Have you recently updated to Outlook for Mac version 16.110 (Build 26061317) only to find that your email history has vanished? A frustrating new bug is causing original email threads and conversation history to disappear whenever users reply to or forward messages. This “stripped” email history issue is disrupting workflows for professionals who rely on message context for their daily communications.
In this guide, we’ll explain why this Outlook bug is happening, how to verify if your version is affected, and provide a step-by-step tutorial on how to downgrade Outlook for Mac to a stable version to restore your missing email threads.
The Problem: Missing Email History in Outlook 16.110
Following the latest update, many users report that clicking “Reply” or “Forward” opens a completely blank compose window. Instead of the expected conversation history, the previous message content is missing entirely. This critical bug prevents users from maintaining an audit trail or providing context in long email chains.
Microsoft community moderators have acknowledged the issue, confirming it is specific to Build 26061317. Until an official patch (likely version 16.110.1 or higher) is released, a manual rollback is the most reliable way to fix missing email history.
How to Check Your Outlook for Mac Version
This bug primarily impacts users on the 16.110 release. To see if your installation is the culprit, follow these steps:
- Launch Outlook on your Mac.
- Click the Outlook menu in the top navigation bar.
- Select About Outlook.
- Check for Version 16.110 (Build 26061317).
Step-by-Step Fix: Downgrade Outlook to Version 16.109.3
To restore your conversation history, you need to revert to the previous stable build, version 16.109.3. Follow these steps carefully:
Step 1: Uninstall the Current Version
Quit Outlook. Open your Applications folder and drag the Microsoft Outlook app to the Trash. Don’t worry: This action will not delete your emails, accounts, or settings, as those are stored in your User Library (Group Containers).
Step 2: Download the Stable Installer
Go to the official Microsoft Office for Mac Update History page. Find the October 2024 Release (Version 16.109.3) and download the standalone “Outlook” PKG installer.
Step 3: Install and Disable Auto-Updates
Run the .pkg installer. Once reinstalled, open Outlook. To prevent the bug from returning immediately, you must disable automatic updates:
- Navigate to Help > Check for Updates.
- Uncheck the box: “Automatically keep Microsoft apps up to date.”
Step 4: Verify the Fix
Open any email and click “Reply.” Your original message thread and history should now appear correctly in the compose window.
Temporary Workarounds (No Downgrade Required)
If you lack administrative permissions to install software, try these alternatives:
- Use Outlook Web Access (OWA): Log in via outlook.office.com. The web version is unaffected by this Mac client bug.
- Manual Copy-Paste: Manually copy the text from the original email and paste it into your reply.
- Attach Original Item: Use the “Attach Item” feature to include the original email as an attachment to maintain context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will downgrading Outlook delete my emails?
No. Your local database and settings are stored safely in the ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/Outlook folder. Deleting the app does not touch this data.
When will Microsoft release a fix?
Microsoft is currently working on a patch. We recommend keeping Auto-Updates disabled until the community confirms that version 16.110.1 or later has resolved the issue.
