Resolving the ‘Verifying Microsoft Outlook’ Stuck Issue on Mac

Microsoft Outlook may become unresponsive and display the ‘Verifying Microsoft Outlook’ message due to issues with app verification by CoreServicesUIAgent. This problem often arises when the background verification process fails to complete successfully, leading to the persistent appearance of the verification message.

CoreServicesUIAgent is a part of the Gatekeeper application that essentially runs to prevent unwanted programs from running on your device. Its primary function is to prevent unwanted or potentially harmful programs from running on your Mac. In this article, we will be providing numerous easy solutions that you can use to get around the problem. 

1. Force Close Microsoft Outlook

When encountering the verifying Microsoft Outlook pop-up, the first step is to force close the application. Restarting the app can often resolve issues related to startup glitches. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Launchpad and search for ‘Activity Monitor.’

   

2. In the Activity Monitor, locate ‘Microsoft Outlook’ in the list and click the ‘Stop’ icon at the top.

   

3. Confirm the action by clicking ‘Force Quit.‘
4. Now, relaunch Microsoft Outlook to see if the issue persists.

2. Restart CoreServicesUIAgent Process

Sometimes, the CoreServicesUIAgent process may become unresponsive, preventing the verification process from proceeding. This issue is typically related to the Gatekeeper software. Restarting the CoreServicesUIAgent process can often resolve this problem:

1. First, open the Launchpad and open the Activity Monitor.

   

2. From the list, look for coreservicesuiagent and highlight it.
3. Click the Stop icon at the top.
4. Finally, click Force Quit. 
5. Now, open Microsoft Outlook which will restart the CoreServicesUIAgent process for verification.
6. See if the problem persists. 

3. Restart Mac

Restarting your Mac can help resolve the ‘Verifying Microsoft Outlook’ issue by clearing temporary memory and eliminating inconsistencies that might interfere with system processes. Here’s how to restart your Mac:

1. First, open the Apple menu by clicking the Apple icon.
2. Then, select the Restart option.

   

3. After that, untick the Reopen windows when logging back in option and click Restart.

   

4. Once your device boots up, see if the problem is still there. 

4. Allow Full Disk Access to Outlook

If Microsoft Outlook lacks the necessary permissions on your Mac, it won’t start correctly and may get stuck during verification. To address this, adjust your Mac’s security and privacy settings to grant Outlook Full Disk Access:

1. First, click on the Apple menu and select System Settings.

   

2. After that, navigate to Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access.

   

3. Look for Microsoft Outlook in the list and click the toggle to enable Full Disk Access.
4. If you cannot find Microsoft Outlook in the list, open a Finder window and navigate to the Applications tab.

   

5. Drag and drop Microsoft Outlook from the Applications window to the Full Disk Access menu.
6. After that, confirm the action by providing your password.
7. Finally, enable Full Disk Access by using the toggle for Microsoft Outlook.
8. Open Microsoft Outlook and see if the pop-up still gets stuck. 

5. Verify Outlook with Gatekeeper

If you’re facing the ‘Verifying Microsoft Outlook’ issue when launching the application for the first time after installation, you may need to manually confirm the application with Gatekeeper. This is a standard security measure for apps downloaded from sources other than the App Store:

1. Find ‘Microsoft Outlook’ under the ‘Applications’ tab in the Finder window.
2. Right-click to open it and confirm the verification process.

6. Temporarily Disable Gatekeeper

f the problem persists even after using the suggested methods, temporarily disabling Gatekeeper on your Mac might be necessary.

To disable Gatekeeper:

1. First, open the Launchpad and search for Terminal. Open it up.
2. Then, type in the following command in the Terminal and press Enter:

   sudo spctl –master-disable

   

3. Close the Terminal window. 
4. Open Microsoft Outlook and you should be good to go.

Note: You can re-enable Gatekeeper by running the following command in the Terminal window:

sudo spctl —master-enable

7. Update MacOS

In some cases, an app verification bug with macOS itself can cause problems. Make sure you’re running the latest operating system version, as these issues are typically resolved in subsequent system software patches:

To update your Mac, follow the instructions below:

1. First, open the System Settings app from the Apple menu.

   

2. Then, navigate to General > Software Update.

   

3. After that, click the Update Now option to download and install any available updates.

   

4. Once done, check if the problem occurs. 

8. Reinstall Microsoft Outlook

The “Verifying Microsoft Outlook” issue can sometimes occur due to issues with program updates or a faulty initial installation. To address this, you should consider reinstalling the application:

To reinstall Microsoft Outlook on your Mac, follow the instructions below:

1. First, open the Finder window and navigate to Applications. 
2. Then, right-click on Microsoft Outlook and select the Move to Bin option.

   

3. Once you have removed it from your system, download the Office installer from the official website and run it on your system.
4. After Outlook has been installed, see if the problem persists. 

9. Use Microsoft Outlook from the App Store

If none of the previously mentioned methods resolve the ‘Verifying Microsoft Outlook’ message, consider installing Microsoft Outlook from an alternative source. Rather than downloading the package file from the official website, use the Apple App Store on your Mac to install Microsoft Outlook.

This bypasses verification checks, as it originates directly from the App Store. Microsoft Outlook is available as an individual option within the Apple App Store:

1. First, remove Microsoft Outlook from your system by navigating to the Applications tab in the Finder window.
2. Then, right-click on Microsoft Outlook and select Move to Bin.

   

3. After that, open the App Store on your Mac.
4. Search for Microsoft Outlook and click the Get option.

   

5. Once you do that, click the Install option to install it on your device.
6. After it has been installed, open it up and sign in to your Microsoft account when prompted.