How to Fix Outlook Error Code 17199 in Microsoft Outlook 2011 for Mac

Ritu Roy | fix how to mac os outlook error outlook for mac software technology | 5 minutes read | Modified on: 28-05-2025
Fix Mac Outlook Error Code 17199

If you’re using Microsoft Outlook 2011 for Mac and encounter the error message: “A message in your Outlook could not be sent. The account which created the message could not be found. Outlook Error code 17199”, don’t worry. This error typically occurs when Outlook cannot locate the email account associated with a specific outgoing message. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through several effective methods to resolve this issue and get your email flowing smoothly again.

Understanding Outlook Error Code 17199 on Mac

Outlook Error Code 17199 is a frequently encountered issue for users of Outlook for Mac 2011 and newer versions. This error typically appears when Outlook fails to send an email, preventing users from successfully delivering messages through their accounts.

The error message usually displays as:”A message in your Outlook could not be sent. The account which created the message could not be found.

An error has occurred (-17199).”

This error indicates that Outlook is unable to recognize or connect with the email account associated with the outgoing message, often disrupting normal email operations.

What Causes Outlook Error Code 17199 on Mac?

Before we dive into the solutions, it’s important to understand what leads to Error 17199 in Outlook for Mac. This error often stems from issues with certain database files that Outlook creates when you set up an account.

For example, Outlook for Mac 2011 generates several OLK database files that store different types of information:

  • OLK14MESSAGE – Contains email header details.
  • OLK14MSGSOURCE – Holds the main content of emails.
  • OLK14CATEGORY – Keeps track of categorized items.
  • OLK14EVENT – Stores calendar event details such as dates, guests, and locations.
  • OLK14CONTACT – Manages your contact information, including emails, phone numbers, and addresses.
  • OLK14SIGNATURE – Saves HTML signatures used in your Outlook profile.
  • OLK14MAILACCOUNT – Contains your email account configuration and login credentials.

Error 17199 typically occurs when the OLK14MAILACCOUNT file becomes corrupted or damaged. When this happens, Outlook is unable to properly connect to the mail server, which stops email messages from being sent.

Several factors can lead to the corruption of OLK files, including:

  • Unexpected system shutdowns
  • Malware or virus infections
  • Issues with the storage drive
  • Network interruptions or failures

Understanding these causes helps you take the right steps toward resolving the issue, which we’ll explore next.

How to Resolve Outlook Error Code 17199 on Mac

If you’re encountering Outlook Error Code 17199 on your Mac, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve the issue. However, before diving into the fixes, it’s highly recommended to back up your emails by exporting them to an OLM file. This ensures your data is safe in case you need to recreate your Outlook profile.

Read More – How to Find OLM File Location

Step 1: Back Up Your Outlook Emails

To export your emails to an OLM file:

  1. Open Outlook, and go to Tools > Export.
  2. Select the items you want to export and click Continue.
  3. Choose a destination to save the OLM file and click Save.
  4. Your emails will be saved in the selected location.

Step 2: Check Your Network Connection

A poor or inactive internet connection can prevent Outlook from sending emails. To verify:

  • Open a browser and log into your email account through the web interface.
  • If you can successfully sign in and send emails from there, the problem likely lies within Outlook and not your network.

Step 3: Review Account Settings

Outlook may throw error 17199 if your password has been changed, expired, or entered incorrectly.

To update your account credentials in Outlook:

  1. Open Outlook for Mac and go to Preferences > Accounts.
  2. Select your email account and click on Advanced Settings.
  3. Navigate to the Security tab and update your login information.

Step 4: Create a New Outlook Profile or Identity

If the above steps don’t resolve the issue, your Outlook profile or identity might be corrupted. Creating a new one can often fix error 17199.

For Outlook for Mac 2011:

Outlook 2011 uses identities. Here’s how to repair or replace a damaged identity:

  1. Open Finder, then navigate to:
    /Applications/Microsoft Office 2011/Office/
  2. Launch Microsoft Database Utility.
  3. Try renaming your current identity to refresh the settings.
  4. If that fails, click the Add (+) button to create a new identity.
  5. Configure your email account in the new identity and check if email sending works.
  6. If successful, return to the Database Utility and delete the old, corrupted identity.

For Outlook for Mac 2016 and Later:

These versions use profiles instead of identities. Use Outlook Profile Manager to manage them:

  1. Open Finder and go to Applications.
  2. Right-click on Microsoft Outlook, then choose Show Package Contents.
  3. Navigate to:
    Contents > SharedSupport
  4. Open Outlook Profile Manager.
  5. Try editing the existing profile by selecting Rename a profile.
  6. If the issue persists, click Create a new profile (+).
  7. Set up your email account under this new profile and set it as default.
  8. Once configured, Outlook should be able to send emails without showing error 17199.

Following these steps should help you resolve the error and restore full functionality to your Outlook for Mac client. If problems persist, you may consider reinstalling Outlook or contacting support for further assistance.

Final Thoughts

Once you’ve resolved the Outlook error code 17199, take a moment to review your mailbox. You might notice that some emails or other items are missing. If you previously created a backup in OLM format, you can easily restore these items by importing the OLM file into your new Outlook for Mac profile.

However, if you need to access the OLM data on a different platform such as Outlook for Windows, Office 365, or Exchange, you’ll need to convert the OLM file into PST format first. This is because Outlook for Windows and other Microsoft services do not support OLM files directly.

To do this, you can use a reliable OLM to PST Converter tool like MacArmy OLM Converter. This software allows you to convert OLM files into PST format while preserving the original structure and content of your emails. Once the conversion is complete, the PST file can be imported into:

Using a trusted converter ensures data accuracy and helps maintain the integrity of your mailbox across different platforms.