Top 2 Techniques to Repair OST File in Outlook

Summary: Offline Storage Tables is the format Outlook supports to save its data locally. This data then can be accessed even if you are offline. However, users are facing issues with the OST files. Are you one of them too? Is your OST file corrupted or damaged and needs to be repaired? This blog provides a manual method to repair OST file. Along with that, we suggest using the OST Recovery Tool for a quick fix. Go through the blog to understand more about it.

Reasons for OST File Corruption

The need to repair Outlook OST file is prominent. There are multiple reasons causing inaccessibility to Outlook OST files. Below are a few such causes that specify damage to OST files:

  • Viruses, threats, and malware attacks lead to OST file corruption.
  • Sudden power failures and network issues create problems.
  • In addition, improper synchronization with web browsers is a cause.
  • Also, hard disk issues can be a big factor in OST file corruption.

Methods to Repair a Damaged OST File

There are different methods to repair OST files. These are as follows:

  • Using In-built Tool
  • Recreate OST File

These are free manual procedures. However, to get better results, you can use a professional tool for OST File Recovery. It is a secure and reliable tool for recovery within seconds. Below, the step-by-step procedure for these methods is discussed in detail.

Method 1: Using an In-Built Tool to Fix OST File

For this method, we will use the ScanOST.exe utility. The steps are as follows:

  1. Close the Microsoft Outlook application before starting this process.
  2. Browse and locate the ScanOST.exe file (usually, found in “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office (version)).
  3. After that, select and open the ScanOST.exe tool.
  4. In the dialog box, choose the damaged or corrupted OST file. Click Start.
    Choose the damaged OST files
  5.  
  6. Subsequently, review the results, make a backup by specifying the destination, and click Repair to fix the issues.
    Click on Repair

Method 2: Recreate the OST File after Deletion

Proceed with the steps given below:

  1. Open the Control Panel and select User Account > Mail (Microsoft Outlook).
  2. Click Show Profiles under Profile. The dialog box will appear, click Properties > Email Accounts.
    Click on Properties & press on Email Accounts
  3.  
  4. Now, the Account Settings dialog box will open. Select the account to work with.
  5. After that, click Data Files and choose the file. Click the tab Open File Location in the window to select the desired file location.
    Click on Open File Location to select desired location
  6.  
  7. Now, close the Account Settings dialog box.
  8. Subsequently, delete the particular corrupted OST file.
  9. Lastly, open Outlook again to see and recreate the new OST file.

Another way to do this is by changing the file extension. Follow the steps given below:

  1. First, close the Outlook application.
  2. Then, press Windows + R and type %appdata%. It opens the App Data Folder.
  3. Next, click AppData in the address bar of File Explorer and select Local > Microsoft > Outlook.
  4. Further, choose the .ost file, right-click, and select re-name.
  5. Rename .ost to a different file extension(such as .bak, .old, etc).

Automated tool to Repair OST File

The OST Recovery Tool helps to retrieve your data quickly and easily. Unlike the manual methods, it doesn’t require technical knowledge. Moreover, it maintains the integrity during the recovery process. Thus, it is a quick-fix tool with multiple features, like:

  • It allows the recovery of OST files in different email clients and file formats.
  • Furthermore, it helps in restoring permanently deleted files and supports bulk recovery.
  • Additionally, it is compatible with all the versions of the operating system.
  • This tool is also a big support to Recover Deleted Emails From OST File.

Steps to Fix Corrupt OST File

  1. Install the tool on your system. Run it as an administrator.
  2. Click Open, browse, select the corrupted OST file, and then hit Open.
    Select the corrupted OST files and hit on open
  3.  
  4. After that, select the recovery mode, check the Handle Alignment and Auto-Detect options, and click OK.
    Select the Recovery Mode
  5.  
  6. Subsequently, double-click the file and folder to preview all your emails.
  7. Particularly, choose the mailbox folder to save and hit the Save button.
  8. In the open dialog box, browse and locate the destination. Moreover, choose the desired file format, apply additional filters, and click OK to complete the process.
    Choose the desired file formats and click OK

Conclusion

This blog provided different ways to repair OST file. However, using the manual method has limitations as it takes time and is not secure. Users can lose data in such cases. Therefore, we have also suggested a professional tool for instant and secure repair of OST files. It is reliable and will keep your files intact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I recover all the attachments from corrupt OST files?

Ans: To recover attachments from corrupt OST files, follow these steps:
1. Download the OST Recovery Tool on your system and run it.
2. Click Open, select the corrupted OST file, and click Open.
3. Next, choose a mode of recovery, select Handle Alignment and Auto-Detect options, and hit OK.
4. Subsequently, preview emails, select the mailbox folder to save, and hit Save.
5. Lastly, specify the destination, choose file format, apply filters, and click OK.

Q. Can I repair or recover data from an encrypted OST file?

Ans: Yes, using the OST Recovery tool, you can repair or recover data from an encrypted OST file. It supports Outlook encryption and recovers maximum data accurately by different modes. It successfully restores your data and handles all the errors that may arise.

About The Author:

Priyanka Kumari is a technical content writer in the fields of Email Migration, Data Recovery, Cloud Migration, and File Management. She is dedicated to simplifying complex technology terminologies for all users. Her articles and guides demonstrate her commitment to streamlining email management for professionals or businesses of any size.

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