Office 365 Outlook asking to Save NormalEmail while closing

[RafathR]

We are a domain environment from the last week we started to received this Pop up in outlook it only appears at the time of closing Outlook, not at the opening.

Also, this pop up appears only for the New user profile created from the last 2 weeks. I created approximately 10 new users profiles everyone reporting the same issues.

User profile created before last 1 likes for the else 50 users this behavior not happening.

[umer]

here is the solution for it:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/outlook-2019-prompts-to-save-normalemaildotm-every/b93f7e8d-3246-4692-9ca2-ca279ab8f037

[digitalindialimited]

Hello,
I installed Office 2019 with admin account privileges (of course), but then I use a different standard account for launching Office applications. I think as a standard user, both Outlook and Word were looking for normalemail/normal.dotm in the location %appdata%/Microsoft/Templates, but neither file was there. So every time I closed Outlook or Word - it prompted to save the template - except it prompted to save in my Documents folder - not the %appdata%/Microsoft/Templates folder.

Once I figured this out, I let them save each in the standard user Templates folder … and now they no longer prompt to save each time they are closed.

[tjnihal]

Hi @RafathR,

Are you using any GPO setting to set any word or outlook template?. Make sure you or your team are not using any GPO for publishing templates or confirm they are following the proper location and policy to use that.

[RafathR]

Hi @tjnihal,

Thanks for the reply I just confirmed with the team it seems we are using GPO to deploy word template to certain team. I have asked to check move one of the effected user to the other team and see if he again gets the same error.

Thanks

[Alexa]

Understanding the Issue with ‘NormalEmail.dotm’ in Outlook:

The ‘NormalEmail.dotm’ file is a template file used by Outlook for formatting emails. When Outlook prompts to save changes to this file upon closing, it typically means that there have been changes or perceived changes to the default email template.

Possible Causes and Solutions for the error: NormalEmail.dotm

1. Template File Location and Accessibility:

   • Ensure that ‘NormalEmail.dotm’ is located in the correct directory. It should be in the user’s AppData folder under Roaming\Microsoft\Templates.
   • If using Group Policy Object (GPO) to deploy templates, verify that the GPO settings are correctly pointing to the accessible and correct location.
   • Create a new folder in the above location and name it “Templates” if not available.

2. Permissions Issue:

   • Check if the new user profiles have the necessary permissions to access and modify the ‘NormalEmail.dotm’ file. Lack of proper permissions could lead to Outlook thinking changes have been made, as it can’t access the file properly.

3. Add-ins Interference:

   • Outlook add-ins might be modifying the template unknowingly. Try disabling all add-ins and see if the problem persists. If it resolves, enable add-ins one by one to identify the culprit.

4. Corrupted Template File:

   • The ‘NormalEmail.dotm’ file might be corrupted. Try renaming or deleting it, and Outlook will create a new default template upon restart. This can often resolve issues related to template corruption.

5. Outlook Profile Issues:

   • Since the issue is only happening with new profiles, there might be a problem with how these profiles are being set up. Consider recreating a profile to see if it resolves the issue.

6. Check for Updates:

   • Make sure Outlook and Office 365 are up to date. Sometimes, bugs related to templates are fixed in updates.

7. Registry Edit (Advanced):

   • If you’re comfortable with editing the registry, you can look into the registry settings for Outlook templates. However, this should be done cautiously as incorrect changes can affect system stability.

Testing and Monitoring:

After implementing these solutions, monitor the behavior of Outlook on the affected profiles. If the problem persists, detailed logging and further analysis might be required, possibly involving Microsoft support if it seems to be an issue with the software itself.

By addressing these potential causes, you should be able to resolve the issue with ‘NormalEmail.dotm’ in Outlook for the new user profiles.

[Tarvis]

The solution given by @Alexa and other members is quite comprehensive and covers most of the common causes and fixes for the issue with NormalEmail.dotm in Outlook. However, here are a few additional steps and clarifications that might help further:

Additional Steps to Resolve the NormalEmail.dotm Issue

1. Check for Conflicting Software:
   • Sometimes, other software installed on the system can interfere with Outlook. Ensure that no other email-related software or plugins are causing conflicts.
2. Office Repair:
   • Running a repair on Office can sometimes resolve issues with Outlook. Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features, select Microsoft Office, and choose Change > Repair.
3. Outlook Safe Mode:
   • Start Outlook in Safe Mode to see if the issue persists. This can help determine if the problem is related to add-ins or other customizations. To start Outlook in Safe Mode, hold the Ctrl key while clicking the Outlook icon.
4. Template Customization:
   • If there are specific customizations in the NormalEmail.dotm file that need to be preserved, consider exporting these settings before deleting or recreating the template. This can be done through the File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts settings.
5. Group Policy Settings:
   • Double-check Group Policy settings related to Office and Outlook to ensure there are no policies that might be causing the issue. Sometimes, policies can enforce certain behaviors that lead to unexpected prompts.
6. User Profile Permissions:
   • Ensure that the user profiles have full control over the Templates folder and the NormalEmail.dotm file. This can be done by right-clicking the folder/file, selecting Properties, and adjusting the permissions under the Security tab.

Updated Summary of Solutions

1. Template File Location:
   • Verify the NormalEmail.dotm file is in the correct directory: C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates.
2. Permissions:
   • Ensure new user profiles have the necessary permissions to access and modify the NormalEmail.dotm file.
3. Add-ins:
   • Disable all add-ins and re-enable them one by one to identify any that might be causing the issue.
4. Corrupted Template:
   • Rename or delete the NormalEmail.dotm file to allow Outlook to create a new one.
5. Outlook Profile:
   • Recreate the Outlook profile if the issue persists with new profiles.
6. Updates:
   • Ensure Outlook and Office 365 are up to date.
7. Registry Edit:
   • Edit the registry settings for Outlook templates if comfortable, but proceed with caution.
8. Conflicting Software:
   • Check for and resolve any software conflicts.
9. Office Repair:
   • Run a repair on Office through the Control Panel.
10. Outlook Safe Mode:
    • Start Outlook in Safe Mode to troubleshoot add-ins and customizations.
11. Template Customization:
    • Export and reapply any necessary customizations to the new template file.
12. Group Policy Settings:
    • Review and adjust Group Policy settings related to Office and Outlook.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue with NormalEmail.dotm in Outlook for new user profiles. If the problem persists, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance.