How to Recreate Outlook OST Files Even After Corruption

Updated On - August 14, 2023 by Nasir Khan | Reading Time: 4 minutes

Online Storage Table (OST) files allow users to work even when offline on Outlook. The OST files allow users to compose emails, view existing emails, delete emails, create reminders, etc. while being offline. On Internet connectivity, all changes made to the OST file get synchronized to the Exchange Server. In this blog, we discuss the common reasons for corruption of Outlook OST files and ways to recreate OST files even after corruption.

Most Common reasons of Outlook OST file Corruption

Below are few of the common reasons that might be responsible for corruption of Outlook OST files:

• Improper termination of the Outlook application
• Unintentional deletion of user account
• Add-in failure
• Presence of virus or bugs in the storage devices
• Hardware-related issues
• Bad hard drive sectors
• Sudden system shutdown or power failure
• Synchronization errors
• Header corruption
• Oversize of large OST file
• Network issues during mailbox synchronization
• Incompatible or faulty add-ins

Steps to recreate Outlook OST file to repair corrupt OST file

Perform the below steps to recreate Outlook OST file and repair corrupted OST file:

1. Close MS Outlook.
2. From Control Panel, select Mail option.
3. In Mail Setup dialog box, click Email Accounts.
4. In Account Settings, click Data Files tab, select Exchange Account, click Open File Location.
5. Delete the corrupted OST File.

When MS Outlook is restarted, a new OST file having data of damaged OST file is recreated automatically at the same default OST file location.

Recreate Exchange OST file in Outlook 2010

Perform the following steps to recreate Exchange OST file in Outlook 2010 version:

1. Exit the Microsoft Outlook application.
2. Open the Control Panel and double-click on the Mail option to open it.
3. On the Mail Setup box, click on E-mail Accounts option.
4. From the E-mail tab, go to the Exchange account, select it and then click on Change option.
5. Clear the checkbox Use Cached Exchange Mode and then click on More Settings.
6. Move to the Advanced tab and click on the Offline Folder File Settings option.
7. Select the Disable Offline Use option, click Yes to confirm.
8. Click on the Offline Folder File Settings option again and click OK.
9. Click Yes.
10. From the Cached Exchange Mode Settings, select the checkbox Use Cached Exchange Mode. Click OK > Next > Finish.
11. Close the opened Account Settings and Mail Setup dialog boxes.
12. Start the Outlook application and let the configuration complete.

A new and updated OST file is created.

Scanpst.exe – A built-in Outlook Inbox Repair Tool to repair corrupt OST file

Scanpst.exe also known as Inbox Repair tool, is an Outlook built-in application that can repair damaged Outlook OST files. This Scanpst.exe is usually found in Outlook installation directory, however the actual position of scanpst.exe may differ depending on the version of Outlook you are using. The precise location of scanpst.exe is as follows:

In MS Outlook 2019: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\
In MS Outlook 2016: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16
In MS Outlook 2013: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15
In MS Outlook 2010: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14
In MS Outlook 2007: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12

Steps to repair corrupt OST file using Scanpst.exe:

Perform the below steps to repair corrupt Outlook OST files using scanpst.exe:

1. Exit Outlook.
2. Locate and run the scanpst.exe tool.
3. Click Browse to locate the corrupted OST file.
4. Click Start to begin repairing.
5. Click Repair once scanpst.exe utility is done with scanning the OST file.
6. After completion of repairing the corrupted OST file, a success message appears.

Open Outlook in Safe Mode for repairing OST File

The add-in installed in MS Outlook sometimes causes conflicts. On opening MS Outlook in safe mode, the add-ins get disabled. To open Outlook in safe mode, perform the below steps:

1. Go to the Start menu, select Run.
2. In the Run box, use the command Outlook.exe/safe.
3. Click OK to proceed.

Microsoft Outlook will launch in safe mode.

Manual Steps to Recreate OST file in Microsoft Outlook 2016, 2013, and 2010

Perform the below steps to recreate Outlook OST file in MS Outlook 2016, 2013, and 2010 versions:

1. Launch Microsoft Outlook.
2. Go to the File menu.
3. Click the Info button and then click on Account Settings.
4. Click the Email tab and then click on Microsoft Exchange.
5. Click on the More Settings button.
6. Click the Advance tab and click on Offline Folder File Setting (Offline Data File Setting for Outlook 2013).
7. Browse a location and save the .OST file in that location (by default the file is named Outlook.ost).

Manual Steps to Recreate OST file – In Microsoft Outlook 2007

Perform the below steps to recreate Outlook OST file in MS Outlook 2007 version:

1. Launch Microsoft Outlook.
2. Go to the Tools and then click on Account Settings.
3. Click the Email tab and then click on Microsoft Exchange.
4. Click on the More Settings button.
5. Click the Advance tab and then click on Offline Folder File Setting.
6. Browse a location and save the .OST file in that location (by-default the file is named as Outlook.ost).

Limitations of Manual Methods

Below are some of the limitations of manual method for recreating Outlook OST files:

• The manual method to repair corrupted OST files fixes only minor errors.
• Does not guarantee data safety.
• The inbuilt tool scanpst.exe utility is available for Outlook 2010 versions.
• The manual method for repairing corrupted OST file can repair only up to 2 GB size OST file.

Professional Solution:

If any of the above manual methods does not work for repairing the corrupted OST file, it is recommended to use a third-party professional OST Recovery software. The user-friendly graphical user interface of OST Converter software allows even non-technical users to repair the damaged OST files. The OST Repair tool is available as a free to download demo version, download the trial version, check its capabilities, if satisfied with the offered features and OST file recovery capabilities, purchase the full licensed version of the OST Repair tool.

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Conclusion

This article discusses using scanpst.exe – a built-in Inbox Repair tool for repairing corrupt OST file. Also, here we discussed opening Outlook in safe mode and recreating Outlook OST file by deleting damaged OST file. However, there are some limitations with the manual methods. It is highly recommend to use a third-party professional Regain OST File recovery software to repair the damage, corrupt or inaccessible Outlook OST files.