Did a recent update change my ability to drop and drag within outlook?

Rick Arko 0 Reputation points
2025-02-03T17:44:22.0466667+00:00

Drag and dropped stopped working within the outlook application. Now when I attempt to drag and drop from one folder to another within outlook, the result ends up copying the email to my desktop and leaving it in the original folder. The result is the same when I attempt to move an email to task or calendar.

Outlook Management
Outlook Management
Outlook: A family of Microsoft email and calendar products.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
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  1. Joan Hua-MSFT 4,125 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2025-02-04T02:08:37.3533333+00:00

    Hi @Rick Arko

    Welcome to our forum!

    Does the issue occur recently on Outlook Desktop Client? Do you have any specific operation before the issue occurred? 

    What is the version of your Outlook? It is recommended that you please check the Outlook client version (File>Office Account>Product Information) and try to upgrade to the latest version to see if the problem is resolved. 

    Based on my research, Drag and Drop function works fine in the Outlook, Dragging and dropping folders within the same account is moving, and dragging and dropping between different accounts is copying. You may want to take the following steps to have a check:

    1. Press the Escape Key:
      • Press the Esc key multiple times (3-4 times).
      • This can sometimes reset the drag-and-drop functionality.
    2. Reset Microsoft Outlook folders
      • Exit Outlook>Press Win+R>Type outlook.exe /resetfolders, Enter
      • The issue can also trigger because of corrupt Outlook files and folders.
    3. Use Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant
    4. Repair Outlook:
      • Control Panel>Programs>Programs and Features.
      • Find Microsoft Office, right-click on it, and choose Change.
      • Select the Quick Repair or Online Repair option and follow the on-screen instructions.
    5. Create a New Profile
      • If all above don’t help, considering data file corruption, it is proposed that you create a new profile, re-add your account to the new profile and check if the same issue still occurs.  

    Hope it helps! 


    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

    Note: Please follow the steps in our [documentation] to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.  

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  2. Rick Arko 0 Reputation points
    2025-02-04T14:29:46.1766667+00:00

    Thank you Joan. I had previously tried each of those solutions to no avail. Unfortunately, I did not take what may have been the easiest route until many other efforts. By uninstalling a recent update related to a Windows 11 preview (KB5050094) the problem was resolved. I did not investigate further, but I currently have Windows 11 Pro Build 26100.

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  3. Joan Hua-MSFT 4,125 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2025-02-05T01:19:35.2633333+00:00

    Hi @Rick Arko

    Glad to hear this issue has been resolved and thanks for the sharing! 


    However, due to a recent update in forum policy, the question author now is not able to accept their own answers.  

    So, I have written a brief summary of the solution this issue. Please feel free to ACCEPT it as the Answer, which would benefit others who also have similar issues in the forum.  

    Issue: 

     Drag and dropped stopped working within the outlook application.

    Solution: 

    By uninstalling a recent update related to a Windows 11 preview (KB5050094).

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