Outlook could not create the work file Check the temp environment variable

Outlook could not create the work file Check the temp environment variable, some users may receive an error message stating, “Outlook could not create the work file. Check the temp environment variable.” The error may not go away even when they try to restart the email client. In this tutorial, we will explain the cause of this error and the solutions to fix it.

What causes the error Outlook could not create the work file?

The issue occurs in Microsoft Outlook when the value of the “cache” string in the registry is not set to a valid directory. To fix this, you need to check the temp environment variable.

Outlook could not create the work file, Check the temp environment variable

The error “Outlook could not create the work file” can be frustrating, but there are a few troubleshooting suggestions that may help you fix the issue. If you receive the error “Outlook could not create the work file” when you start Outlook, try these troubleshooting suggestions.

Edit the Registry settings
Update Office
Repair Office

1] Edit the Registry settings

Close Outlook. Press the Win + R key combination to open the Run dialog box. In the Run dialog box type ‘regedit’ and press Enter. The Registry Editor window will open. In the Registry Editor window, expand the following key.

In the dialog box, type regedit.exe and then press OK. Locate and select the subkey.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Write and using as view words from the original as possible for the content [Then click the Cache key and select Modify. Enter the following values:].

DWORD: Cache
TYPE: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\NetCache

Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer. Now, launch Outlook and check if the error persists.

2] Update Office

Follow the steps below to update Office.

To launch any Microsoft Office programs, simply open the program from the Start menu.
Click on the File tab.
On the backstage view, click on the “Account” tab.
Click “Update Options” on the right, under Product Information, and select “Update Now” from the menu.

If the problem continues, follow the other solution below.

3] Repair Office

Click Search and type in Settings. Click on Settings when it appears.

Go to Settings and select Apps from the left panel. On the right, select Apps and features.

Modify the Microsoft Office installation package by clicking the dots beside it.

A dialog box from Microsoft Office will open with two options: Quick Repair and Online Repair. Select Quick Repair and restart your computer to check the results. If the issue persists, select Online Repair. Let us know in the comments if you have questions about the tutorial.