How to Fix Cannot Open Attachments in Outlook Issue?

Often Outlook user experience trouble while opening attachments in Microsoft Outlook, the user can get an attachment opening error in Outlook 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019. There are multiple reasons where the user is unable to open attachment. In this section, we will explain all the reasons & their solution.

Why Outlook Email Attachments not Opening? & How to Fix it?

Here we will discuss some most common reasons that are responsible for this error and providing solutions. All the steps are verifed by IT experts. Follow and fix the issues.

Reason 1: Temporary Outlook Files Folder

User can’t open attachments in Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003 when he is restricted to access temporary Outlook internet files folder which maintained in the server. However, This issue occurs when sub-folders contains default copies of files, and the folder exceeds their storage limit. To fix this issue you have to clean temporary Outlook files folder.

Follow steps to fix this issue –

1. Click “Start“, click “Run” and type regedit and click “Ok“.
2. Locate & Click
   • Outlook 2013 - HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Outlook\Security
   • Outlook 2010 - HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook\Security
   • Outlook 2007 - HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook\Security
   • Outlook 2003 - HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\Security
   • Outlook 2002 - HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Security
3. Now, find the OutlookSecureTempFolder registry key and open it.
4. Copy key path from the key value and paste on the browser, then enter.
5. Now, Clean everything in the folder.

Reason 2: Outlook Attachments won’t Open after Upgrading Windows 10

Sometimes Outlook user having a problem to open Outlook attachment after upgrading Windows 10. The user will receive an error message that says “this file is corrupted and cannot be opened”. Actually, the file is not corrupted, but there are problems in file permissions this upgrade affect opening file in Protect View. To fix file permission issue follow the given steps –

1. Right click on “Start” button and select Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Paste this command icacls "%programfiles%\Microsoft Office 15" /grant *S-1-15-2-1:(OI)(CI)RX
3. Then press Enter to execute this command.

Reason 3: Outlook Blocked to Access Unsafe Attachments

Sometimes user receives an error message Outlook blocked access to the following potentially unsafe attachments: filename. user get this error because Outlook blocked linked attachments. This error occurred due to security restriction. To resolve this issue user have to turn off security feature on a computer. Remember, if you turn off security feature of the computer it will make your computer vulnerable for malicious software attack.

Reason 4: Perfect Solution to Fix The Attachments Not Opening Issue

After performing given solutions to open Outlook attachment, if you still not able to open attachments in Outlook then it is possible there is corruption occurred in your PST file. To fix this issue you have two ways first is ScanPST.exe and second is Outlook PST recovery automated tool. Corruption can be removed from PST file by ScanPST.exe, but file structure can be affected with this tool, and highly corruption cannot be removed by ScanPST.exe. So in such situation, automated software is right solution.

Download The Tool –

Conclusion

Sometimes Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, etc editions unable to open attachments and you cannot access these attachment files via Outlook. To access information of attachments you have to resolve this case. In the above section, we covered some cases where you cannot open attachments in Outlook & provided solutions to fix these issues.