Answered

Power Automate Desktop fails to launch Outlook

(0) Share

Report

Posted on by jackhart6376

If Outlook is already open, the flow will run with no issue. But if Outlook is close I get the error "Problem while executing action 'Launch'. Failed to launch Outlook." I need this flow to run unattended. I have tried uninstalling and then reinstalling Power Automate, and that will work one time and then it continues to fail. Any help would be much appreciated.

Categories:

Power Automate Desktop

I have the same question (0)

All responses (9)

Answers (1)

Sort by

Nived_Nambiar 18,138 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Hi @jackhart6376

You said that it works for one time and rest all times it failed, so one question does outlook was closed using close outlook actions ?

Also do check whether the outlook process is running in task manager , if yes kill the process and run the flow again , see whether that works ?

Thanks & Regards,
Nived N 🚀

LinkedIn: Nived N's LinkedIn
YouTube: Nived N's YouTube Channel

🔍 Found my answer helpful? Please consider marking it as the solution!
Your appreciation keeps me motivated. Thank you! 🙌

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
jackhart6376 9 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

I do use a close outlook action. Outlook isn't open and it doesn't say it is running in the task manager either

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Nived_Nambiar 18,138 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Hi @jackhart6376

Could you share more details on the error , i.e complete error message ?

Thanks & Regards,
Nived N 🚀

LinkedIn: Nived N's LinkedIn
YouTube: Nived N's YouTube Channel

🔍 Found my answer helpful? Please consider marking it as the solution!
Your appreciation keeps me motivated. Thank you! 🙌

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Agnius Bartninkas Most Valuable Professional on at

Like (1)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Which version of Outlook are you using? Is it an O365 Outlook? Have you enabled the "New look" of Outlook?

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
jackhart6376 9 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Here is the error I receive.

Problem while executing action 'Launch'. Failed to launch Outlook

Microsoft.PowerPlatform.PowerAutomate.Desktop.Actions.SDK.ActionException: Failed to launch Outlook ---> System.Reflection.TargetInvocationException: Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation. ---> System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException: The operation failed.
--- End of inner exception stack trace ---
at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.Outlook.Actions.OutlookActions.LaunchOutlook(Variant& outlookInstance)
--- End of inner exception stack trace ---
at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.Outlook.Actions.LaunchOutlook.Execute(ActionContext context)
at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Robin.Engine.Execution.ActionRunner.Run(IActionStatement statement, Dictionary`2 inputArguments, Dictionary`2 outputArguments)

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
jackhart6376 9 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

It is version 2308. It's Office 365, and I am not using the new look

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Verified answer

Agnius Bartninkas Most Valuable Professional on at

Like (1)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Which version of PAD are you on? Have you tried reporting a bug to MS support? It seems like the way to go. Not sure if there is anything else we can help you with.

Of course, you could do a workaround where you launch Outlook via the Run application action and then use Launch Outlook to create an instance. This would make it work, because Outlook would always be running when you use Launch Outlook. But that is still a workaround to a situation that should not really occur. So, I would still recommend reporting it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
If I have answered your question, please mark it as the preferred solution. If you like my response, please give it a Thumbs Up.

I also provide paid consultancy and development services using Power Automate. If you're interested, DM me and we can discuss it.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
OrangeSoSweet 8 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

I'm having a similar issue, but it appears to be related to the lates update of PAD:
My flow ran before, now it fails on the Launch Outlook step:

Correlation Id: b5804902-7ccd-41a3-85d8-6f318248bb41
Retrieving the COM class factory for component with CLSID {0006F03A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046} failed due to the following error: 80080005 Server execution failed (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80080005 (CO_E_SERVER_EXEC_FAILURE)).: Microsoft.PowerPlatform.PowerAutomate.Desktop.Actions.SDK.ActionException: Failed to launch Outlook ---> System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException: Retrieving the COM class factory for component with CLSID {0006F03A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046} failed due to the following error: 80080005 Server execution failed (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80080005 (CO_E_SERVER_EXEC_FAILURE)).
at System.Runtime.Remoting.RemotingServices.AllocateUninitializedObject(RuntimeType objectType)
at System.Runtime.Remoting.Activation.ActivationServices.CreateInstance(RuntimeType serverType)
at System.Runtime.Remoting.Activation.ActivationServices.IsCurrentContextOK(RuntimeType serverType, Object[] props, Boolean bNewObj)
at System.RuntimeTypeHandle.CreateInstance(RuntimeType type, Boolean publicOnly, Boolean noCheck, Boolean& canBeCached, RuntimeMethodHandleInternal& ctor, Boolean& bNeedSecurityCheck)
at System.RuntimeType.CreateInstanceSlow(Boolean publicOnly, Boolean skipCheckThis, Boolean fillCache, StackCrawlMark& stackMark)
at System.Activator.CreateInstance(Type type, Boolean nonPublic)
at System.Activator.CreateInstance(Type type)
at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.Outlook.Actions.OutlookActions.LaunchOutlook(Variant& outlookInstance)
--- End of inner exception stack trace ---
at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.Outlook.Actions.LaunchOutlook.Execute(ActionContext context)
at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Robin.Engine.Execution.ActionRunner.Run(IActionStatement statement, Dictionary`2 inputArguments, Dictionary`2 outputArguments)

Outlook is part of 365:

I tried in the flow to close Outlook then re-launch, but that didn't work. I am developing this flow to distribute to several of my collogues, but I can't have each of them closing their desktop Outlook to make this work.

I will be reporting this as a bug ASAP.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
babenskaitep 4 on at

Like (1)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Dėstytojau,
Sėdžiu su šita problema vidury nakties prie projekto jūsų paskaitai ir Jūsų pasiūlytas sprendimo būdas neveikia:(

Was this reply helpful? Yes No