Fix Error “PST File not Showing Emails in Outlook” with 7 Key Steps

While working with Microsoft Outlook, a team member experienced a power failure, leading to a sudden system shutdown. Alternatively, Outlook may become unresponsive while working with a PST file and has to be forced closed. When the user attempts to reopen Outlook’s PST file, it displays an error “PST file not Showing Emails in Outlook”. This is primarily because of the improper or sudden shutdown of Outlook. In a business setting, this can cause disruptions if the PST file contains important data. There can be other reasons too for this error. There are both manual and automated Outlook PST Repair Tool to fix this error. Read the blog to find out the reasons behind this error and how we can resolve this. 

PST stands for Personal Storage Table. It is a data file used by Microsoft Outlook to store mailbox data locally. It is commonly used for archiving and backup purposes. A PST file gets damaged or corrupted during a forced or sudden shutdown.

Potential Causes of PST File Corruption

Before implementing the solutions, it is essential to first understand why this problem occurred. Here are a few possible causes that may have contributed to the error:

• Sudden system shutdowns or power cuts while working on Outlook are the common causes of this error.
• While performing operations like sending, receiving, or archiving emails, if Outlook crashes, it leads to PST file corruption.
• Large PST files are more vulnerable to file corruption.
• A PST file gets corrupted if there is a hardware failure on which it is stored.
• Malicious software or viruses can damage the Outlook PST file.
• Faulty or incompatible Outlook add-ins and plugins may damage your PST file.

Fix PST File Not Showing Emails in Outlook

Now that we have identified the causes, let’s move further and explore the solutions for resolving the error.

Manual Method 1: Restart Outlook & Change your Outlook Settings

Many a time, restarting the application resolves the issue instantly. If it doesn’t work, try changing the MS Outlook settings. This method is used when the user can access the folders, but they are empty.

These are the steps to initiate the process:

1. Open MS Outlook.
2. Go to View > Change View and then click on IMAP message.
3. Refresh, and if the issue persists, navigate to View > Customize Current View.
4. Then, click on Filter > Clear All.

Manual Method 2: Reset Views Across All Folders in Outlook

This method is useful when the user wants to reset the views in multiple folders. 

Follow these steps to fix the error:

1. Open the Outlook application on your PC.
2. Go to any folder, click on View > Reset View.
3. After that, under the View tab, click Change View > Apply Current View to Other Mail Folders.
4. Now, select the folders that you want to apply the view to and tick Apply view to subfolders.
5. Lastly, click on Ok.

Manual Method 3: Use ScanPST.exe to Repair a Corrupted PST File

If Outlook shows your folders, but not your emails, the PST file may be corrupted. Microsoft’s built-in ScanPST.exe repair tool helps to repair this issue.

The step-by-step process to fix the error PST file not showing emails in Outlook:

1. First, close MS Outlook completely.
2. Now,  find the ScanPST.exe file in different Outlook versions:

Outlook Version	Path
Outlook 2021	C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
Outlook 2019	C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office19
	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office19
Outlook 2016	C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16\
	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\
Outlook 2013	C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15\
	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15\

3. Double-click and open the ScanPST.exe file.
4. Browse the location of your file and click Start to begin the scanning process.
5. If you find errors, hit the Repair button to fix them.
6. Once the repair is completed, close and start Outlook.

Manual Method 4: Check if the PST File is Properly Attached or Not

Try using this method if the PST file does not show up, even if the folder structure is missing.

Use these steps to resolve the problem:

1. Launch Outlook.
2. Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings > Data Files.
3. Check if your PST file is listed here or not. If your PST file is not there, then:

• Click Add > locate the PST file and open it.

4. Right-click on the PST file and set it as the Default. 

An Automated Tool to Fix “PST File not Showing Emails in Outlook”

The Outlook PST Repair Tool is a reliable and specialized solution that helps to repair the corrupted PST file. The tool offers both quick and advanced scanning modes depending on the level of corruption. Users have the flexibility to preview the recovered data before saving it. Moreover, the tool features bulk recovery, multiple saving formats, and strong data protection. All these features make this tool versatile and efficient.

Follow this step-by-step procedure to begin repairing your PST Files in Outlook:

1. Download and run Outlook PST Repair Tool.
2. Then, navigate to Open and select the corrupted PST File.
3. Choose the type of Recovery Mode and click Ok.
4. Once the scanning process is completed, press Ok.
5. Preview the contents of the data.
6. Next, click on the Save button to export the file to your desired destination folder.
7. Finally, click on Ok to begin the recovery process.

Conclusion

The error PST File not showing emails in Outlook can occur due to multiple contributing factors. Issues like PST file corruption, sudden shutdown, hardware failure, incompatible Outlook add-ins, etc, may lead to this error. These can be resolved by using manual methods. Also, in cases of PST file corruption, an automated Outlook PST Repair Tool helps to recover and repair the data. It supports bulk recovery and is therefore useful in various businesses. Executing these measures helps keep your Outlook running smoothly and ensures error-free functionality. 

Related Post: Outlook PST File Corruption.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q- How do I fix Outlook not displaying emails?

Ans- If the issue occurs where sometimes the folder is shown but is empty, try these methods to fix the error:

• Restart Outlook
• Try resetting the Outlook settings
• Reset the View settings 
• Check if the PST file is properly attached 
• Use an automated Outlook PST Repair Tool.

Q- What is the error “PST File not Showing Emails in Outlook”?

Ans- This error occurs in a situation where the PST file is loaded in Outlook, but your emails or folders are not displayed. There can be an empty inbox, missing folders, or missing data. 

Related Post