However, if your email server supports ONLY a POP3, auto account setup will create a POP3 account. More often than not, it’s caused by either a corrupted Outlook profile or a change in the data file’s location. And though an error how to fix Outlook not opening today message might look worrying, you may be able to fix the problem.

Fixing 'Outlook Data File Cannot Be Accessed' Error on PC

That way, you can access previously downloaded or synchronized messages, as well as calendar information, contacts, and tasks even when you’re offline. In this step-by-step guide, you’ll find practical methods to resolve the error and recover your FixTechGuide Windows update Outlook fix data, whether you’re dealing with a corrupted file or a disconnected profile. The error message indicates corruption in the Outlook data (PST) file. However, the error may also occur due to various other reasons.

• I tried using the repair process (SCANPST.EXE) which appeared to detect issues but also appeared to complete a successful repair, but the issue persists.
• Creating new Outlook profile or rebooting the computer fixes the issue.
• I successfully moved my Outlook PST files onto my new computer.
• From single external hard drives, SSD’s, mobile devices to enterprise NAS, SAN, and RAID failures, we are ready to help recover from digital disasters, anywhere.
• Before joining Secure Data, he worked as a freelance technical writer.
• When you want to replicate a copy on the cloud, manually copy the PST in the OneDrive folder.
• If this diagnostic step works and fixes the error, disabling your add-ins should help prevent it from happening again.
• Then, in the next window, make sure you're on the tab marked "Sync and backup".

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To make sure this is not the case, try opening Outlook and see if it found the data file. Then, in the next window, make sure you're on the tab marked "Sync and backup". On the righthand side of the window, choose the button to "manage backup".

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During the syncing process, OneDrive locks the file, which prevents Outlook from accessing it, resulting in the "Outlook data file cannot be opened" error. You can try to repair Outlook data files to fix the error. This is a good solution if you think your data file might be corrupted. MS Outlook stores all the information related to your email account both online and in a local file on your computer.

Repair Outlook Data Files (.pst and .ost)

It even comes with features like auto-split to split large PST files and export the PST contents directly to Microsoft 365. You can create a new Outlook Data File and drag the items in the Lost and Found folder into the new data file. After you've moved all the items, you can remove the Recovered Personal Folders (.pst) file, including the Lost and Found folder. To create a new Outlook Data File, go to Create an Outlook Data File. If your email server supports both IMAP and POP3, auto account setup will create an IMAP account by default. You will need to follow the manual steps in order to create a POP3 account.

Method 2 - Manually create an IMAP or POP3 email account

On the other hand, accounts through diagnose Office activation conflicts Office 365, Exchange Server, Outlook.com, and IMAP store information offline in Outlook data files (.ost files). One of the major reasons for the "Outlook data file cannot be accessed" error is corruption in the Outlook data file (PST). You can repair the corrupted PST file using the built-in Inbox Repair tool (also known as SCANPST) in Outlook. That is almost definitely the problem and it's very common unfortunately. You need to configure your OneDrive to not back up the directory where your Outlook data file resides. It is not possible for Outlook and OneDrive to both try to access the data file at the same time.