You may see the error “The form required to view this message cannot be displayed” when opening an email in Outlook. This happens when a custom form is missing from your local forms library. The message was created with a template that your client cannot find. This article explains how to publish the missing form or reset the message to use the standard form.
Key Takeaways: Fixing the Missing Form Error
- Developer > Design This Form: Opens the message in design mode to republish the custom form to your Personal Forms Library.
- File > Info > Properties > Use the default message form: Changes the message to use the standard Outlook form, bypassing the custom template.
- Developer > Choose Form > Look In > Personal Forms Library: Manually selects and opens a form from your local library to resolve the error.
Why the Custom Form Error Occurs in Outlook
Outlook uses forms as templates to display items like emails, appointments, and contacts. A standard email uses the default IPM.Note message class. Some organizations or users create custom forms with unique message classes for specialized data entry or tracking.
The error appears because the message file contains a reference to a custom form message class, like IPM.Note.MyCustomForm. When Outlook tries to open the message, it searches your local forms libraries for a form published with that exact class name. If the form is not published in your Personal Forms Library, Organizational Forms Library, or the application’s form cache, Outlook cannot render the message and shows the error.
Common Causes of the Missing Form
The form might be missing because it was never published to your machine. You received the message from a colleague who uses the custom form locally. The form could also be corrupted or unpublished after an Outlook update. In rare cases, the message itself may be damaged, causing it to reference a non-existent form class.
Steps to Fix the Form Required Error
First, enable the Developer tab in the ribbon if it is not visible. Go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon. In the right column, check the box for “Developer” and click OK. Use the steps below to resolve the error.
- Open the Problematic Message
Select the email that generates the error in your mailbox. Double-click to open it in a separate window. The error dialog will appear. - Access the Form in Design Mode
Click OK on the error dialog to close it. With the message window active, go to the Developer tab on the ribbon. Click the “Design This Form” button. This opens the message in design mode, which often loads the underlying form structure. - Republish the Form to Your Library
In design mode, go to the Developer tab again. Click the “Publish Form” button, then select “Publish Form As.” In the Publish Form As dialog, ensure the “Look In” field is set to “Personal Forms Library.” Give the form a clear name and click Publish. Close the design window without saving changes to the message itself. - Reopen the Original Message
Return to your mailbox and double-click the original email again. Outlook should now find the newly published form in your Personal Forms Library and display the message correctly.
Alternative Method: Use the Default Form
If you do not need the custom form’s features, you can force the message to use the standard Outlook form. Open the message and click OK on the error. Go to the File menu and select Info. Click the Properties button. In the Properties window, check the box for “Use the default message form.” Click Close, then close the message window. When you reopen the email, it will display as a standard message.
If the Form Error Persists
Outlook Cannot Open the Message in Design Mode
If clicking “Design This Form” fails, try opening the form directly. Go to the Developer tab and click “Choose Form.” In the Choose Form dialog, set the “Look In” dropdown to “Personal Forms Library.” If you see the form listed, select it and click Open. If it is not there, the sender must provide you with the .oft template file to publish it manually.
The Message is in a Shared Mailbox or Public Folder
Custom forms for shared locations must be published to the Organizational Forms Library on the Exchange server. Contact your Microsoft 365 administrator. They need to publish the form to the server library using the Exchange Admin Center or Outlook Web Access. Once published, all users with access to that mailbox will see the form.
Outlook Search Returns No Custom Form Messages
After fixing the form, older messages might not appear in search. Rebuild the Windows Search index. Go to File > Options > Search > Indexing Options > Advanced > Rebuild. This process can take time but will reindex all items, including those using custom forms.
Custom Form vs Standard Form: Key Differences
| Item | Custom Outlook Form | Standard Outlook Form |
|---|---|---|
| Message Class | Custom, like IPM.Note.Survey | Default, like IPM.Note or IPM.Appointment |
| Distribution | Must be published to a user or server forms library | Built into Outlook, available to all users automatically |
| Design Flexibility | Can have extra tabs, custom fields, and VBA code | Fixed layout with standard fields only |
| Error Risk | High risk of “form required” error if missing | No risk, form is always available |
| Primary Use Case | Specialized workflows, data collection, team processes | General email, calendar, and contact management |
You can now open messages that use custom organizational forms. Use the Design This Form feature to publish missing templates to your Personal Forms Library. For recurring issues, ask your administrator to publish the form to the Organizational Forms Library on Exchange. An advanced tip is to use the Outlook Spy tool to examine the exact message class of a problematic item for precise troubleshooting.