Fix: operating system is not presently configured to run this application

Kamil AnwarUpdated on April 24, 2024
Kamil is a certified Systems Analyst

 I encountered this error while trying to create a new profile for Outlook 2013. When I tried to access Mail from the control panel, it gave me the error, ‘The operating system is not presently configured to run this application.’ This issue occurred for a user who recently upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7.

Before you proceed with these instructions, make sure you have your license and activation keys/details in order to reactivate Office after repairing it.

Since I did this for Outlook 2013, which was bought online, the client had to use his email address and password (which he used to buy Office online) to reactivate it.

The error may also occur with other Office applications, and it is usually caused by a malfunction or problem with one or more of the Office applications.

operating system is not presently configured to run this application

 

Method 1: Repair Office Using the Control Panel.

Hold the Windows key and press R. Type ‘appwiz.cpl‘ and click ‘OK‘.

 Locate your Microsoft Office installation, click ‘Change‘, and then choose ‘Repair‘.

If it is Office 2013, 365, or 2016, then choose the Full Repair or Online Repair option. Wait for the repair to finish; it can take 30 to 50 minutes.

Once completed, reboot your PC and attempt to open the Office application again. You will then be prompted to reactivate Office; use your license/activation details to do so. Office should now function properly.

Kamil AnwarUpdated on April 24, 2024
Kamil is a certified Systems Analyst
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo of Kamil Anwar

Kamil Anwar


Kamil is a certified MCITP, CCNA (W), CCNA (S) and a former British Computer Society Member with over 9 years of experience Configuring, Deploying and Managing Switches, Firewalls and Domain Controllers also an old-school still active on FreeNode.

Comments

35
    CC
    Csd Psa CentrisEton Nov 24, 2015

    yes, it helps me… thank you and more power. 🙂

    Reply
      DP
      David Perez May 5, 2016

      Hi I have Window 7 Professional version and salesforce for outlook version 3.0 ready. How can I fix this issue from 32 bit outlook version application. Thanks.

      Reply
        KA
        K. Arrows Author May 5, 2016

        Repair it from Control Panel

        Reply
          BI
          Bibeh❤ Nov 30, 2016

          Hi I can’t install any microsoft office on my windows 10, because of it’s os that is not presently configured. what should I do? Thanks

          KA
          K. Arrows Author Dec 11, 2016

          Did you get Office from MS Store?

    CL
    clh6385 Jan 10, 2016

    I encountered the same error message, on Windows 10 using Outlook 2016 (as part of Office 365 suite). I use a separate application called “Outlook Export Wizard” to export my emails as MHTML files for archival purposes. I am concurrently in conversation with support for the OEW program, and they’ve told me it’s not their software that’s causing the error.

    I performed the “repair online” option, and I still get the same error–the issue still exists.

    Reply
      KA
      K. Arrows Author Jan 10, 2016

      Troubleshooting is needed, i do not have a clear answer until i diagnose. Please submit a new question on eQuestions.net/ask.

      Reply
        CL
        clh6385 Jan 11, 2016

        Oh, so you really didn’t mean it when you said above, “Whether it works or not, let us know in the comments section below . . .”?

        I’m letting you know it didn’t work.

        Reply
          KA
          K. Arrows Author Jan 11, 2016

          eQuestions is my site, where i provide assistance. The issue you’re having, will need to be troubleshooted. If i and you start troubleshooting via comments here, it can create a havoc on this page. I assist via comments if the solution is a one liner.

    TD
    TDWindowsNDoors Jan 12, 2016

    I have Windows 10 and an old version 2003 of outlook. This was enough help and direction to assist me in fixing mine. Thanks!

    Reply
      KA
      K. Arrows Author Jan 12, 2016

      welcome.

      Reply
    KO
    kokkorw Jun 11, 2016

    Worked like a charm. I had Outlook working for my “outlook” and my old “hotmail” accounts that I still use. But I also have a gmail student account through my university. I use Google Apps Sync because instead of messing with settings, it sets it up for you, calander and all. While trying to install Google Apps Sync I was getting this same error message. I just did a fresh install of Windows 10 Enterprise and I’ve never seen this issue before. I’m constantly breaking my computers while trying new things and need a fresh install a few times a year. First time I’ve seen this issue before.
    This solution worked for me. I didn’t have my hopes up because Microsoft troubleshooting tools rarely fix anything. I did have to reactivate, but that’s nothing. I uninstalled and reinstalled Office twice and still had this issue. I was about to clean my hard drive and reinstall Windows again after working all night to get it how I wanted (customized, all my software, settings etc…). I always save Office for last because it takes the longest.
    You’re a life saver!! Thank god I found this!! Thank you!!

    Reply
      KA
      K. Arrows Author Jun 11, 2016

      Thank you for letting me know.

      Reply
    VH
    Vhine Jun 11, 2016

    Nice Fix thanks a lot sir

    Reply
      KA
      K. Arrows Author Jun 11, 2016

      Welcome

      Reply
    AE
    Aden Engel Sep 6, 2016

    Hi

    I have a user with a windows 7 pro sp1; and office 365; i have ran a full online repair, but i’m still unable to get access to the mail icon in control panel, also this seems to be blocking some applications from sending emails via outlook. please assist thank you

    Reply
      KA
      K. Arrows Author Sep 6, 2016

      Hold the Windows Key and Press R. Type outlook.exe and click OK and tell me what happens?

      Reply
        AE
        Aden Engel Sep 7, 2016

        Yes that opens outlook, all the office applications are working, however, the mail icon in control panel ; gives the error “the operating system is presently configured to run this application “; and i think this is causing other 3rd party applications not being able to send mails via outlook.

        Reply
          KA
          K. Arrows Author Sep 7, 2016

          From control panel -> uninstall a program -> run a repair on the office app.

    RU
    ruffecola Jun 21, 2017

    That was helpful. Thank you

    Reply
    DO
    David Okonkwo Jul 13, 2017

    I clicked the change but nothing came up

    Reply
      KA
      K. Arrows Author Jul 14, 2017

      You can uninstall it and then reinstall it. Which version of Office is it?

      Reply
        DO
        David Okonkwo Jul 14, 2017

        I succeeded in fixing it. I used Microsoft office 2013 fix to remove it cuz uninstall wasn’t even working, then installed office 2016 64bit. Thanks anyways

        Reply
          KA
          K. Arrows Author Jul 14, 2017

          Thank you for letting us know

          MP
          Mr.Penguin Apr 19, 2018

          Microsoft recommends using 32-bit office on both x86 and x64 systems unless you have a very specific reason to require 64-bit Office.

    SA
    sanguiseritmeus Feb 20, 2018

    I’ve tried this over and over again. Toast notifications just all of the sudden stop working for Outlook 2016, and I have to go through all of this BS sleuth investigative detective stuff over and over again to find out the cause, and the solutions, most of which just simply don’t work. This is an issue with Windows 10 not talking with Office 365 properly, and vice versa, and it is just getting old and frustrating.

    Reply
    NK
    Nijith khan Apr 1, 2018

    Hi i am nijith khan here, i am facing an issue regarding microsoft office where in it displays an error message when ever i try to open an downloaded .pxp file.
    Stating that the ‘operating system presently is not configured to run the application’.

    Reply
    BW
    Benjamin Wadeley Oct 11, 2018

    go to here: https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=update+1803

    and download the update from 10/9/2018 for either x86 or x64 respectively

    Has resolved the issue for virtual machines today

    Reply
    SG
    Sushim Gondhali Jul 17, 2019

    Thank you very much, solved my problem. Excel was not working.

    Reply
    VK
    Venkitachalam Kaushik Sep 2, 2019

    the problem the operating systems is not presently configred to run this appilaction plz help me t

    Reply
    SW
    Shane Warren Author Sep 5, 2019

    Install the latest 32-bit version of Office after uninstalling the previous one.

    Reply
    SW
    Shane Warren Author Sep 29, 2019

    If this solution didn’t fix the issue you can try to reinstall office and see if that helps

    Reply
    KD
    Kevin Dondrea Nov 6, 2019

    Thanks for confirming what I thought would help 🙂

    Reply
    SK
    Skynet Mar 19, 2020

    Thank you,
    this fix worked for me, on Office 2019 x64, but over the year from time to time it comes back. Pretty weird.

    Reply
    MV
    Manuel Martín-Vivaldi Aug 5, 2022

    Reinstalling didn´t work for me in .docx Office 2013 files for Windows 11.
    The only thing that worked was clicking on “Reset all default apps” at the bottom at the Apps/Default apps option in the Windows settings

    Reply