How to use Outlook’s Command Line Switches

You can control how Outlook starts by using command line switches. While many of the switches are used only when you are having problems with Outlook, including /cleanviews and /cleanreminders, several allow you to do things in Outlook from a command line, such as open a new form (using the /c switch) or open a new window to a specific folder (/select foldername).

One of my favorite tricks is creating shortcuts for new messages preaddressed to specific people that I frequently send messages to. The shortcut’s command line looks like this:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE14\OUTLOOK.EXE" /c ipm.note /m someone@slipstick.com;mary

You can create a Quick Launch or Desktop shortcut that opens a custom form, such as a While you were out phone message form, by replacing ipm.note with the published form name (i.e. ipm.note.wywo). (WYWO sample forms are available here)

If you’re new to command line switches, at the Start Search field in Windows 7 and Vista or the Start menu, Run command (Windows key+R) type:

Outlook /switch

(Replacing “switch” with the actual switch you need.)

Then press Enter or click OK to start Outlook.

Occasionally you’ll need to use the full path to Outlook, in which case, the command line will look like this:

“C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\Outlook.exe” /switch

You’ll need to use the full file path if you are creating desktop shortcuts.

How to use Outlook Switches tutorial | Command Lines Switches for Outlook 2010

Popular and Useful Switches

/Safe	Opens Outlook in Safe mode (Alternately, you can hold Ctrl as you click on the Outlook icon to start in Safe mode.)
/cleanviews	Resets the views to Outlook’s default views. Note: this will delete all custom views you may be using.
/resetnavpane	Use when Outlook won’t open. This resets Outlook’s navigation pane to the default settings. Error Message: Cannot start Microsoft Office Outlook
/select foldername	Starts Outlook and opens the specified folder in a new window. Usage: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\Outlook.exe" /select outlook:calendar outlook /select "outlook:Inbox\Old Messages"
/profile profilename	Create a shortcut using this switch when you have multiple profiles to load the specified profile. If your profile name contains a space, enclose the profile name in quotation marks.
/cleanreminders	Use when dismissed reminders keep coming back. Delete reminders that keep returning
/resettodobar	Deletes and recreates the To-Do Bar task list for the current profile. The To-Do Bar search folder is also deleted and re-created. Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2010 only. Error with the To-Do Bar’s Task list

All Command line switches

Unless otherwise noted, the following switches are valid for all versions of Outlook and work with both Internet mail and Exchange server accounts.

/a	Creates an item with the specified file as an attachment. Usage: Outlook /a "C:\My Documents\labels.doc" If no item type is specified, IPM.Note form is assumed. This switch cannot be used with message classes that aren’t based on Outlook forms.
/altvba otmfilename	Opens the VBA program specified in otmfilename, rather than %appdata%\Microsoft\Outlook\VbaProject.OTM. Use this switch when you need to run macros not in your VBAProject file. Not supported in Outlook 2010 by default. You can create a registry value to enable it. HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook\Security DWORD: EnableAltVba. Data Value of 1 to enable the switch.
/c messageclass	Creates a new item of the specified message class, works for any valid MAPI form. Examples: /c ipm.activity creates a Journal entry /c ipm.appointment creates an appointment /c ipm.contact creates a contact /c ipm.note creates an e-mail message /c ipm.stickynote creates a note /c ipm.task creates a task
/checkclient	Prompts for the default manager of e-mail, news, and contacts.
/cleancategories	Deletes any custom category names that you have created. Restores categories to the default names. Outlook 2007 only.
/cleanclientrules	Starts Outlook and deletes client-based rules. Used by non-Exchange account users.
/cleandmrecords	Deletes the logging records saved when a manager or a delegate declines a meeting. Used by Exchange Server accounts.
/cleanfinders	Removes Search Folders from the Microsoft Exchange server store.
/cleanfreebusy	Clears and regenerates free/busy information. This switch can only be used when you are able to connect to your Microsoft Exchange server.
/cleanprofile	Removes invalid profile keys and recreates default registry keys where applicable.
/cleanpst	Launches Outlook with a clean Personal Folders file (.pst)
/cleanreminders	Clears and regenerates reminders.
/cleanroamedprefs	All roamed preferences are deleted and copied from the local settings on the computer where this switch is used. Included are roaming settings for reminders, free/busy grid, working hours, calendar publishing, and RSS rules. Outlook 2007 only.
/cleanrules	Starts Outlook and deletes client- and server-based rules.
/cleanserverrules	Starts Outlook and deletes server-based rules. Used only with Exchange server accounts.
/cleansharing	Removes all RSS, Internet Calendar, and SharePoint subscriptions from Account Settings. This does not delete content previously downloaded to your computer, it only removes the subscription. Outlook 2007 only.
/cleansniff	Deletes duplicate reminder messages.
/cleansubscriptions	Deletes the subscription messages and properties for subscription features. Used with SharePoint alerts. Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007.
/cleanviews	Restores default views. Use with care as all custom views you created are lost
/embedding	Opens the specified message file (.msg) as an OLE embedding. Also used without command-line parameters for standard OLE co-create.
/f msgfilename	Opens the specified message file (.msg) or Microsoft Office saved search (.oss).
/finder	Opens the Advanced Find dialog box. Outlook 2007 only.
/firstrun	Starts Outlook as if it were run for the first time.
/hol holfilename	Opens the specified .hol file.
/ical icsfilename	Opens the specified .ics file.
/importprf prffilename	Launches Outlook and opens/imports the defined MAPI profile (*.prf). If Outlook is already open, queues the profile to be imported on the next clean launch.
/launchtraininghelp assetid	Opens a Help window with the Help topic specified in assetid.
/m emailname	Provides a way for the user to add an e-mail name to the item. Use either the full address or the alias. Only works in conjunction with the /c command-line parameter. Usage: Outlook.exe /c ipm.note /m test@slipstick.com Outlook.exe /c ipm.note /m dianep
/nocustomize	Starts Outlook without loading outcmd.dat (customized toolbars). With older versions of Outlook the *.fav file doesn’t load.
/noextensions	Starts Outlook with extensions turned off, but listed in the Add-In Manager.
/nopreview	Starts Outlook with the Reading Pane off and removes the option from the View menu.
/p msgfilename	Prints the specified message (.msg). Does not work with HTML message formats in older versions of Outlook.
/profile profilename	Loads the specified profile. If your profile name contains a space, enclose the profile name in quotation marks.
/profiles	Opens the Choose Profile dialog box regardless of the Options setting on the Tools menu.
/recycle	Starts Outlook using an existing Outlook window, if one exists. The Outlook shortcut in the Quick Launch bar uses the /recycle switch.
/remigratecategories	Starts Outlook and upgrades colored For Follow Up flags to Office Outlook 2007 color categories, calendar labels to Office Outlook 2007 color categories. Also adds all categories used on non-mail items into the Master Category List.
/resetfoldernames	Resets default folder names (such as Inbox or Sent Items) to default names in the current Office user interface language. For example, if you connect to your mailbox Outlook using a Russian user interface, the default folder names are in Russian and cannot be renamed. After changing the user interface language or installing a different language version of Outlook, you can use this switch to reset the default folder names.
/resetfolders	Restores missing folders for the default delivery location.
/resetformregions	Empties the form regions cache and reloads the form region definitions from the Windows registry. Outlook 2007 only.
/resetnavpane	Clears and regenerates the Navigation Pane for the current profile. Removes all Shortcuts and Favorite Folders. Has the same effect as deleting profilename.xml in your user directory. Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007 only.
/resetsearchcriteria	Resets all Instant Search criteria so that the default set of criteria is shown in each module. Outlook 2007 only.
/resetsharedfolders	Removes all shared folders from the Navigation Pane. Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2010 only.
/resettodobar	Deletes and recreates the To-Do Bar task list for the current profile. The To-Do Bar search folder is also deleted and re-created. Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2010 only.
/rpcdiag	Opens Outlook and displays the remote procedure call (RPC) connection status dialog.
/safe	Starts Outlook without extensions, Reading Pane, or toolbar customization. Valid in all versions of Outlook.
/safe:1	Starts Outlook with the Reading Pane off. Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007 only.
/safe:2	Starts Outlook without checking mail at startup. Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007 only.
/safe:3	Starts Outlook with extensions turned off, but listed in the Add-In Manager. Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007 only.
/safe:4	Starts Outlook without loading Outcmd.dat (customized toolbars) and *.fav file. Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007 only.
/select foldername	Starts Outlook and opens the specified folder in a new window. Usage: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\Outlook.exe" /select outlook:calendar outlook /select "outlook:Inbox\Old Messages"
/sniff	Starts Outlook and forces a detection of new meeting requests in the Inbox, and then adds them to the calendar.
/t oftfilename	Opens the specified .oft file.
/v vcffilename	Opens the specified .vcf file.
/vcal vcsfilename	Opens the specified .vcs file.
/x xnkfilename	Opens the specified .xnk file. See .XNK Extension error: “Cannot Open File” if using Outlook 2007.