair Tool weekly or switch to Online Mode temporarily to clear the cache. For persistent issues, create a new Outlook profile as described in the section above. To prevent future errors, avoid moving large numbers of items while Outlook is syncing with the server.