A lot of users face the Outlook invalid XML error that happens due to a variety of technical glitches.
If you, too, have been looking for solutions for fixing the invalid.XML error, you have come to the right place.
This is our guide on the top solutions, causes, and everything else about the Outlook XML error.
Reasons Behind the Outlook Invalid XML Error
There is not just one reason that can cause any Outlook file to go corrupt. Here are some of the important causes of the error that you must know to start with the right recovery method:
- The first reason behind the error can be the faulty settings of the navigation pane. These settings directly affect the XML files of Outlook and end up corrupting or damaging them.
- The active compatibility mode for Outlook can also be a major reason for these XML errors.
- If you have been using the older versions of Outlook files, then they might catch errors sooner. However, this happens to be a rare case but not completely ignorable.
PS: if you are experiencing issues like Outlook loading profile stuck on MS Outlook, here are the top solutions for you.
Checking for the invalid.XML Error in Outlook Files
It is not difficult at all to diagnose this Outlook Invalid XML error. What makes the diagnosis of the problem easier is the existence of a single symptom only.
Upon trying to launch the Outlook program, you will face lagging issues, or the program will freeze for the time being.
Followed by this, you will see the following error message appear on the screen- “Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window. Invalid XML, the view cannot be loaded“. To confirm that the error is related to the corruption of the XML file, check the file size to be 0.
Stellar Repair for Outlook – The Best Professional Fix for Outlook Invalid XML Error
It’s always best to start the safe and most effective way, even if you have to pay a little for it. You must not take the risk of errors occurring when you are fixing errors.
Thus, we introduce to you the best professional solution for fixing Outlook invalid XML errors, which is the Stellar Repair for Outlook tool.
This tool proves helpful in removing all errors from the PST of Personal Storage Files of Outlook. It further helps in recovering and restoring the data from those like file attachments, contact, and much more.
Primary Features of the Stellar Repair for Outlook:
- The tool operates very simply, and that’s the best part about it. It is compatible with all Outlook versions, including 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019.
- The software comes with highly advanced GUI technology. This feature also helps it to facilitate precise mail recovery.
- The software is powerful enough to fix even the locked or encrypted PST files for the invalid.XML error. You can also use the tool for troubleshooting the big PST files of sizes more than 2 GB.
- As an additional benefit, the software allows the users to restore the recovered items only after previewing them. It even provides you with the loading scan information if you opt for that.
- The software can also scan the HTML and RTF messages and restore the formatting from them.
Method of using the Stellar Outlook Repair Tool
- Begin with downloading the tool on a PC and installing it properly. After that, launch the tool.
- Now, you need to find the lost PST file, and there are two methods for doing so.
The first method is about finding the PST files if it’s stored in a drive.
On the main interface, click the button PST File for Repair. Next, click the option Find, followed by selecting all the drives in the dialog box where you think the files may be.
Once done with that, click the button Find along with the option Look in next to it. A list of all the PST files found in selected drives will emerge on the screen now, and you can select the ones you want to recover.
The second method is about finding the PST files if they were stored in any folder/subfolder.
On the main interface, click the option Select Outlook PST. Followed by that, hit the button Select PST File for Repair. Next, click the option Find and select all the drives in the dialog box.
Click the button Look in and select the folder where the files may have been stored. If they were in a subfolder, click the option Search Subfolders and then Find. All the recovered invalid.XML PST files will be listed on the screen now.
Once the files are in front of you on the software interface, you can start with the Repair procedure. Hit the button Repair so that the program can start scanning the files.
Wait for the time being till the process finishes and the Repair complete notification emerges. Click the option OK, followed by previewing the PST files. Check all the recovered files and decide which ones you want to restore finally.
The last step is to save the PST files once you are done with all the steps above. To do that, you will need to hit the button Save Repaired File present on the main interface of the tool.
The dialog box of Save As will appear now, in which you have to click the option Browse. Here, select the location where you want the files to be stored finally. Click the right option and hit Save.
Manual methods of Fixing the Outlook Invalid XML Error
If you don’t want to try any professional way out and trust the manual methods better, here are the five best solutions to try for fixing the Outlook invalid XML error.
Method 1: Inbox Repair Tool
This is one of the most effective manual methods for fixing Outlook issues that involve the Inbox Repair Tool. It is a Microsoft tool that fixes various PST file errors and many other Outlook issues. You can effectively fix damaged PST files with this tool.
Therefore, we are going to give you the steps to follow to use this tool:
1. Open the Windows Explorer window on the PC. You can do so by hitting the keys Windows + E together.
2. After the Windows Explorer dialog menu opens, enter the following path command- “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\{Office version}.” If your PC is installed with the 64-bit Windows version along with 32-bit Office, then enter the following path command- “C:\Program Files x86\Microsoft Office\{Office version}“.
3. Now, in the next window, find the option Scanpst.exe. Upon finding it, double-click on the icon. You can do so by hitting the Start button and pressing it. In the search dialog box, enter Scanpst.exe.
4. Hit on the button Browse to select the default PST file in Outlook or Outlook.pst file.
5. Move ahead with the process now and hit on the button Start. This will start the scanning process for the Outlook file. Upon catching any error, the tool will give a notification on the screen listing the errors found. The notification will look like “Errors were found in this file. To repair these errors, click Repair“.
6. Follow the notification instructions now. Hit on the button Repair to start the repair process of invalid.XML PST files.
Method 2: Recovering the Configuration File in the Navigation Pane
The problems in the settings of the navigation pane also cause errors with the Outlook PST files. Thus, you need to check the navigation pane’s settings and ensure everything is right there.
If you think that they have gotten corrupted, then here are the steps to follow to fix them:
1. Open the Run command box by hitting the keys Windows + R simultaneously. In the box that appears now, enter the following command- Outlook.exe /resetnavpane.
2. Finally, hit the button OK or press the Enter Key to apply the command. Once the process finishes, launch Outlook. Check if everything is alright there.
Method 3: Turning the Outlook Compatibility Mode Off
If Outlook is running in compatibility mode on the PC, then the invalid.XML error might be a result of that. Thus, the logical solution that follows is to turn off the compatibility mode.
Here are the steps to follow to do so:
1. Hit on the button Start, and in the resultant dialog box, enter the following command- Outlook.exe.
2. The Outlook program will appear on the screen now. Right-click on the icon, and from the drop-down menu, select the option Properties.
3. In the tab Properties, click the tab Compatibility. Here, find the option Run this program in compatibility for. Upon finding it, remove the tick from the box present next to the option. Hit the button OK to confirm.
Method 4: Restoring the PST File to Its Older Version
This is one method that can probably fix the Outlook invalid XML error and other issues in one go. Here are the steps to follow:
1. The first step includes finding out the folder where you think the target Outlook file was stored.
2. Upon finding the location or folder, hit right-click on the icon of the folder. From the drop-down menu, select the option Restore previous versions.
3. Another dialog box will appear on the screen now. This box will have all the latest versions of the Outlook folder listed. The list will appear under the tab Previous versions.
4. Find out the target Outlook file in this list. You may be able to find it in the latest folder.
5. Upon finding the corrupted or lost file, hit on the button Restore. In the pop-up that emerges, click the option Restore.
6. Being here, if you decide not o go with changing the older version to the latest one, click the option Copy. The file will now be saved in its older version at some other location.
Method 5: Removing the Configuration File in the Navigation Pane
If you can’t fix the files’ settings in the navigation pane, you still have the option of deleting them. This can help out, and here are the steps to follow:
1. Open the Run command box by hitting the keys Windows + R at the same time. In the box that appears now, enter the following command- %appdata%\Microsoft\Outlook.
2. Once the command runs successfully, it will retrieve the files of the navigation pane configuration related to Microsoft Outlook.
3. Open the search box and enter the Outlook.XML file to find this data.
4. Upon finding the file, hit right-click on it. Select the option of Delete and check if the Outlook error is removed now.
FAQs
Q1. What is XML in Outlook? XML stands for Extensible Markup Language. In Outlook, XML is used for configuring settings and customization options. XML files contain structured data that Outlook relies on for various functions.
Q2. How can I identify a corrupted Outlook profile? A corrupted Outlook profile may exhibit symptoms such as slow performance, frequent crashes, or error messages. Creating a new profile or repairing the existing one can help resolve these issues.
Q3. Can I recover my emails if I encounter the Invalid XML error? If your Outlook data file (PST file) is intact and not corrupted, you can recover your emails by implementing the troubleshooting steps mentioned in this article. However, it’s always recommended to regularly back up your Outlook data to avoid data loss.
Q4. Can antivirus software cause conflicts with Outlook? Yes, certain antivirus programs or firewalls can conflict with Outlook and lead to the Invalid XML error. If you suspect antivirus software is causing the error, try temporarily disabling it or adding Outlook to the program’s exclusion list.
Q5. How often should I update my Outlook installation? It’s recommended to keep your Outlook installation and other Microsoft Office applications up to date by installing the latest updates and patches. Regular updates often include bug fixes and security enhancements, improving the overall performance and stability of the software.
Final Words
We highly recommend you try the Stellar Outlook repair tool for fixing the Outlook invalid XML error. This is much more effective than the manual methods.
However, if you have some technical expertise, then you can try out the manual methods too. Share your suggestions and queries with us in the comment section below.