Every time when I restart Outlook 2010, the AutoComplete cache is completely empty again.
How can I make Outlook retain the addresses?
The cause is the same with the AutoComplete/AutoSuggest getting empty in previous versions of Outlook; an add-in preventing Outlook from shutting down properly or even crashing it.
An example of an add-in which has caused a lot of issues is the “Outlook Change Notifier”. So I’ll use it as an example in this guide. Note that this is just an example; other add-ins can cause the same issues as well.
Outlook Change Notifier add-in
When installing iTunes, it also installs an Outlook add-in called Outlook Change Notifier. Version 10.0.1.22 had several issues which caused Outlook 2000 to crash on startup and the AutoComplete function no longer functioning as it should. Both these issues have been corrected with iTunes version 10.1.0.56.
The original issue was caused by the Outlook Change Notifier add-in not letting Outlook to shut down gracefully anymore. As a result, Outlook writes a corrupted AutoComplete list when shutting down and cannot be loaded anymore when you start Outlook the next time.
While this solution discusses the Outlook Change Notifier add-in, other add-ins could cause the same issues and therefor the solution discussed here can be applied to other add-ins as well. The Microsoft Outlook team is also working towards a fix to handle these types of crashes and to prevent the AutoSuggest list from becoming corrupted because of this.
You can disable the Outlook Change Notifier add-in in the following way;
- File-> Options-> section: Add-Ins
- At the bottom of the dialog press the button “Go…”
- Scroll down the list until you find “Outlook Change Notifier” and disable it.
- Press OK to confirm and close the dialog.
After disabling the add-in, close Outlook and run scanpst.exe against your pst-file to fix any issues that might have gotten into your pst-file because of the forced Outlook shutdown process.
Things to note
- Synchronization with iPod/iPhone/iPad
Disabling the Outlook Change Notifier add-in could prevent you to sync Contacts, Calendars, email account information, or Notes stored in Outlook via iTunes to your iPod, iPhone or iPad.
- iTunes Outlook Addin
There is also an add-in called “iTunes Outlook Addin”. There is no need to disable this add-in.
- Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007
The issue can also occur on Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007. Add-in removal instructions for those versions can be found here; Enable/Disable add-ins
- Outlook 2000
The Outlook Change Notifier add-in is also the cause of Outlook 2000 not being able to start anymore. Updating to the latest version of iTunes should solve this issue (Apple no longer supports Outlook 2000 for use with their products).
- Outlook not closing
If, after closing, Outlook continues to run in the background (outlook.exe process is visible in the Processes tab of the Windows Task Manager), then see; Outlook does not close after you install iTunes or another add-in