Outlook Does Not Recognize PST File - How to Fix?

Microsoft Outlook, a widely used email client, relies on Personal Storage Table (PST) files to store emails, contacts, calendars, and other important data. Not only you, but many Outlook users face Outlook does not recognize the PST file error, which disturbs the workflow.

It is quite frustrating, because your important data, including business and personal, gets locked and you can’t access it. Here is some good news!!!

Many reliable ways are available to fix Outlook does not recognize PST file error and help bring your mailbox back in working order. In this article, we’ll look at the top reasons behind this issue and provide effective methods to fix it.

Why ‘Outlook Does not recognize PST File’ Error Occurs?

Resolution for the Outlook does not recognize the PST file error starts with identifying its causes. Here are some common reasons for ‘Outlook does not recognize the PST file’ error:

• PST file version incompatibility.
• Corruption/damages issue in the PST file.
• Bad sectors or disk-related problems.
• The PST file became oversized and unreadable.
• PST is moved or deleted from its original location.
• Presence of conflicting/damaged Outlook add-ins.

After understanding the reasons, let’s now fix Outlook does not recognize the PST file error.

Working Tips to Fix Outlook Not Recognizing PST File Error

Apart from manual methods, the following tips may also be helpful to fix the ‘Outlook does not recognize PST file’ error. Follow them accordingly:

• Ensure the PST file is in the correct location. If the file is missing, manually locate it on your computer and reattach it.
• If the PST file is too large, Outlook may fail to recognize it. Delete unnecessary emails and empty the Deleted Items folder, archive old emails to a new PST file and compact the PST file.
• If you are trying to open a PST file created in a newer Outlook version on an older one, upgrade to the same or newer Outlook version.
• Some add-ins may interfere with PST files. So, disable unnecessary add-ins and restart Outlook.
• If Outlook itself is malfunctioning, repair the Office installation to fix the Outlook does not recognize PST file error.

Reliable Methods to Fix Outlook Not Recognizing PST File Error!

When the above tips don’t help, you can try out these methods to fix ‘Outlook not recognizing PST file’ error. Choose them at your convenience:

Method 1. Create a new Outlook Profile

Sometimes, the Outlook profile itself causes the Outlook does not recognize PST file error. If you're still facing the Outlook does not recognize the PST file error after repairing the PST file, create a new Outlook profile. Follow the steps below:

1. Open Control Panel, tap Mail, then click Show Profile.
2. Click on New, enter Profile name, and complete the account setup process.

A new Outlook profile will be created. But if your PST file has issues, this method won't work.

Method 2. Repair Outlook PST File

Microsoft Outlook has a free tool called ScanPST.exe to repair corrupt PST files. Locate the PST file, start the scan and select your PST files. Once errors and issues are found, fix them quickly. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Close Outlook. Locate ScanPST.exe on your system as shown below.

Outlook 2019/2016: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\OfficeXX

Outlook 2013: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15

2. Run the ScanPST.exe tool and click Browse to select PST file.

3. Once added, click Start to begin the scan.

4. If errors are found, click Repair.

After the repair, restart Outlook and check for the error.

Note: Many times, Sscanpst.exe stops the scanning and fails to repair PST file issues, followed by below reasons:

• The PST file is severely corrupted.
• Oversized PST file.
• Multiple errors in the file.
• Header damage in the PST file.
• Large attachments in the PST file.
• Password-protected PST file.
• PST file permission issues.

What to Do Next When ScanPST.exe Fails to Repair PST Files?

When ScanPST.exe fails to fix PST file issues, using professional Outlook PST Repair software is the only option. Kernel for Outlook PST Repair is such a powerful and is often recommended solution by top MVPs that helps to fix PST file issues quickly. This tool easily handles severe corruption and recovers all mailbox items like emails, contacts, calendars, and tasks without losing data.

Here are the top-quality features offered by the tool:

• Repairs & saves PST into multiple formats (PST, EML, MSG, MBOX, PDF, etc.)
• Exports PST to Office 365/Exchange/Gmail.
• Handles large and oversized PST files with the split option.
• Recovers deleted/lost items while preserving metadata.
• Provides advanced filters for selective recovery.
• Live preview of recovered items before saving.
• Supports password-protected and encrypted PSTs.
• Generates detailed reports for analysis.

Winding Up

When Outlook does not recognize PST file, your workflow may get disturbed. But you don’t have to panic. By understanding the potential causes and implementing effective solutions, you can effectively restore access to valuable data stored within the PST file. Follow the given tips, create a new Outlook profile and try the Inbox Repair Tool to fix PST file issues.

If ScanPST.exe fails to repair the PST file, then use a professional Outlook PST repair tool without any doubt. After repairing PST files successfully, import them and get back to using Outlook without interruptions.