ContactMonkey Add In Continually Disabled In Outlook/Missing From Outlook

Issue

Customers utilizing the ContactMonkey Add-In for Classic/Legacy Outlook may encounter an issue where the add-in is constantly disabled and cannot be re-enabled even after reinstalling the ContactMonkey Add-In.  The Add-In, also known by Microsoft as an Outlook COM Add-In, only affects customers who have downloaded and installed the ContactMonkey add-in from a .exe or .msi file.  

This does not affect customers who have 

• Installed the ContactMonkey Add-In through the Outlook Add-In store (also known as the Outlook Web Add-In)
• Customers utilizing ContactMonkey on Outlook for Mac.

Reason

Classic/Legacy Outlook had an aggressive system to disable Add-Ins, causing Outlook to take longer.  Microsoft chose this to help users who were having issues starting up Outlook.  Once flagged, the Add-In may be installed but remain in an "inactive" state.

Solution

Enabling the Add-In

Customers can see if the Add-In has been disabled and then re-enable the Add-In by utilizing the following steps.  However, there is still a chance the Add-In can once again be disabled.  If it continues to be disabled, customers should consider making the registry adjustments below.  This guide assumes that the COM Add-In has already been successfully installed.

1. Start Outlook and log in.  Click on the File tab in the upper-left corner of the main Outlook window.
   
2. Click on Options in the left sidebar menu. Within the options menu, click on the Add-ins section.
3. The list of add-ins is separated into three sections - Active, Inactive, and Disabled.  The Add-In should be re-installed if you do not see the ContactMonkey add-in listed in any of the three sections.
   1. If the ContactMonkey add-in is listed under Inactive:
      1. Select COM Add-ins from the drop-down menu and click Go.
         
         
      2. Check the checkbox next to the ContactMonkey Add-in and click OK. 
      3. Close Outlook and wait for 15 seconds.  Then start Outlook again.
   2. If the ContactMonkey add-in is listed under Disabled:
      1. Select Disabled Items from the drop-down menu and click Go.
         
         
      2. Select the ContactMonkey Add-In and click on the Enable button.
      3. Close Outlook and wait for 15 seconds.  Then start Outlook again.

Adjusting the registry in Windows (Administration access required)

Microsoft has recognized that these issues have become commonplace for many users.  As a result, Microsoft has provided official documentation so that users can go and make changes to their registry to ensure that the Add-In is always enabled.

A computer administrator will need to make the change.  Depending on the version of Outlook that you may be using, the key for the Add-In will be in a different location in the registry.

Once located, the value for the ContactMonkey Add-In should be changed to 1 to indicate it should always be enabled.