Microsoft Teams and Outlook Fail to Launch on ARM‑Based Windows PCs

Why ARM Devices Are Hit Harder

A recent update to Windows has caused Microsoft Teams and the new Outlook app to crash or fail to start on devices powered by ARM processors. The problem surfaced after the August 2026 Patch Tuesday releases and has been reported by users across various ARM‑based laptops and tablets.

Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and is actively working on a fix. The company stated that the crash occurs during the initial launch sequence of both applications, often resulting in a blank screen or an error message that prevents users from accessing their work tools. The glitch appears to affect only ARM‑based Windows devices, leaving Intel and AMD machines unaffected.

What Users Can Do While Waiting

ARM processors use a different architecture than traditional x86 chips, which can lead to compatibility challenges when software is updated. The August 2026 updates introduced new security and performance patches that inadvertently disrupted the integration layer between Windows and the Office suite on ARM devices. As a result, Teams and Outlook lose their ability to load essential components, causing the applications to terminate unexpectedly.

Microsoft’s engineering team has identified the root cause as a conflict between the updated Windows kernel and the ARM‑specific runtime libraries used by Office. The company is rolling out a targeted patch that re‑aligns these libraries with the new kernel version. Users are advised to postpone installing any further updates until the fix is released.

How This Affects Productivity

In the interim, users can try a few workarounds. Restarting the computer often clears temporary files that may trigger the crash. Disabling the „Start with Windows” option for Teams and Outlook can also prevent the apps from launching automatically, reducing the chance of a failure. If the problem persists, uninstalling and reinstalling the applications from the Microsoft Store may reset the configuration and restore functionality.

IT administrators are encouraged to monitor the official Microsoft support pages for a scheduled rollout of the corrective update. They can also use the „Windows Update” settings to defer updates for a short period, ensuring that critical business workflows remain uninterrupted.

Frequently Asked Questions

The inability to launch Teams and Outlook hampers communication and email management for many professionals. Teams is a primary collaboration platform for remote work, while Outlook remains the cornerstone of corporate email. The disruption could lead to missed meetings, delayed responses, and a general slowdown in daily operations. Companies that rely heavily on these tools may need to temporarily switch to alternative services or revert to older versions of the software until the patch arrives.

Microsoft has pledged to release a fix within the next few days. Once deployed, the update will automatically resolve the launch failures on all affected ARM devices. Users should keep their systems up to date and monitor for the new release to restore normal functionality.