How to Fix the “Your Digital ID Name Cannot Be Found” Error in Outlook
Key Notes
- The error may be temporary; try reopening the email.
- Ensure server authentication is enabled in settings.
- Check your certificates to verify proper setup.
Resolving the ‘Your Digital ID Name Cannot Be Found’ Error in Microsoft Outlook
The error message “Your digital ID name cannot be found by the underlying security system” can cause frustration when trying to access secure emails in Microsoft Outlook. This guide outlines simple workarounds and main solutions to help you overcome this issue effectively.
Quick Workarounds
Step 1: Temporarily Close the Error Message
If you encounter the error, close the message and wait for a couple of minutes before reopening the email.
Step 2: Test Other Emails from the Same Sender
Open other emails from the sender to determine if the issue persists. If other emails work, ask the sender to forward the problematic email again.
Main Fixes
Fix 1: Enable Server Authentication
Activate server authentication within your Internet Options.
Step 1: Open the Run Dialog
Press the Windows + R keys simultaneously.
Step 2: Access Internet Options
In the dialog that appears, enter inetcpl.cpl and click “ OK ”.
Step 3: Navigate to the Content Tab
In the Internet Options window, select the “ Content ” tab.
Step 4: Open Certificates
Under the Certificates section, click “ Certificates ”.
Step 5: Access Personal Certificates
In the Certificates tab, locate the “ Personal ” section.
Step 6: Check Advanced Options
Click on the “ Advanced ” button in the corner to view more options.
Step 7: Enable Required Options
In the Advanced Options dialog, ensure that both “ Server Authentication ” and “Secure Email” are checked.
Step 8: Save Changes
Click “ OK ” to save these settings.
Step 9: Confirm Changes in Internet Options
Return to the Internet Options page, clicking “ Apply ” and then “ OK ” to finalize.
Finally, restart Outlook and check if the error persists.
Fix 2: Check for the Certificate
Ensure your account possesses the correct certificate to access the email.
Step 1: Open Microsoft Outlook
Make sure you are in the Microsoft Outlook application.
Step 2: Navigate to Options
Go to File > Options.
Step 3: Open Trust Center
Click on the “ Trust Center ” option.
Step 4: Access Trust Center Settings
Select “ Trust Center Settings… ”.
Step 5: Navigate to Email Security
In the Trust Center Settings, go to the “ Email Security ” tab.
Step 6: Verify Certificate File
Look in the right pane to see if the Certificate file shows up (should resemble *.cert ).If it’s missing or expired, you may need to obtain a new one.
Step 7: Check Security Settings
Tap on “ Settings ” to review your security settings.
If the Security Settings area is blank, your certificate might be expired; in which case, you will need to purchase a new one.
Fix 3: Delete the Sender Certificate
If the sender’s certificate is corrupted, it may need to be removed from your device.
Step 1: Open Run Dialog
Press Win + R keys together.
Step 2: Run Certificates Management Console
Type mmc and hit Enter.
Step 3: Open Certificates Management
In the Console window, go to “ File ” and select “ Certmgr ”.
Step 4: Access Certificates for Current User
Expand the “ Certificates – Current User ” tab.
Step 5: Look for Other People Certificate
Under “ Other People ”, expand further and select “ Certificates ”.
Step 6: Identify the Corrupt Certificate
On the right pane, locate the faulty certificate.
Step 7: Delete the Faulty Certificate
Right-click on the certificate and choose “ Delete ” to remove it.
Step 8: Save Changes
Go to “ File ” and click “ Save ” to commit your changes.
Following this, you should be able to access the email without any issues.
Summary
This guide presented several methods to fix the ‘Your Digital ID Name Cannot Be Found’ error in Microsoft Outlook. If temporary workarounds do not suffice, ensure your settings for server authentication are correct, check your certificates, and delete any corrupted sender certificates.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you should effectively address the Digital ID error in Outlook. Remember to verify your server authentication settings, review the relevant certificates, and maintain communication with your email sender to avoid similar issues in the future.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What causes the ‘Your Digital ID Name Cannot Be Found’ error?
This error often occurs due to certificate mismatches or missing server authentication settings in Outlook.
How can I verify if my certificate is expired?
In Outlook, navigate to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Email Security to check the status of your certificate.