There are a few reasons why your PST files might become corrupted. It could be due to hardware issues, power outages, improper shutdowns, or viruses. Whatever the reason, it’s important to know how to fix a corrupted PST file so you don’t lose any important data.
Here are 10 tips to help you fix a corrupted PST file:
1. Use the Inbox Repair Tool
The Inbox Repair Tool is a built-in tool that can help you repair minor corruptions in your PST files. To use it, simply follow these steps:
Open Outlook and go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export.
Select “Repair an Outlook Data File” and click next.
Browse for the PST file you want to repair and click Open.
Click Start and wait for the repair process to finish.
2. Try Opening the PST in Safe Mode
If the Inbox Repair Tool doesn’t work, you can try opening your PST file in Safe Mode. This will disable all of your add-ins and give you a clean environment to work in. To do this, simply follow these steps:
Close Outlook and go to Start > Run.
Type “outlook.exe /safe” and hit Enter.
When prompted, choose the PST file you want to open.
3. Use ScanPST to Repair Your PST File
ScanPST is a tool that comes with Microsoft Office that can help you repair corrupt PST files. To use it, simply follow these steps:
Open Outlook and go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export.
Select “Repair an Outlook Data File” and click next.
Browse for the PST file you want to repair and click Open.
Click Start and wait for the repair process to finish.
4. Use a Third-Party Tool to Repair Your PST File
If ScanPST doesn’t work, you can try using a third-party tool to repair your PST file. There are a number of different options available, but we recommend using Stellar Phoenix Outlook PST Repair. It’s easy to use and it supports all versions of Outlook, from 2003 to 2016.
5. Convert Your OST File to a PST File
If you’re using an Exchange account, your emails are stored in an OST file. If your OST file is corrupted, you can try converting it to a PST file. To do this, you’ll need a tool like Stellar Phoenix Converter for OST.
6. Export Your Emails to a New PST File
If you’re having trouble opening your PST file, you can try exporting your emails to a new PST file. To do this, simply follow these steps:
Open Outlook and go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export.
Select “Export to a file” and click next.
Choose “Outlook Data File (.pst)” and click next.
Browse for the location where you want to save the exported PST file and click Finish.
7. Delete Your Corrupted PST File
If all else fails, you can try deleting your corrupted PST file. To do this, you’ll need to find the location of your PST file. Once you’ve found it, simply delete it and create a new PST file.
8. Use an Online Repair Tool
If you’re using Office 365, you can try using Microsoft’s online repair tool. This will repair any corrupt files and restore any missing files. To use it, simply follow these steps:
Go to https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Repair-an-Office-application-7821d4b6-7c1d-4205-aa0e-a6b40c5bb88b.
Click “Online Repair” and then click “Repair.”
9. Use a System Restore Point
If you’re using Windows, you can try restoring your system to a previous point. This will revert any changes that have been made to your system, which could fix the corruption in your PST file. To do this, simply follow these steps:
Go to Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore.
Click “Restore my computer to an earlier time” and then click next.
Choose a restore point and then click next.
10. Recreate Your PST File
If you’ve tried all of the other methods and nothing has worked, you can try recreating your PST file. To do this, you’ll need to export your emails to a new PST file and then delete the old PST file. Once you’ve done this, you can create a new PST file and import your exported emails.
Conclusion:
There are a number of different ways to fix a corrupt PST file. If the Inbox Repair Tool doesn’t work, you can try opening your PST file in Safe Mode, using ScanPST to repair your PST file, or using a third-party tool to repair your PST file. You can also try converting your OST file to a PST file, exporting your emails to a new PST file, deleting your corrupted PST file, or using an online repair tool. If you’re still having trouble, you can try restoring your system to a previous point or recreating your PST file.