OLMAPI32.dll is Incomapatible or Crashes in Outlook [Solved]

The OLMAPI32.dll file, developed by Microsoft, is used by Outlook and other Microsoft Office apps for a wide array of functions. But sometimes, due to issues with the DLL, you get an error that reads, OLMAPI32.dll is incompatible with Outlook, or OLMAPI32.dll is not designed to run on Windows, and subsequently, Outlook fails to launch!

This happens when the DLL is corrupt, stored in the wrong path, there’s a bug in Outlook, the file is outdated, or you have multiple versions of Microsoft Office installed that are conflicting with one another.

Before you proceed to the solutions, restart the PC, install all pending Windows updates, and disable any active third-party antivirus or performance optimization software.

How can I fix the OLMAPI32.DLL Outlook crash in Windows?

1. Manually add/replace OLMAPI32.DLL

When faced with the OLMAPI32.dll error in Outlook 365, you need to add (if missing) or replace (if corrupted) the file. As for the storage path, the OLMAPI32.dll location is: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16

So, go to another PC running the same iteration and architecture of Windows > copy the DLL to an external flash drive > connect the drive to the affected PC > move OLMAPI32.dll to the same path > restart the computer to apply the changes.

2. Update Outlook

1. Launch Outlook, click the File menu near the top-left corner, and then select Office Account.
2. Now, click on Update Options, and select Update Now from the list.
3. Wait for any pending updates to install, then restart the PC and check for improvements.

3. Rename OLMAPI32.DLL and perform an Online Repair

1. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer, and navigate to the following path: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
2. Right-click on OLMAPI32.dll, select Rename, and then name it OLMAPI32_old.dll
3. Press Windows + I to open Settings, go to Apps from the navigation pane, and click Installed apps on the right.
4. Click the ellipsis next to Microsoft 365 and select Modify.
5. Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
6. Now, select the Online Repair option, and click on Repair.
7. Once the repair is complete, restart the computer and check for improvements.

For 3 out of 5 users facing OLMAPI32.dll errors in Outlook 2007, 2010, or 2016, renaming the DLL and then performing an Online Repair using the built-in utility fixed things.

This helps when the present DLL file is corrupted or outdated, and during the repair, Microsoft Office finds it missing since the file was renamed and downloads the latest OLMAPI32.dll!

4. Reinstall Microsoft Office

1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type appwiz.cpl in the text field, and hit Enter.
2. Select Microsoft 365 from the list of apps, and click Uninstall.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process and then restart the PC.
4. Now, download and install Microsoft Office all over again.

If the OLMAPI32.dll Outlook crash happens even after a reinstall, it’s likely that Microsoft Office left behind files that are conflicting with the current installation. So, use a top-rated software uninstaller to wipe all traces of the program and then do a fresh install!

5. Uninstall other versions of Microsoft Office

For a few users, running multiple versions of Microsoft Office on the PC triggered conflicts and led to the OLMAPI32.dll error. To fix this, first uninstall all versions of Microsoft Office, then clear any leftover files, and finally install the desired version.

In my experience, issues with OLMAPI32.dll usually affect Outlook, but there have been reports of Microsoft Access not opening for the same reason. And the same set of solutions will work in all such cases!

Before you leave, learn all about DLL errors in Windows and find out how you can prevent such issues from reappearing!

For any queries or to share which fix worked for you, drop a comment below.