Why Is the Body of Emails Not Showing in Outlook? – Solved

Common Causes of Missing Email Body in Outlook

1. Corrupted Outlook Data Files (PST/OST): Outlook stores email data in PST (Personal Storage Table) or OST (Offline Storage Table) files. If these files become corrupted, it can result in the email body not displaying.
2. Outdated Outlook Version: Using an outdated version of Outlook may lead to bugs, including display issues.
3. Add-In Interference: Certain add-ins might conflict with the functionality of Outlook, preventing email content from rendering properly.
4. Display Settings and Zoom Levels: Incorrect display settings or an inappropriate zoom level in Outlook can cause rendering problems.
5. Antivirus or Firewall Restrictions: Some antivirus software or firewall settings can interfere with email content, treating it as suspicious and blocking it.
6. Issues with Cached Mode: Cached Exchange Mode, designed to speed up email access, can sometimes create synchronization issues leading to blank emails.
7. Damaged User Profile: A corrupted Outlook user profile might lead to irregular behavior, including missing email content.
8. Third-Party Software Conflicts: Other installed software, such as email filtering tools, might conflict with Outlook’s functionality.

How to Fix” body of email not showing in Outlook” Issues?

If you’ve opened Outlook only to find that the body of your emails is missing, it can be both confusing and frustrating. This issue can hinder productivity and disrupt communication. In this blog, we’ll explore the potential reasons behind this problem and offer detailed solutions—both manual and automated—to help you restore functionality to your email client.

Solutions to Fix Email Body Not Showing in Outlook

If the body of email not showing in Outlook, there are several manual troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the issue. Here are detailed steps to manually resolve this issue:

01: Update Outlook to the Latest Version

Keeping Outlook updated ensures you have the latest features, security updates, and performance improvements. Follow these steps to update Outlook to the latest version:

• Open the Outlook application on your computer.
• Click on the File tab located in the top-left corner of the application.
• Under the File menu, select Office Account or Account (depending on your Outlook version).
• Locate the Update Options dropdown under the Product Information section.
• Click Update Now from the dropdown. This will prompt Outlook to search for the latest updates.
• If updates are available, they will automatically download and install. Follow any on-screen prompts to complete the process.
• Once the update is complete, restart Outlook to apply the changes.

By following these steps, you can ensure your Outlook application is up-to-date and running smoothly. It will also help to resolve the error of “body of email not showing in Outlook”. 

02: Disable Faulty Add-ins

Faulty add-ins can sometimes cause issues with Outlook. Disabling them can help identify and resolve problems. Follow these steps to disable faulty add-ins in Outlook to fix the” body of email not showing in Outlook”:

• Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type outlook.exe/safe and press Enter.
• Go to the File menu and select Options.
• In the Options window, click on Add-ins from the left-hand menu.
• At the bottom of the Add-ins window, locate the Manage dropdown menu.
• Select COM Add-ins and click Go.
• In the COM Add-ins dialog box, uncheck the boxes next to the add-ins you suspect are causing issues.
• Click OK to save the changes.

Close Outlook and restart it in normal mode to check if the issue is resolved. If the problem persists, try disabling additional add-ins or removing the faulty ones permanently.

03: Turning Off Hardware Graphics Acceleration in Outlook

This process can help improve performance and resolve display issues caused by hardware acceleration. To disable hardware graphics acceleration in Microsoft Outlook, follow these steps to resolve the” body of email not showing in Outlook”:

• Start Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
• Click the File tab in the top-left corner.
• Select Options from the menu on the left side.
• In the Outlook Options window, click on Advanced from the menu on the left.
• Scroll to the Display section.
• Check the box that says Disable hardware graphics acceleration.
• Click OK to confirm your changes and close the Options window.
• Exit Outlook completely and reopen it for the new settings to take effect.

04: Recreate Outlook Profile

Recreating an Outlook profile can help resolve issues with email synchronization, errors, or corrupted profiles. Follow these steps to recreate an Outlook profile:

• Ensure that Outlook is completely closed before proceeding.
• Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type control and press Enter.
• Navigate to Mail (Microsoft Outlook) or Mail (32-bit).
• In the Mail Setup dialog box, click on the Show Profiles button.
• In the Mail Profiles window, click Add.
• Provide a name for the new profile (e.g., “New Outlook Profile“).
• After setting up the new profile, return to the Mail Profiles window.
• Under Always use this profile, select the newly created profile from the dropdown list.
• Open Outlook. It will now use the new profile.
• If necessary, import old emails, contacts, or calendar data from the previous profile using the Import/Export feature in Outlook.

Recreating the profile can eliminate many common Outlook issues of” body of email not showing in Outlook” to ensure smoother email functionality.

05: Verify the Font Color Configuration in Outlook

Setting the wrong font color, like using white for plain text emails, can make the text invisible or cause the email body to be missing. To resolve this issue of” body of email not showing in Outlook”, follow the steps below:

• Firstly, start Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
• Click on the “File” tab in the top-left corner of the screen.
• From the File menu, select “Options” at the bottom.
• In the Outlook Options window, click on “Mail” in the left pane.
• Scroll down to the “Compose messages” section and click on “Stationery and Fonts.”
• In the “Signatures and Stationery” dialog box, under the “Personal Stationery” tab, you can click “Theme” to change the theme or click “Font” to adjust the font settings, including color.
• Once you’ve chosen your desired font color, click “OK” to save your changes.

After following these steps, you can check and modify the font color settings in Outlook.

Also Read: Fix “Why Outlook Not Opening Windows 11 or 10” Error

06: Repair Corrupted Outlook Data Files (PST) – Scanpst.exe

 Repairing the PST file can help restore access to your emails and other data. This tool is included with Microsoft Outlook and can be found in the Outlook installation directory. 

• The location varies depending on the version of Outlook you’re using. Common paths include:
  • Outlook 2016/2019/Office 365: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\OfficeXX\ (where XX corresponds to your Office version).
  • Outlook 2013: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15\
• Double-click the scanpst.exe file to launch the Inbox Repair Tool.
• Click on the Browse button and navigate to the location of the corrupted PST file. Typically, PST files are stored in:
  • C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\
• Once you’ve found the PST file, select it and click Open.
• Click Start to begin scanning the PST file for errors. The tool will scan the file and report any issues.
• Once the scan is complete, the tool will display a summary of any errors found in the file. You will be given the option to repair them.
• If errors are found, click Repair to begin the repair process. This will attempt to fix the issues with the PST file.

After the repair is finished, you will receive a confirmation message. You can now open Outlook and check if the issue with the PST file is resolved. If the PST file is not repaired by the scanpst.exe then you can proceed with the PST Recovery Tool to fix the issue of “body of email not showing in Outlook”. 

Why Use PST Recovery Tool to Repair Corrupted Outlook Data Files (PST)  

To fix the corrupted pst file from the various issues, including the problem where the body of an email is not displaying. This issue often occurs due to PST file corruption, which can prevent Outlook from properly rendering the email content.

Benefits of using PST Repair for Outlook:

• Repairs corrupt PST files and restores complete data, including email bodies.
• Recovers deleted or inaccessible emails.
• Supports all versions of Microsoft Outlook.
• Batch recovery of multiple PST files at once.
• The preview feature allows users to view recovered emails before saving them.
• Provides a user-friendly interface for quick and effective repair.

This tool is an effective solution for users experiencing issues with missing email bodies in Outlook, ensuring that the integrity of email data is maintained and users can recover and access all their important messages.

Preventive Measures to Avoid Future Issues

• Regularly update Outlook and your operating system.
• Use a reliable antivirus program and configure it properly.
• Avoid installing unnecessary or unverified add-ins.
• Back up your Outlook data files periodically.
• Monitor your email server’s synchronization status.

Conclusion

The issue of email bodies not showing in Outlook can have multiple causes, but with the right approach, it is entirely solvable. Start with the manual solutions outlined above, and if the problem persists, consider a professional repair tool like PST Repair for Outlook. By following this reliable solution, you can ensure your email communication is back on track and running smoothly.