PST files are created to store all items from a user mailbox, including emails, calendar entries, and tasks, when Outlook is configured with a POP3 account. PST files are also used to back up mailbox data, archive old emails, and move mail items from one Outlook profile to another. Like other data files, PST files can also become corrupted. In this article, we will explain some common reasons for PST file corruption and discuss free methods to repair this Outlook data file.
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Methods to Repair an Outlook Data (PST) File for Free
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Whatever the reason for corruption in your PST file, you can easily repair it for free. Below, we have mentioned some free methods to repair PST files.
1. Repair your PST File by using ScanPST
ScanPST is a free tool provided by Microsoft to fix corruption and other errors in the Outlook data files. Also known as the Inbox Repair Tool, it comes automatically installed with your Outlook software. You can use this tool to repair your Outlook data (PST) file. However, to run this tool, you should know scanpst location first.
Here’s how to use this tool:
• Close Outlook completely.
• Locate ScanPST.exe on your computer.
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• Create a backup copy of your PST file before starting the repair process.
• Open ScanPST.exe by double-clicking the file.
• Click Browse and select the PST file that you want to repair.
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• Click Start to scan the selected PST file.
• After the scan is complete, if errors are found, select Repair.
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• Once the repair is complete, open Outlook and check whether you can access the PST file and its mailbox items.
ScanPST is basically ideal for fixing minor corruption issues in the data files. It has certain limitations such as:
• It may fail to repair severely corrupted PST files.
• It cannot repair encrypted or password-protected PST files.
• It may freeze or crash while repairing a large PST file.
• It cannot recover deleted mailbox items.
• It does not preview recoverable items.
• It may show “Errors Repaired” even when some issues remain.
• It might remove severely damaged or unrecoverable items during the repair process.
2. Use a Free Online PST Repair Service
If ScanPST.exe fails to repair your corrupted PST file, you can use an alternative online PST repair service. Stellar – a renowned name in the data care domain – offers an online PST repair service that allows you to repair corrupted PST file of up to 500 MB for free and up to 5 GB file with Premium version. It doesn’t require you to install Outlook or any additional software on your computer. After repair, it restores emails and all other mail items, including contacts, calendars, attachments, notes, and journals. It also offers an option to preview the recovered folder structure and items count before downloading the repaired file.
The Online PST repair by Stellar seamlessly works on all major modern web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. It supports PST files created in Outlook 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. It can even repair password-protected PST files without any hassle.
This fast and convenient online PST repair service can help you repair your file in just a few simple steps.
Let’s see how:
• Visit the site of Stellar Online PST Repair and sign up to get started.
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• You can upload up to 500 MB for free repair.
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• After the repair process is complete, download the repaired file.
Note: The repaired file is available for download for 24 hours in the free version and for 48 hours in the Premium version.
If you need to repair a severely corrupted PST file, you can use a third-party PST repair tool. These tools often provide advanced recovery features beyond those available in ScanPST.exe.
For example, Stellar Repair for Outlook can repair corrupted PST files, preview recoverable mailbox items, and save recovered data in formats such as PST, EML, MSG, RTF, HTML, and PDF. Other third-party tools, such as Kernel for Outlook PST Repair and Recovery Toolbox for Outlook, are also available.
Before using any PST repair tool, create a backup of your original PST file and review the features and limitations of its free and paid versions.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for free methods to repair Outlook data (PST) files, then you can use Microsoft's built-in Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe) or Stellar Free Online PST Repair Service. Above, we have explained both these methods in detail. If you want to repair PST files irrespective of the file size limitations, you can opt for Stellar Repair for Outlook. This desktop-based PST repair tool can repair large, severely corrupted PST files with complete integrity and precision.