How to repair outlook pst file​?

Microsoft Outlook is one of the most popular email clients used worldwide, and it stores your emails, contacts, calendars, and other data in a personal storage table (PST) file. However, over time, your Outlook PST file may become corrupted due to various reasons, such as software crashes, virus infections, hardware failures, or improper shutdowns. If your PST file is damaged or inaccessible, you may lose valuable data.

What is a PST File?

Before we dive into the repair process, let’s first understand what a PST file is. A Personal Storage Table (PST) is a data file used by Microsoft Outlook to store your messages, calendar events, contacts, tasks, and other personal information. It is stored on your local computer’s hard drive, and Outlook references this file whenever you open the program.

There are two types of PST files:

Unicode PST – Commonly used with newer versions of Outlook (2003 and later).

ANSI PST – Used with older versions of Outlook (pre-2003).

Both types of PST files can become corrupted, but the repair process remains largely the same.

Why Does a PST File Get Corrupted?

Several factors can contribute to PST file corruption, including:

Power failures or improper shutdowns of the computer while Outlook is running.

Hardware malfunctions, such as a failing hard drive.

Large file sizes that exceed Outlook’s recommended limits.

Virus or malware infections that damage the PST file.

Outlook crashes or system crashes during data writing to the PST file.

Incompatible Outlook add-ins that interfere with normal functioning.

When the PST file becomes corrupted, you may experience issues such as missing emails, inability to open Outlook, or Outlook freezing or crashing.

How to Repair a Corrupted PST File in Outlook

Microsoft provides a built-in tool known as Inbox Repair Tool (Scanpst.exe), which is designed to scan and repair corrupted PST files. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to use this tool to fix a corrupted PST file.

Step 1: Locate Scanpst.exe

The first step is to find the Scanpst.exe tool, which is located in different places depending on your version of Outlook and Windows:

For Outlook 2016/2019/Office 365:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\OfficeXX\ (where XX refers to the version number, e.g., Office16 for Outlook 2016).

For Outlook 2013:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15\

For Outlook 2010:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\

Once you have located the Scanpst.exe file, double-click to launch the tool.

Step 2: Open the Corrupted PST File

Once Scanpst.exe opens, click on Browse to select the corrupted PST file you wish to repair. If you’re not sure where your PST file is located, you can check the default location:

For Outlook 2016/2019/Office 365:

C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\Outlook Files\

For Outlook 2013 and earlier:

C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\

Once you find the corrupted PST file, select it and click Open.

Step 3: Scan the PST File for Errors

After selecting the PST file, click on the Start button to begin scanning. Scanpst.exe will analyze the file for errors. Depending on the size of the PST file, this may take several minutes. If the tool detects any issues, it will alert you and prompt you to repair the file.

Step 4: Repair the PST File

Once the scan is complete, the tool will display a message showing the errors found. To repair the file, simply click Repair. The tool will attempt to fix any corruption issues it detects. You’ll be prompted to back up the file before proceeding with the repair. It is highly recommended to create a backup copy of the PST file in case something goes wrong.

Step 5: Verify the Repair

Once the repair is finished, launch Microsoft Outlook and try to open the repaired PST file. Check if all your emails, contacts, and other data are accessible. If everything is working fine, your PST file has been successfully repaired.

Alternative Methods to Repair a Corrupted PST File

If Scanpst.exe fails to repair your PST file, or if it detects severe corruption that cannot be fixed, there are other methods you can try:

Method 1: Use a Backup PST File

If you regularly back up your Outlook data, restoring from a backup may be the simplest way to fix a corrupted PST file. To restore a backup, follow these steps:

Close Outlook.

Navigate to the folder where the backup PST file is stored.

Copy the backup PST file to the default Outlook data folder.

Open Outlook, and go to File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File.

Select the backup PST file and open it.

Once opened, you can move your data from the backup file to the original file.

Method 2: Use Third-Party PST Repair Software

Panda Assistant is a powerful data recovery tool that can help you recover lost or corrupted files, including Outlook PST files. If your PST (Personal Storage Table) file becomes corrupted, causing issues such as missing emails, contacts, or calendar entries, Panda Assistant can assist in recovering and repairing the file. This is crucial for users who rely on Outlook for email communication and data storage.

Outlook PST files may become corrupted due to various reasons, including power outages, software crashes, improper shutdowns, or even large file sizes. When a PST file becomes inaccessible or shows signs of corruption (e.g., Outlook failing to open, error messages), Panda Assistant steps in as a reliable solution to recover your data.

Method 3: Create a New PST File and Import Data

If repairing the original PST file is not possible, creating a new PST file and importing data from the old file can be an alternative solution. Follow these steps:

Open Outlook and go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.

Click on the Data Files tab and click Add.

Create a new PST file and set it as the default data file.

Once the new PST file is created, go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export.

Choose Import from another program or file and select the option to import from an Outlook Data File (PST).

Browse to the location of the corrupted PST file and select it.

Follow the on-screen prompts to import the data from the corrupted PST file into the new one.

Method 4: Repair the Outlook Profile

Sometimes, the issue may not be with the PST file itself but with the Outlook profile. In such cases, creating a new Outlook profile can help resolve the issue:

Go to Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles.

Click Add to create a new profile.

Set up your email account on the new profile.

Once the new profile is created, open Outlook, select the new profile, and check if the issue persists.

Preventing PST File Corruption in the Future

While it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of PST file corruption, you can take several preventive measures to minimize the likelihood of encountering this issue again:

Regular Backups: Regularly back up your Outlook data to avoid losing important information. You can set up automated backups or manually export your data as a PST file.

Avoid Large PST Files: Microsoft recommends keeping PST file sizes under 50 GB for optimal performance. Large files are more prone to corruption.

Use the Outlook AutoArchive Feature: This feature automatically archives old emails to reduce the size of your PST file.

Keep Outlook and Windows Updated: Ensure that you are using the latest versions of both Outlook and Windows, as updates often include fixes for known bugs that could cause file corruption.

Run Regular Disk Checks: Regularly check the health of your hard drive using tools like CHKDSK to avoid data loss caused by hardware failures.