Is your Outlook mailbox not reachable because of your OST files? Many users face this issue when their OST file becomes inaccessible and is corrupted, or when they encounter problems accessing it via the Exchange Server. If all you want to do is restore your mailbox safely using a tried-and-true method (step-by-step), this blog post is for you. Continue reading to learn the best techniques to repair an Outlook OST file.
Why OST Files Become Inaccessible
- Unexpected Outlook Crashes: An unexpected system shutdown or crash may impair OST files while Outlook is open.
- Sync Issues: If the OST file and Exchange Server have trouble during sync, you are likely to have missing or inaccessible items in your mailbox.
- Large OST Files: Very large OST files will slow down Outlook and/or result in your inability to access or sync the OST file.
- Outlook profiles that are damaged or corrupted: A damaged/corrupted Outlook profile can limit your mailbox connection to the OST file.
- Permission/Network issues: Incomplete permission issues and troubles connecting to the network may block access to your OST file.
- Other applications in the background: Backup applications, antivirus applications, or other monitoring tools may lock the OST file to limit accessibility.
Signs Your OST File Is Inaccessible
- Outlook shows error messages like “Cannot open OST file” or “OST file cannot be found.”
- Email, contacts, and calendar entries do not display or load.
- Outlook freezes, crashes, or has long periods of slowness.
- The server synchronization will fail repeatedly, or it will take a long time to do so.
Prevention to Help Prevent Inaccessibility
- Maintain a consistent network connection: If you are connected to Exchange Server, always remain connected to the network while you are using Outlook.
- Do not operate at the same time: Do not open the OST file across multiple applications or while there are backup scans.
- Check for Outlook Updates: Always make sure that you are up to date with the most recent version of Outlook to avoid problems with your profile and syncing.
- Keep your OST files backed up: Plan to frequently back up your OST files; that way, you will not lose any information that has been captured in your OST files.
Restore Data by Manually
If you want to restore an OST file manually, you should know that there are two methods to restore data manually: First method is to do it by built-in tools, and the second way is to recreate the OST files. This article guides the process to restore inaccessible OST files.
Method 1: Restore the file by using Scan.PST
Microsoft provides a built-in tool called ScanPST.exe to fix minor corruption in Outlook data files.
Steps:
- Close Outlook completely.
- Go to the ScanPST tool location (usually in the Office installation directory).
- Start ScanPST.exe and click Browse to select the OST file.
- Click Start to begin the scanning process.
- Once the scan has completed, click Repair to repair any errors that were detected.
- Open Outlook to verify whether the problem has been resolved.
Method 2: Re-ceate the OST File
If the OST file is beyond repair or the damage is too severe to be repaired using ScanPST, you can recreate it.
Steps:
- Close Outlook.
- Locate and rename your OST file (e.g., change Outlook.ost to Outlook_old.ost).
- Restart Outlook.
- Outlook will automatically create a new OST file and sync your data from the Exchange server.
The Manual Method’s Drawbacks
We spoke about how the manual technique works and how to repair a corrupted OST file. But there is a threat, both have their limitations, like the first method can’t repair a highly corrupted OST file, it can only repair minor issues, and the second method is not compatible with all versions of MS Outlook and Windows. Both methods are time-consuming and sometimes lose your important data.
Now that we have done the manual technique, we see that users have to deal with a lot of problems during the manual process. We encourage you to make use of our software, as indicated in the next section.
Restore Inaccessible OST Files Using OST Converter
When manual troubleshooting fails or seems too complex, FixVare OST Converter provides a secure and fast way to restore mailbox access. It has support for the bulk recovery process while maintaining the folder hierarchy. It has advanced filtration and naming conversion features, so users can restore needed data instead of complete OST files.
Key Features of This Software
- Restores Inaccessible OST Files: Fast recovery of damaged, encrypted, or locked OST files.
- Maintains Data Equivalence: E-mail messages, attachments, contacts, and calendars stay precisely as they were meant to.
- Selective Restoration: Recover selected folders or items instead of the entire PST file.
- Batch Recovery: Repair and rehabilitate multiple OST files at once.
- No Installation of Outlook Client: Runs on PCs without the installation of the Outlook app.
- Universal Compatibility: Compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and all versions of the major Outlook releases.
- User-Friendly Interface: Walks users from start to finish, whether technical or non-technical.
Steps to Restore Your Mailbox
- Launch the mentioned software on your computer.
- Click Add File and select the inaccessible OST file.
- Preview all mailbox items, including emails, attachments, and contacts.
- Choose the output format or folder location for the restored mailbox.
- Click Convert to restore all OST data safely.
- Import the restored file into Outlook to regain full access to your mailbox.
Conclusion
When OST files become inaccessible, it can greatly affect users, and they may not be able to access valuable mailbox data. There are a few fixes out there; however, many of them are difficult, time-consuming, and risky. The FixVare OST Converter provides a fast, effective, and safer method for accessing your mailbox without losing data. In just a few clicks, the user-friendly software will gain access to your emails, contacts, calendars, and attachments. Best of all, it is a solution that any individual or organization can safely trust and confidently use.
