How to Repair Outlook PST Files Step by Step Guide

Summary: Do you want to know how to repair Outlook PST files? Then stop looking. This helpful post will review various methods for repairing corrupted PST files. Additionally, we will discuss both manual and professional approaches.

Microsoft Outlook is an email client software that helps you communicate with others. You keep the program structured and productive. However, some users face Outlook PST files being damaged. Due to various causes, such as quickly shutting Outlook or exceeding the mailbox size limit.

Stellar Repair for Outlook Professional Stellar Repair for Outlook is the most comprehensive software to repair corrupt PST files and recover Outlook mailbox data? emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, notes, journals and more. Gets back every bit of your mailbox data in a new PST file? intact and ready to import!

What Causes Outlook Data File Corruption

• Due to technical issues, PST files might become corrupted.
• Each Outlook version has a different size restriction for PST files, and big PST files are more prone to corruption.
• Incorrectly shutting down the Outlook application could corrupt your PST files.

To fix Outlook data file corruption, we will discuss the possible solution to repair Outlook PST files. If you wish to increase mailbox size in Outlook, you can find detailed instructions here.

Method 1: Repair Corrupted Outlook PST File with ScanPST.exe

Note: Please verify the Outlook version first. What version of Outlook do you have installed on your system?

1. Ensure the Outlook application is closed.
2. First, Open the folder using the appropriate path according to your Outlook version then find the Outlook PST repair file location.
   1. For Outlook 2016 – C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
   2. For Outlook2013 – C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15
   3. For Outlook 2010 – C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14
   4. For Outlook 2007 – C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12
3. Now, open the MS Outlook Inbox Repair Tool.
4. Click on the Browse button. Select the PST file for scanning the errors.
5. Press the Next button to begin the scanning process.
6. When the scanning process has been completed, hit the Repair button.
7. After successfully recovering the PST file, click on the OK button.

Scanpst.exe is a Microsoft Outlook tool to repair Outlook data files (.pst and .ost). It can recover emails, contacts, to-do lists, schedules, notes, and other data from damaged Outlook data files. The tool is found by typing scanpst.exe into the Windows Search box.

Method 2: How to Recover Lost & Found Files in Outlook

How to recover Outlook data file – If you’re experiencing trouble repair Outlook PST files, try these simple steps to get back on track.

1. In Outlook, go to the Home tab.
2. Then, click on the down arrow icon under the New Email option.
3. Click on the More Items.
4. Then choose the Outlook Data File.
5. Select the Outlook Data File option and press OK.
6. Enter the name of the new PST file. Click OK.
7. Click on the three horizontal dots in the bottom left corner of Outlook. Select the Folders option.
8. Drag the content of the Recovered or Lost and Found Personal Folders into the new data file.

You can fix corrupted Outlook PST files by executing the below methods. Nonetheless, this technique is to repair Outlook PST files. Due to this error Outlook Not Showing New Emails.

Method 3: Repair PST File without Outlook using Professional Method

Sometimes Outlook PST file will not repair after trying manual methods. Then you can use a professional approach to repair Outlook PST files.

1. Download and Install the PST file repair software.
2. Browse the corrupt PST file’s location.
3. Select the corrupted Outlook PST file and click Repair.
4. The software will scan errors and repair the file.
5. While scanning, it also previews the mailbox items.
6. Pick the mailbox items and save them in PST file format.

Method 4: Recover the Original Backup Copy of the PST file

If repair Outlook data files not responding, it could be due to a corrupted file. It will help restore the file to a working state and allow Outlook to function again.

1. First, Save the corrupted PST file to your computer.
2. Modify the .bak extension to .pst at the end of the file name.
3. Click on the File tab and select the Open & Export option.
4. After that, choose the Import/Export option.
5. Now, select the Import from another program or file and click on the Next button.
6. Pick the Outlook Data File(.pst) and press Next.
7. Click on the Browse button and select the corrupted PST file.
8. Select the Do not import duplicates and press on the Next button.
9. Tick on the Include subfolders option. Now, select the Import folders into the same folder. Choose the email account for importing the data.
10. Hit on the Finish button.

Method 5: Recover Repaired Items to a New PST File

1. Launch the MS Outlook application.
2. Now, select the appropriate profile that contains the .pst file that you want to repair.
3. Press the Ctrl+6 to view the Folder List view, or click on the Folder List View icon.
4. When the Folder list opens, you can see the recovered personal folders such as Inbox, Outbox, Sent Items, Deleted Items, Tasks, Calendar, Contacts, Journal, and Notes.
5. In your profile, create a new Personal Folder (.pst) file.

Note: The procedures may vary based on the version of Outlook you are using. So, first, verify the Outlook version. Then, according to the version, follow the steps. If Outlook Cannot Display the Folder you can read this post.

When PST files are corrupted or destroyed due to system shutdowns, system assaults, program faults, or damaged profiles. So, how to repair outlook PST 2013, 2016, and 2019 using the following troubleshooting steps you can repair Outlook files. 

Step1: For Outlook 2010 and latest versions

1. Choose the File tab on the menu, then the Info tab.
2. Click on Account Settings and again select the Account Settings option.
3. Click on the Data Files.
4. Select Add to the Create or Open Outlook Data File dialog box.
5. Now, provide the file name of the new .pst file and click OK.
6. Check the new .pst file present in your profile.

Step2: For Outlook 2007 version

1. Click on the File menu that appears, and choose Data File Management.
2. To open the New Outlook Data File dialog box, click Add.
3. Select the location, provide a file name to the new Personal Folders (.pst) file and then click OK under the Create or Open Personal Folders dialog box.
4. Select the OK button.
5. Now, you create the new Personal Folders (.pst) file.

Step3: For Outlook 2003 version

1. Select the File menu>New>Outlook Data File.
2. Click the OK button to Create or Open the Outlook Data File window.
3. Now, provide the file name of the .pst file, and then click on the OK button.
4. After that, the Create Microsoft Personal Folders window opens.
5. Here, enter the file name of the .pst file and click the OK button.
6. Check the created a new Personal Folders (.pst) file are present in the profile.

Step4: For Outlook 2002 version

1. Click on the File menu, then New, and select the Personal Folders File(.pst).
2. Click on Create option; after that Create Microsoft Personal Folders window opens.
3. Now, give a name for the new Personal Folders(.pst) file and hit the OK button.
4. Check the created a new Personal Folders (.pst) file are present in the profile.

Depending on the Outlook version, repeat the preceding steps. Then, proceed as follows.

6. Move recovered items from the Lost and Found folder to the new Personal Folders file.
7. When you have relocated all your items, you can delete the Recovered Personal Folders (.pst) file from your account. It includes the Lost and found folder.
8. If all items are recovered, you successfully finish the process.

Conclusion

At last, we discuss the manual and professional methods to repair Outlook PST files. The manual approach is more complex and challenging than the professional method. However, the professional solution is very reliable and provides security. It is up to you; you can choose at your convenience. But, we recommend using a professional tool to repair damaged Outlook PST files.