Outlook PST File Cannot Be Opened? Here’s How to Resolve It

Backing up your documents to OneDrive is great but can cause issues with your Outlook emails. We all know that Outlook stores your emails in a PST file; by default, it saves this file in your Documents folder. When you back up your Documents folder to OneDrive, OneDrive locks the PST file to keep it safe while syncing. Unfortunately, this lock prevents Outlook from accessing your emails, leading to the “Outlook PST cannot be opened” error.

Here, we will define the best troubleshooting ways to resolve the error. Moreover, we will discuss some common reasons for occurring this issue. You just need to stay focused and read each section to clear all your doubts.

Reasons for PST File Not Opening in Outlook

The following section will discuss some common reasons for causing the issue.

• Your computer might be multitasking and sometimes Outlook itself or a backup program can run in the background and lock the PST file.
• Software clashes – other programs on your computer might not play well with Outlook and interfere with the PST file.
• Faulty add-ons – those extra features you installed for Outlook might be causing problems.
• Damaged Outlook PST File – if your PST file gets corrupted, Outlook might not be able to open it.
• Permission denied – ensure you have the correct access to your PST file.
• Outdated Outlook – using an older version of Outlook might lead to compatibility issues.
• Corrupted profile – your Outlook profile itself might be damaged.

Here, we have gone through the reasons. Now, it’s time to learn the ways to fix the error.

4 Ways to Fix Outlook PST Cannot Be Opened Error

Are you frustrated because you can’t open your Outlook emails? Don’t worry! There are a few ways you can fix the problem. This guide will walk you through the best solutions, but they only work for regular Outlook data files (PST files).

#1. Creating a New Outlook Profile

Sometimes the problem lies with your current Outlook profile settings. By creating a new profile, you can ditch any glitches that prevent you from opening your emails. Here’s how to do it:

• First, open the Control Panel and search for Mail.
• After that, click on Mail and then navigate to the Profile section.
• Then, click on Show Profiles.
• Now, click Add to give your new profile a name and hit Finish.
• You’ve created your new profile! Now, set it as the default by clicking Always use this profile in the Mail window and choosing your new profile name. Click OK.
• Finally, restart Outlook and see if you can access your emails now.

#2. Closing and Restarting Outlook

Sometimes the easiest solutions are the most effective. Close Outlook completely using the Task Manager. Follow the below steps to fix Outlook Data File Cannot be Opened.

• First, open the search bar on your taskbar and type Task Manager.
• After that, click More Details if you don’t see the full list of programs.
• In the Processes tab, find Outlook and click on it.
• Then, click on End Task to completely close Outlook.
• At last, close the Task Manager and then relaunch Outlook.

Great! If not, move on to the next step to resolve the Unable to Open PST File in Outlook error.

#3. Run MS Outlook in Safe Mode

Sometimes, an add-on might be causing the problem. Starting Outlook in Safe Mode lets you open it without any add-ons running. If you can access your emails in Safe Mode, an add-on is the problem. Here’s how to use Safe Mode:

• First, close Outlook completely.
• After that, press the Windows and R keys simultaneously to open the Run dialog.
• In the text box, type outlook.exe /safe and press Enter.
• If you can open your emails in Safe Mode, head to File > Options > Add-ins. Here, you can disable your add-ins one by one to see which one is causing the issue.

#4. Repairing the Damaged PST Files

If your PST data file itself is corrupted, you can use a built-in tool called ScanPST.exe (also known as the Inbox Repair Tool) to fix it. However, this tool scans your PST file for errors and attempts to repair them. Here’s how to use it:

• The location may vary depending on your Outlook version, so you might need to do a quick search.
• Afterwards, open the tool and click Browse to select your PST data file.
• Subsequently, click Start to begin the scan.
• If the scan finds errors, click Repair to fix them.

Hopefully, one of these solutions will help you resolve the “PST Cannot Be Opened” error and get you back to managing your emails. But somehow, you can’t open your PST files, it simply indicates your PST file is severely damaged. If you want to recover the corruption, use the Cigati PST Recovery Tool. This utility will repair the damaged PST file without hampering the data.

End Notes

Getting the “PST Cannot Be Opened” error in Outlook can be frustrating, but don’t worry! Several solutions are there to try, like creating a new profile, restarting Outlook, using Safe Mode, or repairing your data file. Remember, these methods only work for standard PST files. If none of these solutions work, it’s best to consult a data recovery professional methods of accessing your emails.

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