How To Repair Corrupt OST File?

If you’re having trouble viewing an OST file’s contents. Don’t panic, there are several potential fixes that you may attempt. We know how annoying it can be to be unable to access a file you need to work on. You may be able to quickly repair your OTS files by using the Hi5 Ost File Repair Tool.

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Outlook Data Files (. ost) are used when you have an Exchange account and want to work offline or use or use the default Cached Exchange Mode. This type of data file is also used for accounts that you set up with the Outlook Connector for Outlook.com (formerly Hotmail).

Users prefer using OST files for the continuation of their work in case of an unstable or no internet connection. On the other hand, PST files are commonly used to generate a backup of Outlook data. OST files are only compatible with one server, which is the Microsoft Exchange server.

Table of contents:

Reasons Why OST File Gets Corrupt?

How To Repair Damage OST File?

Steps To Fix Corrupted Outlook OST File

Useful Tips To Fix Corrupt/Damaged OST Files

Conclusion

Reasons Why OST File Gets Corrupt?

There can be various reasons why an OST (Offline Storage Table) file gets corrupt. Some of the common reasons include:

  • Sudden power failure: A sudden power failure or system shutdown while working on Outlook can cause the OST file to become corrupt.
  • Virus or malware attacks: A virus or malware attack on your system can damage the OST file and corrupt it.
  • Improper synchronization: If there is any issue during the synchronization process between the OST file and the Exchange Server, it can lead to OST file corruption.
  • Software malfunction: If there is a software malfunction while working with Outlook or if any third-party add-ins are installed in Outlook, it can lead to OST file corruption.
  • Large OST file size: If the corrupt OST file size exceeds its maximum limit or if it contains too many items, it can make the file more prone to corruption.
  • Hardware failure: A hardware failure such as a hard drive crash can cause the OST file to become corrupt.

How To Repair Damage OST File?

Method 1: Repair Corrupt OST File Using ScanPST

Microsoft provides a built-in tool called ScanPST (also known as the Inbox Repair Tool) that can be used to repair corrupt OST files in Outlook. Here are the steps to repair a corrupt OST file using ScanPST:

  • Close Outlook and any other program that may be using the Outlook OST file.
  • Locate the ScanPST.exe tool on your computer. The location of the tool may vary depending on the version of Outlook you are using. You can use the search function in Windows to find the tool.
  • Double-click on the ScanPST.exe file to open it.
  • In the “Enter the name of the file you want to scan” field, enter the path and name of the corrupt OST file that you want to repair. You can click on the “Browse” button to locate the file if you are not sure of the location.
  • Click on the “Start” button to begin the scanning process.
  • The tool will analyze the OST file and report any errors that it finds. Click on the “Repair” button to start the repair process.
  • Once the repair process is complete, the tool will show a summary of the repairs that were made. Click on the “OK” button to close the tool.
  • Open Outlook and check if the OST file has been repaired successfully.

Method 2: Repair the OST File By Deleting and Recreating

If your OST (Offline Storage Table) file is corrupt and you don’t have a backup or don’t want to use a third-party tool to repair it, you can try deleting and recreating the OST file. Here are the steps to delete and recreate an OST file:

  • Close Outlook and any other program that may be using the OST file.
  • Open the Control Panel and go to “Mail”.
  • Click on “Show Profiles” and select the profile that is associated with the corrupt OST file.
  • Click on “Properties” and then click on “Email Accounts”.
  • In the “Email” tab, select the account that is associated with the OST file and click on “Change”.
  • Click on “More Settings” and go to the “Advanced” tab.
  • Click on “Offline Folder File Settings” and then click on “Disable Offline Use”.
  • Click on “Yes” to confirm that you want to disable offline use.
  • Close all the windows and go back to the “Mail” window.
  • Click on “Data Files” and select the OST file that you want to delete.
  • Click on “Remove” and confirm that you want to delete the file.
  • Close all the windows and open Outlook.
  • Go to “File” > “Account Settings” > “Account Settings”.
  • Click on the “Data Files” tab and click on “Add”.
  • Select “Outlook Data File (.ost)” and click on “OK”.
  • Give the new OST file a name and save it in a desired location.
  • Once the new OST file is created, you can re-enable offline use by going to “File” > “Account Settings” > “Account Settings”, selecting the account, clicking on “Change”, going to “More Settings” > “Advanced”, and then clicking on “Offline Folder File Settings” and selecting the new OST file.
  • Click on “OK” to save the changes.

Method 3: Fix Corrupt OST File Using Hi5 OST File Repair

Hi5 OST File Repair is an award-winning tool loved by millions of users across the globe, the tool is user-friendly to make repairing corrupted ost files extremely easy. You can repair easily your files without any modification. The tool is built with powerful algorithms that dive deeper into the petition to fix more than 500 types of files lost due to any reason. It supports all kinds of OST files like calendars, contacts, emails, etc. The tool is compatible with all versions of Windows and Mac.

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Steps To Fix Corrupted Outlook OST File

Step 1: Download and Install Hi5 Outlook PST File Repair Software on your Window System

Step 2: The main screen will display three main options

  • Open Default PST File – Select the default location of your PST File
  • Select PST File Manually – If you’re aware of the Outlook PST File location, then choose this option and provide the PST file path manually
  • Find All PST Files – Select this option when you are not aware of the PST file path. It scans the entire drive to fetch the PST files present in your hard drive

Step 3: Now you can see two different scanning options on this screen

  • Normal Scan – You can select this option when the severity of PST file corruption is low
  • Smart Scan – In case, if you’ve deleted emails, contacts, appointments, journals, notes, or any other Outlook attributes or if the severity of PST file corruption is high when Normal Scan fails to scan

Step 4: After selecting the appropriate options, click on the “Repair” button to start repairing corrupted or damaged Outlook PST files

Step 5: When the repair process is completed, you can view repaired and recovered Outlook PST File by using the “Preview” option

Step 6: Now just import the repaired PST file and access the healthy and error-free Outlook PST file

Useful Tips To Fix Corrupt/Damaged OST Files

  • Use a reliable antivirus program
  • Avoid force-closing Outlook
  • Use the latest version of Outlook
  • Keep the OST file size under control
  • Avoid sudden shutdowns
  • Use the built-in ScanPST tool
  • Create regular backups

Conclusion: 

Here we end our discussion on repairing ost files from Outlook. Where we have explained 6 ways to help you get back damaged ost files. However, if you are looking for an easy yet quick way to fix corrupted ost files. We suggest you make use of the Hi5 OST File Repair Tool If you have any additional questions, feel free to drop them in the comment section below.

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