Best Guide to Repair Corrupt PST File in 2025

Nothing is wrong in saying that data file (.pst) is the backbone of Outlook, the globally popular email client. The Personal Storage Table (.pst) files are also termed as the personal folder. These files store mailbox content like email messages, contacts, calendars, etc. on the local system or an external hard disk. Note that PST files do not have mailbox size limits on a mail server.

The healthy status for .pst file is pivotal for flawless Outlook operations. These files are also portable in nature. Other profiles and environments can also access them. Such features make these files more prone to corruption. Understanding factors that can cause corruption issues in these files is vital to mitigate corruption chances. Sometimes the accumulation of data and metadata in these files breaches the data size limit imposed by Outlook. Suca h scenario leads to an oversized .pst file, causing corruption issues. Other reasons that can amount to corruption issues in the .pst file comprise a virus attack, hardware failure, software issues, or forced termination of the application.

Now the question arises how to repair a damaged .pst file. Well, blog/find-scanpst-exe-location-in-ms-outlook/">ScanPST is a built-in utility to fix such corruption issues in Outlook data files (.pst). This utility scans, diagnoses,ses, and repairs the corrupt file. But it has some limitations. It is best for repairing files with minor corruption issues. In the event of the utility’s failure, we need some professional PST reptoolstool to fix the issue. Unleash the Best Guide to Repair Corrupt PST File in 2025 to repair a damaged Outlook data file (.pst), ensuring your vital data is secure and accessible.

Signs of a Damaged PST File:

Here are some prominent signs that indicate corruption issues in an Outlook data file (.pst):

Error Messages: The user starts facing a sudden surge in error messages like “The set of folders cannot be opened,” or “The file is not an Outlook data file (PST),” etc. This is a sign of such corruption.
Delayed Actions: The application takes a longer time to perform actions like searching email messages, contacts, etc. It is one of the major signs of corruption.
Sudden Freeze: A damaged .pst file also causes a sudden freeze or closure of the application.
Outlook Fails to Start: In some cases, corruption also hinders the start of the email client.
Missing Folders: The user discovers incomplete mailbox content like missing email messages, contacts, or events. It also falls under the category of corruption.

Major Causes of PST File Corruption:

In this part of the guide, we will unearth reasons that can lead to corruption in the .pst file. Some of such causes are:

An Oversized File: Different versions of Outlook have imposed a file size limit. For example, in the 2003 and 2007 versions (ANSI format) this limit was 2GB. They raised it to 50 GB for the UNICODE file format in 2010 and later versions. If the data file size exceeds this threshold, it will corrupt.
Power Shutdown: Power breakdown when Outlook is active may lead to inaccessible email messages or errors in the PST file structure. It can cause corruption issues in the data files.
Malware Attacks: Any email message attachment may carry a virus, downloading it may damage the .pst file.
Forced Shutdown: If the Outlook user ditches the prescribed procedure and closes three applications abruptly, it can lead to corruption in the .pst file.
Software Issues: Plugins or add-ins sourced from unauthorized sources can create hurdles in the normal functioning of the application. It may result in corruption issues.

Best Guide to Repair Corrupt PST File in 2025:

Repairing a corrupt PST file is crucial. If the issue persists for long, it may lead to irrecoverable data loss. This part of the guide sheds light on every step to easily recover your Outlook data.

Method 1: Repair Using ScanPST.exe

It is the first aid available to Outlook users to fix corruption issues in the PST file. This utility validates the headers, file structures, and folders. After the scan, it provides a report and attempts to fix minor issues. The step-by-step guide is listed below:

Step 1:

Discover this utility in the following locations:

MS Outlook Version:	Scanpst Location
2016 and 2019:	C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
2013:	C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15
2010:	C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14

Step 2:

Close the application and other associated processes. Wait for some time.

Step 3:

Open the ‘Run’ Dialogue box by clicking the Windows + R keys.

Step 4:

Type %programfiles%/Microsoft Office/ in the dialogue box. Click Enter.

Step 5:

Now navigate to the targeted Outlook data file (.pst).

Step 6:

Start the scanning procedure.

Step 7:

Once the procedure is finished, the utility will showcase a report with errors and inconsistencies. After reading the investigation, click the “Repair” tab to proceed.

Step 8:

Creating a backup is the best option. Do it by opting for the checkbox option. Then provide the location path to save the backup file.

Step 9:

Once the repair process is over, the utility will display a summary of the results. Evaluate them.

Step 10:

Restart the application to verify if the issues have been fixed or not.

Are There Any Limitations of ScanPST?

We have already discussed earlier that this utility is best suitable for small files (up to 2 GB) with minor corruption issues. It may fail to fix issues involving large data files or a complex corruption scenario like in case of a virus attack. Some of its limitations are:

Time Consumption: The utility only fixes one file at a time. Additionally, it runs multiple scans to validate the error. It then diagnoses the issue. After this step, it tries to fix the error. This all amounts to a loss of productive hours. Things will worsen if the user has to scan multiple files.
Risk of Data Loss: There is always a risk of losing vital business data during this manual process.
Technical Expertise: A person using ScanPST must be aware of all steps involved in the repair process. Any miscalculation may lead to irretrievable damage to data.
An Oversized PST File: Different Outlook versions have imposed a data file size limit. For instance, such a size limit is 2 GB in the case of 2002/XP, and older Outlook versions. It was later enhanced to 20 GB for Outlook 2007 and later versions. It is now 50 GB. If the ScanPST scans a file larger than the prescribed size limit, it may not be able to repair it.
Inaccessible or Orphaned Files: This built-in utility by Microsoft may fail to repair encrypted, or password-protected Outlook data files (.pst).
Minor Issues: The utility is best for addressing minor errors like corruption in the header, folder structure, etc. It may fail while dealing with complex corruption issues like in the case of a virus attack.

Method 2: Repair Using Third-Party Tools

Many users query “What’s next if ScanPST fails?” Worry not. In such cases, we can employ any PST repair tool like Stellar Repair for Outlook. These tools are not only powered with a friendly GUI but also capable of recovering even deleted or inaccessible mailbox items. Their advanced algorithm is capable of addressing corruption issues in case of a severely damaged .pst file (like in case of a malware attack). Additionally, such repair tools also maintain the integrity and structure of your data.

Advantages of using Stellar Repair for Outlook

–Ensures a fast and effective solution to repair an oversized .pst file.

–Effectively restores accidentally deleted or lost mailbox items.

— Exhibits the preview of the fixed .pst file with all its content.

— Offers advanced filter options for selective repair.

— Offers the option to export data in multiple file formats–PST, EML, MSG, RTF, HTML, and PDF.

Conclusion

Healthy PST files are ma ust for seamless Outlook operations. Any corruption issue to these files must be dealt with at the war footing level as any delay may lead to irrecoverable loss of business-sensitive data. Microsoft has provided a built-in utility called the Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe) to repair such damaged data files. However, the utility has some shortcomings that range from its inability to repair an oversized .pst file and risk of losing sensitive business data to consumption of ample productive hours. It is better to use any third-party PST Data recovery software. Such tools are fast and reliable. Stellar Repair for Outlook is one such tool. It is recommended by IT admins. This software features a friendly GUI. It quickly scans, diagnoses, and fixes issues even in an oversized or severely-corrupted .pst file. Additionally, it maintains the original structure of the repaired file.