Outlook PST files can easily get corrupted due to oversized data, abrupt shutdowns, malware attacks, or software conflicts. When this happens, you may face errors like “Cannot open Outlook data file”, “File is not a personal folders file”, or missing emails and folders. The good news? You can easily repair and restore your damaged PST files with the right approach and tools.

Why PST Files Get Corrupted

Several factors can damage Outlook PST files, including:

  • Sudden system or Outlook crashes
  • Corrupt hard drive sectors
  • Oversized or fragmented PST files
  • Faulty add-ins
  • Virus or malware intrusion
  • Improper Outlook shutdown

 

Simple Ways to Fix Corrupted PST Files

  1. Use Outlook’s Built-in Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe)

Microsoft offers a default repair utility that scans and fixes minor PST issues.

  • Locate ScanPST.exe inside the Outlook installation folder
  • Run the scan
  • Repair corrupted items (Best for small, moderately corrupted PST files).
  1. Create a New PST File and Import Data

If repairing a corrupted PST file doesn’t restore all mailbox items, creating a fresh PST file and importing the recovered data is a reliable alternative. This method helps bypass deep-rooted corruption and ensures smoother Outlook performance.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open Microsoft Outlook

Launch Outlook on your computer and go to File from the main menu.

Step 2: Create a New PST File

  1. Click Account Settings → Account Settings
  2. Go to the Data Files tab
  3. Click Add
  4. Enter a name for your new PST file and save it

Your new PST file is now ready to store emails and other mailbox items.

Step 3: Import Recovered Data

  1. Go to File → Open & Export
  2. Select Import/Export
  3. Choose Import from another program or file
  4. Select Outlook Data File (.pst)
  5. Browse and choose the repaired or recovered PST file
  6. Choose whether to replace, allow duplicates, or skip duplicates
  7. Select the desired folder and start importing

Why This Method Works

  • Avoids Internal Corruption: Transfers data to a fresh PST, eliminating lingering file errors.
  • Improves Outlook Performance: A new PST reduces load times, crashes, and indexing problems.
  • Selective Importing: Helps you choose only necessary folders, avoiding unnecessary clutter.
  1. Use a Professional PST Recovery Tool (Fast & Guaranteed)

Use a Professional ATS PST Recovery Tool

When PST file corruption goes beyond what manual repair methods can handle, using a reliable third-party solution becomes essential. The ATS PST Recovery Tool is an advanced utility designed to repair, recover, and restore corrupted, inaccessible, or oversized PST files with complete data integrity, making Outlook data recovery effortless for both home users and IT professionals.

Why Choose ATS PST Recovery Tool?

The tool employs powerful scanning algorithms capable of identifying deep-rooted corruption and retrieving mailbox items without modifying the original data. Whether your PST file is damaged due to system crashes, malware attack, oversized storage, or improper shutdown, ATS ensures successful recovery every time.

Key Features of ATS PST Recovery Tool

  • Repairs Corrupted PST Files Instantly: Fixes minor to severe PST corruption, including header damage and unreadable sectors.
  • Recovers Complete Outlook Mailbox Items: Restores emails, folders, contacts, calendars, journals, tasks, notes, and attachments with original formatting intact.
  • Restores Permanently Deleted Items: Retrieves emails that were accidentally or permanently deleted from the PST file.
  • Works with Large & Password-Protected PST Files: No file size limitation—recovers data from oversized, encrypted, and password-protected PSTs with ease.
  • Multiple Export Options: Save recovered data into PST, MSG, EML, EMLX, MBOX, HTML, vCard, vCal, Office 365, and IMAP.
  • Maintains Folder Hierarchy and Metadata: Preserves email structure, subject, sender, date, attachments, and read/unread status.
  • Simple and Intuitive Interface: No technical knowledge required—just load, scan, preview, and save.

How It Works

  1. Launch the ATS PST Recovery Tool
  2. Add PST File you want to repair
  3. Scan to detect corruption and preview recovered mailbox items
  4. Export data to a new PST file or preferred output format

In just a few clicks, your damaged Outlook mailbox is restored and ready to use.

When to Use ATS PST Recovery Tool

Use this tool if you face issues like:

  • “Cannot open Outlook data file”
  • “PST is not a personal folder file”
  • Missing emails, inaccessible folders, or frequent Outlook crashes
  • Oversized or password-protected PST files
  • Virus-infected or severely corrupted PST archives

Conclusion

Fixing corrupted PST files doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you use Outlook’s built-in tools or a professional PST recovery solution, you can restore your valuable emails quickly and safely. For users facing severe corruption, ATS Outlook PST Recovery offers a reliable, user-friendly, and powerful method to get your Outlook data back—without hassle.