Here’s a fix, or at least one possible method, for when your copy of Microsoft Outlook for Mac 2011 won’t start. I have had this happen a few times now and the following steps have resolved it for me on each occasion – it would seem that the Outlook Database corrupts and needs rebuilding.
Jul 25, 2014 Outlook for Mac 2011 initializes but actual program won't open. Discussion in 'OS X Yosemite (10.10)' started by creativedogmedia, Jun 2, 2014. Outlook 2011 Mac cannot connect to Exchange. We have a couple of Mac users using Outlook 2011 and they are working fine connecting to our exchange server except this one. Also you can add a test user account on this particular Mac and attempt an Outlook setup to see if there are any changes.
The symptom is that when starting Microsoft Outlook for Mac 2011, the logo splash-screen opens up and then…. nothing. Even after a reboot of the Mac. So, what you have to do is enable the Microsoft Database Utility which will then run, and where needed fix, the Outlook database.
Now before we proceed, the usual safety small-print: make sure you have backed up the relevant Outlook related files before attempting any of the following – just to be sure!
To try and fix the corrupted Outlook database simply click on the keyboard ‘Alt’ key when clicking the Outlook for Mac 2011 icon and the Microsoft Database Utility will then open. Next click on ‘Rebuild Main Identity’ – this will kick off a scan, verification and the move of your emails to a fresh new database file.
After copying the emails/records across to a new Outlook database it will then recover any data and end the rebuild.
Click ‘Done’ when completed and exit the Microsoft Database Utility. Everything going to plan, when you now click your Outlook for Mac 2011 icon it should open OK.
Another scenario when you may also see the Microsoft Database Utility is when you start Outlook for Mac 2011 and it actually detects an issue with the email database prompting you to start the utility to try and fix the problem.
As with most things there are multiple problems or issues that may be causing this Outlook problem, though this is a common fix in my experience. Hope this helps.