Collapse imagePROBLEM

When you try to remove a calendar item like a meeting request, a reminder, or an email message in Microsoft Outlook in Microsoft Office 365, you can't remove it. Additionally, if you try to remove a meeting request, you may receive an error message like the following:

This meeting cannot be removed because you are the meeting organizer.

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Collapse imageSOLUTION

To fix this issue, use one or more of the following methods. Try Method 1 first. If that doesn't fix the issue, try the next method. 

Recommended method

Method 1: Delete the meeting by using Outlook Web App

Try to delete the item in Outlook Web App. If you can't delete it in Outlook Web App, go to the next method.

Note If you can't complete a task in Outlook, but you can complete it in Outlook Web App, it sometimes means that Outlook has to be updated.

Additional methods

Method 2: Delete the message by running Outlook commands

Depending on the kind of item that you're trying to remove, you can use the following command line switches to remove the item. Before you run any of these switches, exit Outlook.

  • Click Start, type outlook /cleanreminders in the search box, and then press Enter.
  • Click Start, type outlook /cleandmrecords in the search box, and then press Enter.
  • Click Start, type outlook /cleanfreebusy in the search box, and then press Enter.
  • Click Start, type outlook /cleanprofile in the search box, and then press Enter. 

    Note The /cleanfreebusy and the /cleanprofile switches aren't available in Outlook 2013.

After you run the applicable switches, try to delete the message again.

Method 3: Delete the message after you edit it

  1. In Outlook, double-click the email message.
  2. n the message ribbon, in the Move group, click Actions, and then click Edit Message.
  3. Remove some characters from the message, or add characters to it.
  4. Click File, and then save the message.
  5. Try to delete the message again.

Method 4: Empty the Deleted Items folder

In Outlook, delete all items that are in the Deleted Items folder, and then try to delete the meeting request or message.

Method 5: Delete the meeting reminders by using the MFCMAPI editor

These steps help you remove a meeting reminder that still appears even though the original meeting was removed. This typically occurs if the meeting reminder is corrupted. 

Note Although the MFCMAPI editor is supported by Exchange Online, use caution when you make changes to mailboxes by using this tool. Using the MFCMAPI editor incorrectly can cause permanent damage to a mailbox.

Note The exact steps may vary, depending on the version of MFCMAPI that you're using.

  1. Install MFCMAPI editor. It's available from the following Microsoft CodePlex MFCMAPI website:

  2. In Outlook, click the Send/Receive tab.
  3. n the Preferences group, click Work Offline, and then exit Outlook.
  4. Double-click the MFCMapi.exe file to start the MFCMAPI editor.
  5. On the Session menu, click Logon and Display Store Table. 

    A screen shot of MFCMAPI x86 Build windows, showing the Sessio tab and Logon and Display Store Table option
  6. Right-click the mail profile that you want to change, and then click Open Store. 

    A screen shot of mail profiles
  7. Expand Root-Mailbox, expand Finder, and then double-click Reminders.

    A screen shot after expanding Root - Mailbox
  8. Locate the recurring appointment by sorting the Subject column or the To column.
  9. Right-click the appointment, and then click Delete Message. 

    A screen shot of appointment, showing the Delete Message
  10. In the Delete Item dialog box, select one of the permanent deletion options, and then click OK.
  11. Click Start, type outlook.exe /cleanreminders in the search box, and then press Enter.
  12. If you're prompted, select your profile to start Outlook.


Let's us Know if this help.