Fixed: Cannot open your default e-mail folders. You must connect to Microsoft Exchange with the current profile before you can synchronize your folders with your Outlook data file (.ost)

Cannot open default email folder error is one of the most occurring error that an Outlook user face, which usually occurs whenever you try to connect with Exchange server. And the worst part is that Outlook doesn’t work but you still can access your inbox using OWA account. It means all the settings are working appropriately; whether it is Active Directory account, Exchange account, and mail profile setup. So what’s wrong with it?

 

Probably, the issue is related with MS Outlook settings. It might be possible that your current Outlook profile is not a member in Exchange Server Active Directory. 

The long story in short, you need to notify the MAPI profile to prompt for your login credentials, so that your profile gets authorized by Exchange Server correctly.

To resolve this issue, you need to change MAPI setting in control panel.

Navigate through Start -> Control Panel -> Mail

Select the 'Show Profiles…' option in Menu Setup window.

Select the displayed MAPI profile and click to 'Properties'.

Click Email Accounts…

 

 Select your Exchange account and click Change… under Email tab.

Check the Exchange server name and User Name, and make sure that 'Use Cached Exchange Mode' is checked. Click on More Settings…

Now verify that 'Always prompt for logon credentials' option is checked as shown in the below shot.

Apply the settings and click OK. So the next time when you start your Outlook account with Exchange profile, it will ask you to provide your domain\Username credentials. Just enter the required details and Exchange server will authenticate your Outlook profile.

So this is the very first fix to resolve the issue which usually works in most of the cases However, there is lot of other solutions too that you may try to resolve 'you must connect to Microsoft exchange with the current profile before you can synchronize' error.

Another major cause of the error could be the OST file corruption. That’s why Exchange server couldn’t authenticate your profile. So if you have setup the email profile as described above but still the issue is not resolved; probably the problem is with OST file. You only need to repair the corrupt OST file using Stellar OST to PST Converter software, and save the data in PST format. Now you can import this PST in your Outlook profile, as it is the easiest way to resolve this Outlook error. 

Along with this solution, you may also give few other recommended methods a try-

·         Navigate through: Exchange Server -> Services. Check that 'Microsoft Exchange RPC Client Services' is started or not. In case if it is already started, restart it again.

·         Also verify that 'Microsoft Exchange Information Store' service is running in your server.

·         You may also give another weird solution a try! Open your profile using OWA and then start Outlook. In some cases the solution works like a charm!

So these are few other solutions to fix 'Cannot open your default e-mail folders'. But before using the above suggestions, make sure that OST file is not corrupted. Because the corruption in the OST file cannot be fixed any manual solution. All you need to repair Outlook OST file using Outlook OST repair software (http://www.stellarservertools.com/ost-pst-converter.php) and lets the Exchange server connect with your working Outlook profile.

So the next time if you face the error, you know what‘s the quick solution to fix the error. 

If the issue still persists, please let me know in the comment box.

Thanks,