Microsoft Outlook recently launched its latest version in 2024, named Outlook365. It comes with versatile features that increase users’ productivity. They add multiple features for both personal or business purpose such as Enhanced search capabilities for emails, calendars, and contacts, More flexibility in managing meetings, including automatic shortening, Copilot Integration, Easily moving emails and attachments to the desktop with drag & drop, Share files from Word, Excel, and PowerPoint directly through Outlook, and many more. They corrected a lot of issues, but human errors still corrupt OST files. This often happens due to accidental power cuts, improper shutdowns, software clashes, Windows errors, and similar issues. There are two main ways to repair OST files in Microsoft Outlook. One uses the ScanPST.exe tool through Command Prompt, and the other uses OST recovery software to repair the OST file.
Why OST File Corrupted?
Most of the time OST file getting corrupt by the mistake and irresponsible behaviour but on some case where by the software or malware reason OST file faces Errors. Let me with complete manure explain the most common reasons in three categories – Software Error/Malware Error and Human Error.
Software related issues:-
- Virus Infection: This occurs because malware overwrites the OST data and delete parts of the OST file making it inaccessible. People usually attribute this to a lack of antivirus software.
- Improper Termination of Outlook: Improperly closing Microsoft Outlook can corrupt the OST file. This also includes situations where the application stops functioning. Once this limit approaches or exceeds its threshold, it causes performance problems that increase the risk of corruption.
- Oversized Outlook Data File: There is file size limitation on OST files also (Unicode files have a maximum size of 50 GB in Outlook 2010 and later). Once this limit is approached or exceeded, it triggers performance problems that increase the risk of corruption.
- Conflicting Add-ins: Logically incompatible add-ins used in outlook or add-ins that are not functioning properly can result to further creation of ost file corruption. Still, these conflicts can cause a halt to the usual functions and even the way information is dealt with in Outlook.
- Poor or Abrupt Network Connection: In case of fluctuating network connectivity while synchronizing MS Outlook with the Exchange Server, the synchronization may stop. When this happens, something can damage the OST file.
Users related issues:-
- Improper Shutdown of Outlook: Users of outlook quickly close the application without clicking on the save button, or even giving the application time to close properly. This issue can prevent most of the data from being written properly to the OST file, which ultimately causes corruption.
- Frequent Network Disruptions: When there are interruptions due to sporadic network issues, users experience delays in the synchronization process. This affects the connection to the Exchange Server. These intrusions copy only partial data and can damage the OST file.
- Exceeding File Size Limits: Mail users who receive and store a large number of emails and, especially, attachments have a chance to overload OST file and transfer its size to the maximum allowable value. If the system reaches this limit, it performs poorly, which increases the likelihood of corruption.
- Use of Incompatible Add-ins: Most individuals prefer to apply third-party supplied add-ins to customize Outlook more than it is capable of originally. However, if the add-ins are incompatible or even not working correctly then it impacts the Outlook working and OST files received corruption.
- Neglecting Regular Maintenance: In this way, users may overlook other basic tasks like compacting the OST file. They may also forget to check different repair algorithms. This can cause the file to slowly wear out over time. Eventually, the file becomes corrupted due to such negligence.
These both categories issues are highly responsible for the OST file corruption in all versions of Outlook. If users manage to avoid these mistakes and take precautions then user can safe their OST file from corruption.
That’s how Repair OST File of Microsoft Outlook
When you search for the OST Repair method there a burst of solution pop-up and confused you which one to choose and which one give instant and safe results. This thing waste lot of time of an user. But don’t worry I bring best two ways from the ocean of internet which gives seamless and effective solution in OST repair case and they both are highly securable.
Using ScanPST.exe ( Method 1 )
- Close Outlook: This repair tool must only be accessed when Microsoft Outlook is not running in the system.
- Locate ScanPST.exe: If you want to run it, you only need to search Inbox Repair Tool or what is also called ScanPST.exe on the computer. The typical paths are:
- For Outlook 2019/2021 (32-bit): The path COMBED is in the folder C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office.
- For Outlook 2019/2021 (64-bit): C:\ProgramFiles(x86)\\Microsoft Office \\Microsoft Office.
- Change the path of the type of office depending on the one installed either 32- bit or 64- bit? The path here should represent the actual version of the office installed Office should be either 32- bit or 64 – bit then the path should be as follows depending the type of the office installed.
- Run ScanPST.exe: Double click on ScanPST.exe so that it starts running the program.
- Select the OST File: On the main interface of the program, there is a ‘Browse’ button that when clicked opens the folder containing the corrupted OST file.
- Start the Scan: For the initiation of the scanning of the selected OST file and for the search of the different errors click the ‘Start’ button.
- Backup Option: If there are errors, you will be prompted to identify them. You will then be guided on where to click to create a copy of the scanned file and begin fixing it. Choose another site where you will create back up and proceed.
- Repair Process: After this, click on the ‘Repair’ button positioned above to enable the repair of the file. Through this tool, all the error which are found in the OST file will be attempted to be rectified.
- Completion Notification: If there has been a repair performed the notification to that effect will appear. Click on ‘OK’ to finish it and then shut down the Outlook to learn whether the information can be recovered or not.
If the above steps do not work, then the only option left is to recreate the OST file or use recovery tools.
Using OST Recovery Software ( Method 2 )
In previous method most of user struggle because using administrator is not easy work after getting whole steps-by-steps guidance there are bno guarantee every user can to fix their ost file. That’s why their second solution is very important. Here we use an Automatic way by using OST Recovery Software.
- Install WebbyAcad OST Recovery Software and open it on desktop.
- Add your corrupt OST file by the “ Add File “ option.
- Preview the File Emails and Attachments.
- Select the file format PST from dropdown.
- Apply Fliter as your data files need.
- Set the saving file destination and export files.
Benefits of using OST Recovery Software:-
- Repair corrupted ost file during data exportation.
- Gives multiple file formats exportation such as – PST, MBOX, EML, EMLX, PDF, HTML, CSV, TGZ, etc.
- Compatibility with All kind of Windows OS.
- Large OST file can be split into smallers by PST Splitter feature.
- Duplicate File Remover.
- Free Upgardes and Free Download Version availability.
Conclusion
Microsoft Outlook works as a modern instant messaging tool with integrated Microsoft Office desktop features, but OST files can still get corrupted. This issue becomes even more complicated in the Outlook 365 OS version because of the newly added features. The causes of corruption- related to the release of the software error and user mistakes- should be studied in details in order to prevent it. In other words, to regain the access to the necessary data, people can turn to such tools as ScanPST.exe or rely on various OST software.