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5 Quick Ways to Fix Outlook Couldn’t Set up Your Account
Check out tested solutions that worked for all
6 min. read
Updated onFebruary 19, 2024
updated onFebruary 19, 2024
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Windows users reported experiencing a frustrating issue with Outlook recently. When trying to connect theiremailto the app, theerrormessageSomething went wrong and Outlook couldn’t set up your accountshowed up.
The error can be encountered after making specific changes to Outlook or out of the blue, and users usually have no clue about solving it.
If you came across theSomething went wrong and Outlook couldn’t set up accounterror on Office 365, here’s all you need to know and the solutions that would get things up and running.
Why does theOutlook couldn’t set up accountmessage appear?
The issue usually arises whenAutodiscover, a process employed by Outlook, receives an unexpected result. Also, your firewall or third-party antivirus may conflict with Outlook’s connection attempt, thus leading to the error.
Besides, as discussed earlier, making changes to the account can cause an error to appear. For instance, many saw theSomething went wrong and Outlook couldn’t set up your accountmessage after enabling MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication).
How can I fix theSomething went wrong and Outlook couldn’t set up accounterror?
1. Create a profile through the Control Panel
The first thing that you should do is add a mail profile to the system. This will make the system recognize it as an administrator and help you log into Outlook.
Once done, verify if you still see theSomething went wrong and Outlook couldn’t set up your accountmessage when trying with an Exchange account.
2. Tweak your Registry
Sometimes, your DNS might be broken, causing theSomething went wrong and Outlook couldn’t set up your accounterror.
Fixing this issue requires you to make a few registry changes. Be careful when making these, as incorrect settings could cause severe system damage. Follow the steps here as it is to be on the safe side.
3. Disable Windows Firewall
Sometimes,Windows Defender Firewall blocks certain appsfrom accessing the Internet. In which case, you can disable it and verify if the Outlook 2016 Office 365Something went wrong and Outlook couldn’t set up your accounterror is fixed.
4. Turn off your antivirus
Just like in the case of the Windows Defender Firewall, your third-party antivirus software could restrict certain apps from accessing the Internet. Open the antivirus, find the option to disable it, and check to see if this fixed the issue.
If it doesn’t work, turn the antivirus back on to avoid potential malware attacks. But, in case it did, the problem lies with the antivirus itself. Here, we recommend firstuninstalling the program, you can easily useCCleanerto clean up, and then choosing aneffective and reliable antivirusfor your PC.
5. Run the troubleshooter
That’s it! If the previous methods didn’t work, running the troubleshooter would fix theSomething went wrong, check your account info, try again, or contact your IT admin.
How can I fix theSomething went wrong and Outlook couldn’t set up accounton Windows 11?
If you are encountering the error in Windows 11, we would first recommend trying the solutions listed in the previous section since these are the same for both iterations of the OS.
Now, first things first! Most users reported theSomething went wrong and Outlook couldn’t set up your accounterror after enabling 2FA. And the best solution is to disable it for the time being while you set up the account, and after it’s done, re-enable the feature.
Also, check for DNS entries you are unaware of; if any are found, remove them. Besides, if nothing else work, try disabling IPv6.
How do I add email accounts to Outlook?
Adding an email account to Outlook in Windows 11 is pretty simple the first time. Then, on launching the app, you would be asked to provide the login credentials and complete the authentication if required, and things should be up and running.
Things aren’t difficult here for those who already have it set up and want to add multiple accounts to Outlook. Head to the File menu, clickAdd account, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
By the time you reach this part of the guide, theSomething went wrong and Outlook couldn’t set up your accounterror should be gone for good.
Also, find out how tocheck rules in Outlook. If the problem persists, you might have to uninstall anddownload Outlook for Windows 11again.
If you find any other working solutions, please share them in the comment section below.
Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer.
She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies – AI and DNA computing in particular.
Prior to joining the WindowsReport team, she worked in the corporate world for a number of years.
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Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina is a Windows fan since forever, especially interested in AI, emerging technologies, privacy, and security.
