The Personal Folders File (or PST) format for Microsoft Outlook has long been plagued with problems. Microsoft is aware of this, which is why Outlook includes an internal tool called Inbox Repair to aid in the repair of faulty PST files.

In most circumstances, patching a broken PST file should only require running it through the Inbox Repair tool. To find missing objects, though, you may need to go above and beyond.

How to Repair Outlook PST Files

You must dig a little to find Outlook’s Inbox Repair tool because it is hidden away in the Microsoft Office installation folder on your computer. All you have to do to fix the damaged PST file is choose it once you’ve discovered and started Inbox 

Important: The damaged PST file can be backed up using the Inbox Repair option. Make sure to choose it because you might need a copy to later retrieve missing data.

1. Shut off Microsoft Outlook completely.
2. Launch File Explorer. Go through the following folders based on the Windows version you are using:

• Local Disk (C:) > Program Files > Microsoft Office > root > Office 16 (Windows 64-bit)
• Local Disk (C:) > Program Files (x86) > Windows 32-bit Root > Office 16 in Microsoft Office

Note: Outlook 2016, Outlook 2019, and Outlook 365 are all compatible with the aforementioned folder paths. You must choose the Office 15 (Outlook 2013), Office 14 (Outlook 2010), or Office 12 (Outlook 2007) folder if you are using an older version of Outlook.

3. Look for the SCANPST file and open it as an administrator.

4. Select the Outlook PST file you want to repair using the Browse option.

• Press Windows+S to launch Windows Search if you aren’t sure where the PST file is located. Then, use the name and PST file extension to search for it. The file location will be displayed in the search results.

• To view the location of the PST file, launch Outlook and navigate to File > Account Settings > Data Files. After that, make sure to shut down the application.

5. Choose Start. The PST file will be examined for problems by the Inbox Repair program. It ought to take some time.

6. Select Repair and check the radio option next to Make backup of scanned file before repairing.

7. Click OK to complete the PST file repair.

Open Microsoft Outlook, and the PST file should immediately begin to be used without any problems. The corrupted PST file (with the.BAK extension) will be present in the same place as the corrected original.

Restore lost and discovered files.

The Inbox Repair feature of Microsoft Outlook occasionally succeeds in fixing a severely damaged PST file. Imagine that no mended files are put back in their original directories or locations by the utility. If so, it will group them together in a lost and found folder or a collection of folders labeled Recovered Personal Folders. 

By creating a new PST data file in Outlook and transferring the contents of the Lost and Found or Recovered Personal Folders into it, you can recover these items.

1. Launch the Outlook Home tab. Next, pick Outlook Data File from the More Items menu by selecting the menu option next to New Email.

2. Select OK after choosing the Outlook Data File option.

3. Choose OK after choosing a place on your computer and giving the new PST file a name.

4. To change the Outlook sidebar to folder list view, click the More button (three dots) in the lower-left corner of the Outlook window and choose Folders.

5. Drag the contents of the recovered personal folders or lost and found folders into the new data file.

After that, you may decide whether to delete the Recovered Personal Folders data file or the Lost and Found folder from Outlook.

Additional PST items to recover

Let’s say you find any missing data in the modified file. You can attempt rescuing them using the backup copy of the original if you’re also unsuccessful in finding them in the Lost and Found folder or under Recovered Personal Folders. In essence, you attempt to import the file’s contents without importing any of the things that the Inbox Recovery program has previously retrieved.

1. Transfer the corrupted backup PST file to your desktop.
2. Replace the.BAK extension with a.PST one at the end of the file name.

3. In Outlook, open the File menu and choose Open & Export > Import/Export.

4. Click Next after choosing “Import from another program or file.”

5. Click Next after selecting Outlook Data File (.pst).

6. The backup copy of the corrupted PST file (the one you just renamed) can be found by selecting Browse and selecting it.

7. Select Next after choosing Do not import duplicates.

8. Tick Include subfolders next to the box. Choose the account or data file that you wish to import the things into, then click Import folders into the same folder.

9. Choose Finish.

You need to manually check to see if the items that were missing earlier are now present once Outlook has finished importing any data. If not, try again another time with the Inbox Repair tool.

Tools for Third-Party Outlook PST Repair and Recovery

Many commercial third-party programs that purport to fix broken or corrupted Outlook PST files may be found online with a quick search. However, the Inbox Repair tool ought to be more than adequate for the task in almost all circumstances.

If Inbox Repair is unable to recover your data, only use a third-party (1(559)312-2872) recovery program; but, before paying for one, do your research by carefully reading internet evaluations.

One last fascinating fact before we go: the Inbox Repair tool also enables you to recover deleted items from Outlook.