Double task items in Outlook 2007

I did some Outlook tweaking and tinkering this morning and noticed all of a sudden double entries for my task (to-do list) items. However if you try to delete one, both entries of the same task are gone. Weird, but there’s a solution:

Close Outlook and restart it by going to
Start -> Run then type “outlook.exe /resettodobar

Once your Outlook opens up you should only see single entries of your tasks again.

Comments 15

  1. Thanks for your info, the trick works wonderful, except the double entries shows up again immediately. There is a line above the to-do-list that lights up (appear to be updating something) and when it stops the list is again showing double entries. I assume I have some setting wrong or maybe I have the list doubled somewhere, but where?

  2. That's a bit unusual. As a next step, I would recommend repairing the Office installation. It might be easier than to tinker with settings and try to find that one small change.

  3. I have a total clean install of Windows 7 Home Prem with a clean install of Office 2007. I did import all my previous files from my old install into my new Outlook 2007. I ran the diagnostic tool inside Outlook and it came up clean. I have not tinkered with my installation of Outlook, but it just started to double up pretty much right away after I imported my backup files.

  4. If your Tasks have multiple categories try going to View -> Arrange By and select Due Date. I believe that multiple categories make them display once per category.

  5. Well, I have tried several different solutions, but in the end I was able to just delete in the task pane itself and this time it only deleted what I deleted and not the other entry, which appeared as a double. I had tried this before and it just deleted all the entries, but not this time. Go figure. I'm not sure what I did differently, but now it is working perfectly….at least for now!
    Thanks for the helpful suggestions.

  6. I have a total clean install of Windows 7 Home Prem with a clean install of Office 2007. I did import all my previous files from my old install into my new Outlook 2007. I ran the diagnostic tool inside Outlook and it came up clean. I have not tinkered with my installation of Outlook, but it just started to double up pretty much right away after I imported my backup files.

  7. If your Tasks have multiple categories try going to View -> Arrange By and select Due Date. I believe that multiple categories make them display once per category.

  8. Well, I have tried several different solutions, but in the end I was able to just delete in the task pane itself and this time it only deleted what I deleted and not the other entry, which appeared as a double. I had tried this before and it just deleted all the entries, but not this time. Go figure. I'm not sure what I did differently, but now it is working perfectly….at least for now!
    Thanks for the helpful suggestions.

  9. TJ,

    what Operating System are you using and are both, your OS and Office suite up to date? It’s been a while since I posted this and it worked fine for me and few others. I’ve been using Outlook 2010 for a while now, but I can probably get access to v.2007 and try to help you get this resolved.

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