Outlook 2010 autocomplete clears the cache when exiting Outlook

I have a user whose autocomplete stopped working. Windows 7 x64 and Outlook 2010 x32.

I've tried Outlook.exe /CleanAutoCompleteCache (no luck)

I deleted the "RoamCache" folder under %AppData%\Local\Microsoft\Outlook and re-opened Outlook watched the RoamCache folder get re-created; however, the Stream_Autocomplete*.dat file is not getting created. I confirmed that "Use Auto-Complete List to suggest names..." is checked within > Options > Mail > Send messages settings.

Can someone help me find an answer to why the Stream_Autocomplete.dat file is not getting created, there are a number of other .dat files that get recreated?

May 5th, 2011 8:56pm

Hi,

When you start Microsoft Outlook 2010 for the first time, your nickname cache (stored in the profilename.nk2 file) is imported into a hidden message in your default message store

For example, if you are using a Microsoft Exchange account, the nickname cache is imported into a hidden message in the Exchange mailbox

Outlook 2010 does not use the .nk2 file for maintaining your nickname cache. All updates to your nickname cache in Outlook 2010 are made to the hidden message in your default message store

The nickname cache has been moved to the Exchange mailbox, which means that your auto-complete list will now roam with you to different machines. The nickname cache (.nk2 file in Outlook 2007) has been turned into an associated message of your Inbox folder. This lets the cache roam with your Exchange mailbox so that you have access to your cache on any client you use to access your mailbox

To address your issue please follow the below steps:

1. Delete the Roam Cache from location C:\Users\User Profile\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\RoamCache

2. Open Outlook. Go to File --> Options --> Mail --> Send Messages

4. Click "Empty Auto-Complete List"

5. Uncheck the option of "Use Auto-Complete List to suggest names"

6. Close Outlook and restart it again

7. Go to File --> Options --> Mail --> Send Messages

8. Check the option of "Use Auto-Complete List to suggest names"

9. Close Outlook and restart it again

10. Create a new email message and send it.

11. Close Outlook and restart.

12. Verify if the entry from Step 10 is available.

Regards,

Harveyy - MSFT

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May 6th, 2011 10:36pm

I had been looking for a solution for almost a week when I came across this thread.  Your solution was spot on!!  Thank you so much!!!

June 14th, 2011 4:29pm

We have tried the above solution but still no luck.  Everytime the user exits outlook, the email addresses no longer appear.  Any suggestions of what is causing this issue?
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August 9th, 2011 6:03pm

I have two Office 2010 users with this issue and 23 Office 2010 users that do not have the problem yet.  We use Exchange 2003

We used this solution to resolve and it worked.  However, the first user has reported his nicknames are gone again.  Only lasted 5 days.

Looking for a permanent solution. 

August 10th, 2011 6:58pm

Tried the above solution, but no such luck.  Also tried removing the user's email profile and recreating, doing a repair install of Office 2010, and even using a third party software to try and manually reloading the stream file.  Nothing has worked, and my user is totally frustrated.  Any suggestions?
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September 29th, 2011 7:24pm

This solution worked for me to fix the AutoComplete list being emptied when closing Outlook.

However, since my problem started with the list being emptied by Outlook (i have no idea why, all i know that I had an Office 2010 update last weekend):

is there a way to recover the entries that I originally had in my AutoComplete list?

 

Thanks,

Patrick.

November 15th, 2011 11:53pm

I am having the same issue and the solution does not resolve my issue.  Any thoughts?
  • Proposed as answer by Sal EA Tuesday, January 31, 2012 2:47 PM
  • Unproposed as answer by Sal EA Tuesday, January 31, 2012 2:47 PM
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January 30th, 2012 10:38pm

After deleting the file, I was going in, selecting an email address, and then closing out of the email without saving or sending the email.  This would temporarily create the nickname.  However, I found that unless an email is actually sent, the autocomplete file was not actually updating.  I sent myself a test email from the user's account, and the autocomplete file was updated.

I also created a user profile for this user on a loaner machine so he could continue to work while I was testing.  I setup his Outlook account there, and that file was able to update the nicknames stored on the server side.

Not sure which action fixed the issue, but I would try deleting the autocomplete file and sending a test email first.

Thanks,

Sal

  • Proposed as answer by Sal EA Tuesday, January 31, 2012 2:55 PM
January 31st, 2012 5:54pm

Thanks Harvey,

I had this problem on one of my companies machines.  I've had it on my to-do-list for three weeks and thanks to your solution it's crossed off.

Regards,

Jeff

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September 6th, 2013 7:17pm

Thanks a lot Harveyy - it resolves the issue.
January 8th, 2014 11:00pm

Hi,

There is a tool provided by MS to clear cache. i came across that tool in a blog, it worked for me. Hope it helps.

http://hackerhangout.blogspot.in/2015/02/clear-outlook-cache.html

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February 9th, 2015 8:52am

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