If you’ve attempted to send an email message that is too large for your mail server, you may be unable to delete it from the outbox. An error dialog will state that the MAPI spooler has begun sending the message.

First, set Outlook to offline mode, selecting Offline from the File menu at the top left. Wait a minute or close Outlook and reopen it. Now try deleting the message again.

If you aren’t able to delete the message in Offline mode or are unable to access Offline mode, you’ll need to change your default delivery location.

The following steps are for Outlook 2002 and 2003, and steps for older versions are the same, although the menus will look a bit different.

1. Add a new PST using the File – New – Outlook Date File menu selections.

2. Open the email accounts dialog on the Tools menu.

3. Select view or change existing email accounts and click next.

4. Select the new personal folders file from the deliver new email to the following location list.

5. Click finish and restart Outlook.

6. View the folder list, using Ctrl+6 if needed, and find the old outbox. Delete the message.

7. Repeat steps 2, 3, 4 and 5 to restore the original PST as the default delivery location.

8. Show the folder list and move any new messages from the new PST to the original PST.

9. Right click on the new folder’s name and choose close to remove it from your profile.

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Article ID: 4, Created: August 28, 2012 at 10:37 PM, Modified: November 25, 2012 at 10:18 AM

How to delete a message stuck in the outbox

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