Outlook users frustrated by calendar event glitch, but there's a workaround

Microsoft Outlook users have been riding a wave of issues lately, from crashes when opening more than 60 emails and setup bugs on iOS and Windows to file attachment woes on Mac and a relentless feedback pop-up. Just as users were adjusting to these quirks, another bug has reared its head, affecting one of the most fundamental features: adding calendar events.

Many users across various platforms and regions are currently unable to save new events in their Outlook calendars, encountering the dreaded message: “Something went wrong. We couldn’t save your calendar event. Waiting a bit might help.” This cryptic error has left users waiting “a bit” for days, with no solution in sight. It’s not just new events that are problematic — deleting and editing existing ones seem to trigger similar error messages, making daily event scheduling a challenging task.

This issue seems to have started after recent updates, which many speculate could be at the root of the problem. Some users report that while events can still be created on mobile devices or older versions of Outlook, the new Outlook interface on desktop is completely uncooperative. Others suggest the glitch might be tied to non-Microsoft email accounts in Outlook, and switching to a Microsoft-based email temporarily restores functionality. For users trying to keep a smooth workflow, these workarounds are far from ideal.

Luckily, Microsoft support has acknowledged the problem in community forums, noting it as a known issue and promising a fix soon.

This is a known issue that has been reported to the community by a large number of users recently. We are collecting information from users and investigating this issue.

They’ve even offered a workaround that, while somewhat convoluted, has helped some users. The suggested method involves creating a Microsoft domain email (such as @outlook.com), setting it as the primary account in the New Outlook, and using this account to manage non-Microsoft calendars. This “primary account” hack has had mixed success, though it may provide a temporary reprieve for those desperate to regain control over their calendars.

Meanwhile, frustrated users have found a few more DIY workarounds. Some are syncing Google Calendar with Outlook to manage events — though, unfortunately, updates only seem to flow one way. Others have reported success by switching back to the old Outlook interface or using the mobile app where calendar entries still work as expected. For some, even removing the calendar from the taskbar has helped restore functionality.

For now, affected users are encouraged to report their issues directly to Microsoft through the “Help” and “Feedback” sections in Outlook. As of yet, no timeline for a permanent fix has been given, but Microsoft’s team is reportedly working to address the issue.

In the midst of these calendar frustrations, Microsoft has recently announced exciting new AI-powered enhancements through Copilot and customizable themes.