Problems like system crashes, sudden shutdowns, or profile issues can corrupt the OST file, causing Outlook to display sync errors or lose access to your data. Although Outlook lets you recreate the file, doing so may result in the loss of any unsynced changes. You can usually repair a damaged .pst file using file repair software, but you might even be able to fix it using MS Outlook’s built-in capabilities. Like any type of data file, it’s possible for a .pst file to get corrupted. This might happen with a large .pst file that exceeds the size limit due to third-party add-ins or apps.

Repair your .pst file quickly with our proven tool

The folders might just be empty and redundant, or they might contain recovered data that Outlook couldn’t place in its original locations. The Inbox Repair Tool is an in-built utility from Microsoft to overcome the Outlook PST file corruption issues. Users can clear Outlook credentials manager fix Outlook PST files using this utility, but firstly you need to locate the Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe) in their system. We are going to share a table below with the default location of this utility for different Outlook versions, like Outlook 2010, 2013, or 2019. In addition, it turns into leading Outlook errors, which might affect overall productivity and efficiency and can increase downtime. Therefore, users should put some effective solutions into action to deal with inaccessible or damaged PST files as soon as they encounter Outlook issues.

Step 1 - Exit Outlook and start the Inbox Repair tool

However, deleting the PST file isn’t ideal as you may lose some mailbox items. Here are some methods Outlook data file cannot be accessed you can follow to rebuild the Outlook PST file. If you can't start the Inbox Repair tool automatically or manually, you may try to repair your Office application.

Situations When You Need to Repair Outlook Data File Without SCANPST

Two methods, manual and professional will be explained clear Outlook credentials manager here along with their stepwise working procedure to fix Outlook data files or Personal Storage Table (PST). The manual solution will uncover the step by step guide on the Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe). Let’s start learning from the basics of how to fix corrupted Outlook PST files. Whether you are a Microsoft Outlook, Exchange or Office 365 user, you may come across or encounter the PST files. These Outlook data (PST) files store user’s data, including email messages, calendars, tasks, journals, etc. You can try any of the methods listed above to rebuild the PST file.

Locating the Outlook Data Files

• ScanPST mostly validates and corrects errors in the internal data structures of a .pst file.
• At a higher level, the more visible changes that you see involve folders and messages.
• However, deleting the PST file isn’t ideal as you may lose some mailbox items.
• When you delete the file, Outlook automatically creates a new one on the next launch.
• Find solutions to common problems or get help from a support agent.
• After renaming the file successfully, you can then launch your Outlook program.
• Users can process many Outlook data files (.pst) in single go using this professionals’ recommended tool.
• Dealing with corrupt files is always scary, especially because of the potential for data loss.

It can also occur if you close Outlook abruptly, or if your file is copied and stored in a way that causes an error, such as on a network drive or cloud file location. Users now should be mindful of the common causes why users need to fix Outlook data files (PST). We will be delving into exploring the powerful methods to fix Outlook PST files in the following paragraph. Follow these steps to repair your Outlook personal folder file (.pst) by using Inbox Repair tool. If you’re dealing with a corrupt .pst file, the very first step you should take is using the Inbox Repair tool (SCANPST.EXE). Here, we will outline two approaches, both manual and professional, to fix corrupt Outlook PST Files.

Shortcomings of the Inbox Repair Tool

After you’ve located the ScanPST.exe tool, proceed with the following instructions to fix your Outlook data file (PST). If you want to fix PST files using this tool, make sure to have a proper backup of the Outlook PST before processing. Navigate to the location of the PST file, then cut and paste it into a different folder.