Overview: Outlook on the web is not only used for sending and receiving emails. They are also an excellent way when it comes to attaching files. But, most of the users are stuck in those problems where Attachments do not download, not preview, not upload, or are unable to open properly in Outlook Web App (OWA). At times, the attachment icon does not work, files continue to load endlessly, or Outlook displays just an error message.
This issue can affect your work productivity when it comes to documents, invoices, PDFs, images & ZIP files that are not accessible at the right time.
Also Read: How to Archive Attachments in Outlook?
What you will learn from this blog:
- Why Outlook web attachments not working
- Common mistakes related to attachment in Outlook Web
- Manual ways to fix the issue
- Best solution to Extract Outlook Attachments
- Some of the practices to prevent in Future
Common Outlook Web Attachments Problems
Users may go through different attachment problem:
- Attachments not downloading
- Unable to preview attachments
- Outlook web attachment upload failed
- Attachments stuck on loading
- “Something went wrong” error
- Drag-and-drop attachment feature not working
- Large attachments failing to upload
- Cannot attach files from OneDrive in Outlook Web
- Outlook web app, Outlook 365 webmail or Microsoft Exchange web access are subject to such issues.
Why Are Outlook Web Attachments Not Working?
Know the points why users face this problem and further take precautionary steps regarding this.
- It can be due to the Cached files stored in your browser and old cookies may cause Outlook Web attachments to not be loaded accordingly
- It’s features may not work correctly on old browser versions
- A few browser extensions can be a reason for issues additionally
- Happens due to slow or unstable networks that can stop the upload or download process
- Working on large size attachments can be the issue
- If you have add-on they may conflict with attachments
- There can be syncing issue with your system
How to Fix Outlook Web Attachments Not Working Issue Manually?
In the following section, we have listed the appropriate manual techniques that are recommended by the users.
#1. Refresh web page of Outlook
Sometimes the issue is temporary. Just follow these steps:
- Close Outlook Web App
- Reopen the browser
- Sign in again
- Try downloading the attachment or try uploading it
Usually, a simple refresh solves temporary bugs
#2. Clear Browser Cache & Cookies
Clearing cache can help you in removing corrupted
- Open Chrome Settings
- Go to Privacy and Security
- Click Clear Browsing Data
- Select:
- Cookies
- Cached Images and Files
- Click Clear Data
- Restart browser
- Then, open Outlook web again and check attachments.
#3. Use Another Browser
Sometimes the problem is browser-oriented:
Try opening Outlook web in:
- Google Chrome
- Microsoft Edge
- Mozilla Firefox
- There is a chance your attachments could work in another browser. The current browser can have compatibility or extension type of issues.
#4. Disable Browser Extensions
Extensions can sometimes create Outlook functionality.
1.Open Browser extensions page
2. Disable all your extensions temporarily
3. Restart the browser again
4. Again check Outlook attachments
Always check once:
- Ad blockers
- VPN
- Download managers
- Security extensions
#5. Check Internet Connections
A low-level network may interrupt the download process.
- Firstly, restart Wi-Fi router
- Switch network connection
- Use stable broadband
- Avoid public unstable networks
#6. Download Attachments in ZIP Format
Outlook by default blocks certain file types, ask the sender to:
- Compress into ZIP file format
- Rename restricted file extensions
- Upload files through OneDrive links
What If Attachments Still not Open?
After trying all the above manual steps, still you can’t face your attachments. Then, this might be the reason:
- Corrupted mailbox items
- Damaged Outlook files
- Not proper handling of bulk attachment
- Limit download restrictions
- Sync problems
In such cases, you should opt for a professional solution to get accurate results.
Extract Outlook Web Attachments Easily – Professional Solution
If you have to deal with numerous Outlook emails and attachments, then it becomes quite hard. This is where you can use SysTools Outlook Attachment Extractor software which makes it easier to avoid the issue of multiple downloads or access problems. It helps users to extract and save Outlook attachments efficiently without fully depending on the manual method only.
End Note
Outlook web attachments Not Opening problems can happen due to browser related issues, poor internet connection, security settings in your web mail account or damaged mailbox data, temporary Outlook server downtime etc. Most of these can be fixed by clearing the browser cache, changing the browser, disabling/extending extensions or checking Outlook settings. However, if attachment issues occur over and over, manual approaches might not be able to fully resolve them or assist users with managing attachments efficiently.
