[SOLVED] The Operation Cannot Be Performed Because the Message Has Been Changed

As a marketer who uses Windows 10 and Outlook, you may have encountered the frustrating error "the operation cannot be performed because the message has been changed" when trying to send an important email. This post will explore what causes this error and provide a solution to fix it. - from Microsoft Community

Error - The Operation Cannot Be Performed Because The Message Has Been Changed

You're experiencing an issue where you can't move an email to a folder, even though you haven't changed the message, and it only works if you close the message or move to another one first.

When trying to modify or delete a message that another user has already changed, the operation cannot be performed because the message has been altered. This can occur in shared mailboxes or public folders where multiple users are accessing the same content. As a result, the user receives an error message indicating that the operation cannot be performed due to the message's change.

Fixes - The Operation Cannot Be Performed Because the Message Has Been Changed

To resolve the error, the user should refresh the mailbox view and try the operation again. If the problem persists, follow the details below. Before the solutions, backup Outlook emails from browser in advance.

Method 1. Disable Conversation Clean Up Options

To fix the error "the operation cannot be performed because the message has been changed", disable the conversation clean up options in your email settings.

Step 1. Launch Microsoft Outlook. Go to "File > Options".

Step 2. Select "Mail" from the left panel.

Step 3. To change this setting, scroll down and uncheck the "When a reply modifies a message, don't move the original" option.

Step 4. Click "OK" and restart Outlook.

To prevent the "the operation cannot be performed because the message has been changed" error, disable the option.

Method 2. Run Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant Tool

Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant is a free tool from Microsoft that can help diagnose and fix various Outlook problems automatically. It can be used for Outlook repair when it's not working properly or when experiencing issues like the "operation cannot be performed because the message has been changed" error. To use the Microsoft SARA tool, follow the provided steps.

Step 1. Download Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant from the Microsoft website.

Step 2. Run Microsoft SARA and select "Outlook" and click "Next".

Step 3. To fix the "the operation cannot be performed because the message has been changed" error on your PC, follow the on-screen instructions. This typically involves canceling the operation, then trying it again.

Once the repair process is complete, restart Outlook and try accessing the message again.

Method 3. Remove Third-party Add-Ins to Fix the Outlook Errors

To resolve the "the operation cannot be performed because the message has been changed" error in Microsoft Outlook, remove any third-party add-ins that are no longer compatible with the program, as they are likely causing the issue. This can be done by going to File > Options > Add-ins, and then selecting the add-in you want to remove and clicking "Remove" to uninstall it. By removing these incompatible add-ins, you should be able to resolve the error and continue using Outlook without any issues.

Step 1. Open Office 365 and enter your account.

Step 2. Go to "Account Settings > Options > Add-Ins > Go".

Step 3. Press the Check Box to remove the "Adobe Send & Track for Microsoft Outlook – Acrobat" feature.

Step 4. Click "OK" to comfirm your operations.

If removing the third-If the party add-in doesn't resolve the issue, you may need to repair or reinstall Microsoft Outlook. For more information on how to do this, read on.

Method 4. Repair Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft 365 is a versatile application that can be used for various purposes, but you may encounter an error message saying "the operation cannot be performed because the message has been changed". Repairing Microsoft 365 usually resolves the issue.

Step 1. Close all the running Microsoft applications.

Step 2. Open "Control Panel > Programs and Features".

Step 3. To fix issues with Microsoft 365, right-click on it, select "Change" then "Quick Repair" and finally "Repair". Once the repair process is complete, restart Outlook.

After running the Outlook repair process, reopen the email to see if the error has been resolved. If the issue persists, consider seeking further assistance or troubleshooting steps.

Method 5. Check and Disable the Email Scanning

If you're encountering the issue "the operation cannot be performed because the message has been changed" and can't resolve it, consider disabling the email scanning process of your anti-virus software. This might help bypass the problem and allow you to proceed with your intended action.

• Open your anti-virus
• In the settings, uncheck "Scan Outbound Mail (SMTP)"
• Then, click "OK".

Recover/Repair Damaged Outlook Files in Windows 11/10/8/7

If your Outlook has stopped working and PST files get damaged, you'll need to run a PST file repair software to get help, such as Deep Data Recovery, which is a data recovery software and a file repair tool.

This Office repair tool is effective in repairing damaged or corrupt JPEG/JPG photos and MP4/MOV videos on various storage devices, including the hard drive, SD card, and memory card. It can also recover and repair Outlook files by following a series of steps.

• Free Download
• Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

Step 1. Launch Deep Data Recovery software. Select the desired file types and click "Next" to initiate the recovery process.

Step 2. To fix corrupted files, select a disk location where the files are saved, then click "Scan" to start finding the damaged files. Qiling file repair tool allows you to repair broken documents, videos, and pictures in different formats.

Step 3. After scanning, you can quickly find corrupt data by file type. This includes documents like Word and Excel, and PDFs, which can be repaired by selecting the Documents category and filtering a specific type. For pictures and videos, common types like JPEG, PNG, BMP, MOV, MP4, and GIF are supported.

Step 4. Qiling file repair software automatically fixes broken files, allows previewing repaired files before recovery, and saves the recovered files to a different location to avoid data overwriting.

Conclusion

If you're getting the error "The operation cannot be performed because the message has been changed", you can try disabling conversation clean up options, running the Microsoft SARA tool, removing third-party add-ins, repairing Microsoft Office, or checking and disabling email scanning, and if all else fails, recovering or repairing damaged Outlook files in Windows.

• Free Download
• Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

The Operation Cannot Be Performed FAQs

If you're struggling with the current explanation, consider reading the related questions and answers for additional help. This will provide you with further insights and clarification on the topic, allowing you to better understand the subject matter.

1. How do you fix the action can't be completed because the file is open?

To fix the error "The action can't be completed because the file is open", try closing the file in the application or program that has it open, or end the process in Task Manager if it's a system process. If you're trying to delete a file, try renaming it first, or try deleting it in Safe Mode.

• Run File Locksmith
• Stop Processes with Task Manager
• Empty the Recycle Bin and Restart
• Restart Windows Explorer
• Delete Temp Files

2. Why am I getting an operation failed message in Outlook?

The error occurs when a user with full access and send as permissions edits a saved email message and tries to save it, resulting in the message "The operation cannot be performed because the message has been changed."

3. How do I resolve conflict in Outlook?

You can resolve Outlook conflicts in the following ways:

• Disable Conversation Clean Up Options
• Check and Disable the Email Scanning
• Run Microsoft SARA Tool
• Remove Third-party Add-Ins
• Repair Microsoft Office

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