Fix Outlook Error Invalid XML The View Cannot Be Loaded

Jackson Strong | December 25th, 2023 | Outlook

Troubled by the Outlook error invalid XML the view cannot be loaded issue? We have pulled together all you need to know to get rid of this issue in this article. Including what it means and of course how to troubleshoot to fix invalid XML error in Outlook. So, let’s get started!!

outlook error invalid xml the view cannot be loaded

What causes Outlook error invalid XML the view cannot be loaded issue? The Outlook error invalid XML the view cannot be loaded is one of the most popular issues. As XML is used to store configuration information of Outlook and if this file becomes corrupted or is incorrectly configured it can lead to an error message.

If you have also added some extra add-ins in your Outlook then it could mess things up and cause the error. Thus, this error usually indicates a problem with the XML file that consists of the Outlook settings.

Now the important thing is how do I resolve an invalid XML file error in Outlook? No issues, you can easily fix this issue with some possible approaches. Such as trying to restart Outlook, updating outdated Outlook versions, or repairing corrupt Outlook data file, etc.

Let’s quickly learn these methods in more detail in below section;

How to Fix Invalid XML Error in Outlook 2019/2016/2013/2010?

Note: Before we dive into the steps, do yourself a favor and restart your Outlook application. It’s surprising how many bugs and glitches a quick restart can solve.

1. Update Outdated Outlook Version: Keeping your Outlook updated is always recommended; not only does this help your application optimize but also has many improvements and application fixes. It also helps you avoid issues like the one you are facing right now.

2. Reset View Settings: Resetting view settings in Outlook can sometimes resolve the Outlook error message invalid XML the view cannot be loaded if the issue is caused by corrupted or incorrect view settings. Also, it can revert Outlook to its default view settings and eliminate any corruption that may be causing the error.

Follow the steps to reset view settings in Outlook

  1. Open Outlook in Safe Mode; to do this hold down the Ctrl key and launch the application.
  2. Then, go to the View tab and click on Reset View.
  3. Confirm the action and restart Outlook in normal mode.

3. Disable Add-ons: Various add-ons in your Outlook can also cause this issue due to compatibility issues. Follow the steps below to disable add-ons to resolve the Microsoft Outlook error invalid XML the view cannot be loaded issue.

  1. Open Outlook and navigate to File>Options>Add-ons.
  2. Disable all third-party add-ons and restart Outlook to see if the error persists.

Once you have identified the problematic add-on, you can either disable it permanently or check for updates that may resolve the compatibility issue.

4. Repair Corrupt Outlook Data File: To repair Outlook data file corruption error, users can choose in-built scanpst.exe or an automated solution i.e., Advik PST Repair Tool. Both can help you to easily recover data file whether it is damaged or corrupted.

5. Fix Corrupted XML File: If the above solutions don’t solve the problem, it might mean that the XML file has an issue. As it makes it difficult for Outlook to read or fix it. You can manually remove the corrupted file and then restart Outlook. When you do this, Outlook will create a new XML file with default settings.

Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Press the Windows and R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  2. In the Run box, type or paste “%appdata%\Microsoft\Outlook” and press Enter.
  3. This will open the Windows Explorer window which will redirect you to the Outlook configuration directory.
  4. Look for a file named “Outlook.xml”.
  5. Delete this Outlook.xml file and then restart Outlook.

Done!! Here, the solutions to solve the Outlook XML view cannot be loaded error comes to an end. You can try out these fixes to see whether it’s work for you or not.

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Conclusion

It can be frustrating when you get this type of error while opening Outlook. While this issue can usually be fixed easily if you have the right solutions. However, manually resolving the Outlook XML view cannot be loaded error is a difficult task that requires technical specialties and takes time. Therefore, it is preferable to go carefully through some possible solutions and fixes to get rid of it.