Issues with Microsoft Outlook’s Personal Folders File format—commonly referred to as PST—have been a huge problem for years. Microsoft knows that, which is why Outlook comes with a built-in tool called Inbox Repair to help you fix corrupted PST files.
In most cases, simply running a damaged PST file through the Inbox Repair tool should be enough to patch it up. But sometimes, you must take extra action to recover lost items.
How Outlook PST File Repair Works
Outlook's Inbox Kho cuab yeej yog faus tob rau hauv Microsoft Office installation nplaub tshev ntawm koj lub computer, yog li koj yuav tsum tau ua me ntsis kev khawb kom tau mus rau nws. Thaum koj tau nyob thiab qhib Inbox Kho, txhua yam koj yuav tsum tau ua yog xaiv cov ntaub ntawv PST puas los kho nws.
Tseem ceeb: Inbox Repair provides an option to create a backup of the damaged PST file. Make sure to select it since you may need a copy to retrieve missing data later on.
1. Completely exit Microsoft Outlook.
2. Open File Explorer. Depending on the version of Windows that you use, navigate through the following folders:
- Windows 64-ntsis: Local Disk (C:) > Program Files > Microsoft Office > root > Office16
- Windows 32-ntsis: Local Disk (C:) > Program Files (x86)> Microsoft Office > root > Office16
Nco ntsoov: The folder paths above apply to Outlook 2016, Outlook 2019, and Outlook 365. If you use an older version of Outlook, you must select the Chaw Haujlwm 15 (Outlook 2013), Chaw Haujlwm 14 (Outlook 2010), or Chaw Haujlwm 12 (Outlook 2007) folder instead.
3. Locate the file labeled SCANPST and run it as an administrator.
4. Siv tus Xauj button to select the Outlook PST file that you want to repair.
If you don’t know the location of the PST file, press lub qhov rais+S to open Windows Search. Then, search for it by name and include the .PST file extension. You will see the file location within the search results.
Alternatively, open Outlook and go to cov ntaub ntawv > account Settings > Cov Ntaub Ntawv Cov Ntaub Ntawv to view the PST file’s location. Make sure to close the application after that.
5. Xaiv Start. The Inbox Repair tool will check the PST file for issues. That should take some time.
6. Check the radio button next to Ua thaub qab ntawm cov ntaub ntawv scanned ua ntej kho thiab xaiv kho.
7. Xaiv OK to finish repairing the PST file.
Open Microsoft Outlook and it should automatically start using the PST file without issues. You will find a copy of the corrupted PST file (with the .BAK extension) in the same location as the repaired original.
Recover Lost and Found Files
Sometimes, Microsoft Outlook’s Inbox Repair tool may end up repairing a severely damaged PST file. Suppose the tool fails to place any repaired items in their original folders or locations. In that case, it will lump them into a Lost and Found folder or a set of folders under the Recovered Personal Folders daim ntawv lo.
You can recover these items by creating a new PST data file in Outlook and moving the contents from Lost and Found or Recovered Personal Folders into it.
1. qhib lub Tsev tab in Outlook. Then, open the menu next to Email Tshiab, taw tes rau Ntau Yam Khoom, thiab xaiv Cov ntaub ntawv Outlook.
2. Pick the Cov ntaub ntawv Outlook kev xaiv thiab xaiv OK.
3. Specify a location on your computer, enter a name for the new PST file, and select OK.
4. Xaiv qhov ntau icon (three dots) to the Outlook window’s lower-left corner and select Folders to switch the Outlook sidebar to Folder List view.
5. Drag the contents within Poob thiab nrhiav tau or Recovered Personal Folders into the new data file.
Once you’ve done that, you can choose to remove the Lost and Found folder or the Recovered Personal Folders data file from Outlook.
Recover Additional Items from PST
Suppose you notice any missing items within the repaired data file. if you also can’t find them inside the Lost and Found folder or under Recovered Personal Folders, you can try retrieving them using the backup copy of the original. Basically, you try to import the contents within the file without duplicating any items that the Inbox Recovery tool has already recovered.
1. Copy the corrupted PST file backup to your desktop.
2. Hloov lub .BAK extension at the end of the file name to .PST.
Nco ntsoov: If you can’t see the file extension, open the cov ntaub ntawv menu in a File Explorer window and select Hloov daim nplaub tshev thiab kev nrhiav kev xaiv. Tom qab ntawd, hloov mus rau qhov Saib tab and uncheck the box next to Nkaum extensions rau hom ntaub ntawv paub.
3. qhib lub cov ntaub ntawv menu in Outlook and select Qhib & Export > Ntshuam / Export.
4. Xaiv Ntshuam los ntawm lwm qhov haujlwm lossis ntawv thov thiab xaiv Tom ntej no.
5. Xaiv Cov ntaub ntawv Outlook (.pst) thiab xaiv Tom ntej no.
6. Xaiv Xauj and select the backup copy of the corrupted PST file (the one that you just renamed).
7. Xaiv Tsis txhob import duplicates thiab xaiv Tom ntej no.
8. Khij lub thawv nyob ib sab Xws li subfoldersCov. Tom qab ntawv, xaiv Import folders into the same folder and pick the account or data file that you want to import the items into.
9. Xaiv Tag.
Once Outlook finishes importing any items, you must manually confirm if the previously missing items are now present. If not, try running the Inbox Repair tool another time.
Third-Party Outlook PST Repair and Recovery Tools
A cursory search online will reveal lots of paid third-party tools that claim to repair damaged or corrupted Outlook PST files. In almost all cases, though, the Inbox Repair tool should be more than good enough for the job.
Only use a third-party recovery program if Inbox Repair fails to retrieve your data, and do your due diligence by checking online reviews thoroughly before spending any money on them.
Before we wrap up, here’s an interesting tidbit: the Inbox Repair tool also allows you to recover deleted items from Outlook.