With rising communication and collaboration in organizations, Microsoft Outlook has become the most favored and cloud-based productive suite to manage contacts, emails, calendars, and other items. PST and OST are the Outlook data files used to store information about your contacts, calendar, emails, and tasks.
However, PST files are vulnerable to corruption due to scenarios such as incompatible add-ins, sudden system shutdowns, and other measures. This error frustrates users, leads to inaccessibility when sending and receiving emails, and impacts business workflow.
To resolve all your doubts, we will present a blog in which you will learn the causes of PST corruption, what to avoid preventing corruption, and free methods to repair a corrupt PST file.
Alternatively, if the user wants a risk-free solution, try a professional tool, Kernel for Outlook PST Repair.

Causes of PST file corruption

Before jumping through the methods, let’s discuss the primary causes of PST corruption in a few points:

• Faulty add-ins can provoke crashes and freezes in Outlook during workflow.
• Sometimes, users access an attachment carrying malware, which can spread throughout systems. In such a scenario, the PST file can get damaged resulting in PST corruption.
• When your PST files exceed their limits and get oversized, it leads to corruption.
• If Outlook shuts down abruptly instead of properly closing the software, it causes corruption.
• Sometimes, Outlook fails to synchronize with emails due to network issues, which might corrupt the PST file.
• If Outlook is not updated in your system, it may also cause corruption in PST files.

Tips to Prevent Outlook PST from Corruption

This section will mention the multiple tips to prevent Outlook PST file corruption issue.

• Regularly backup the PST file.
• properly close the Outlook application before the system shutdowns.
• Store the PST file on the local drive instead of a network drive.
• Avoid installing add-ins from unreliable sources.
• Do not open the weblinks, emails, or attachments from unknown sources.
• Remove temporary and cache files periodically.

Free Methods to Repair a Corrupt PST file

In the above section, we have explained the causes and prevention tips for PST corruption. Now, it’s time to fix it correctly. Let us get started and repair it using different methods. Read this section carefully because we will disclose the solution for your corrupted PST here.

Method 1: Turn-off Firewall Settings

If Outlook is not functioning smoothly, check Firewall settings. In case it is already enabled then use the control panel to disable Firewall settings to make the Outlook application accessible.

• Open the Control Panel in your system.
• View system and security options.
• Click on the Windows Firewall.
• Go through the option Turn Windows Firewall Off and On.
• Tap on Turn Off Windows Firewall. Click Ok.

Method 2: Use ScanPST.exe to repair corrupt PST files

ScanPST.exe also known as Inbox Repair tool provided by Microsoft is used to repair the Outlook PST file. Let’s discuss how to use this tool to recover the Outlook PST files. Here are the steps given below:

• Firstly, find the Inbox Repair tool, which relies on Outlook versions. The location of the tool in different Outlook versions is given below:
• Outlook 2016: C:\Program Files (x86) \Microsoft Office\root\Office16
• Outlook 2019: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\
• Outlook 2021: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\
• Find your Outlook version and then follow the locations to open ScanPST.exe.
• Tap on the Browse option and choose corrupt PST file.
• Press on the start option to start the repair process.
• Check mark on Make Backup of scanned file before repairing. Click Repair.

Method 3: Create a new PST file

If the above methods are unable to fix your corrupt PST file, then create New PST file. To create a new PST file, follow the steps given below:

• Access Outlook in your system.
• Go through the File tab> Info.
• Tap on Account Settings > Account Settings.
• Choose Data Files and tap Add.
• In file explore choose the repaired PST file.
• Tap Ok to create a new PST file.

Method 4: Reliable method for Outlook PST Repair

The above-discussed free methods easily repair minor corruption in PST files. But if you have trouble with major corruption, they might not handle it and are prone to significant errors. According to our organizations experience, it is better to use a reliable Outlook PST Repair tool that simultaneously recovers your large volume of corrupted PST files. Kernel Outlook PST Repair is a top-quality tool designed with an interactive interface to repair corrupt, damaged, or inaccessible PST files quickly. Try its demo version for a free hands-on experience, which quickly repairs 25 items per folder.

Conclusion

Handling corruption in PST files is not easy with free methods. Because it can only repair minor corruption and glitches in Outlook PST, and naive users requires technical assistance to follow manual procedures. If you are a technical specialist, you can easily use the free method. Otherwise, try a trustworthy Outlook PST Repair tool mentioned above to repair your PST files hassle-free.

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