How to Fix a Corrupt OST File in Outlook 2016? An Expert Solution

Are you looking of a solution how to fix a corrupt OST file in Outlook 2016 and other version of MS Outlook? Then let me tell you, you are on the right blog. This blog will give you a perfect and reliable solution to how to repair a corrupt OST files in outlook?

Also known as the Microsoft Outlook storage file is the Offline Storage Table. The main important thing of the OST file is that it lets users operate offline on Outlook or even function properly in condition when the application is not connected with Exchange Server. You can easily perform actions such as reading or deletion of existing mail, draft saving, composition of new mails and many more. No need to worry about the changes being made offline, the cause being, if you reconnect to the internet, OST Files get auto synchronized with Exchange Server. Luckily, Exchange Server damage does not affect the OST file.

Moreover, these files are still disposed to damage or corruption. At certain times, while OST file synchronization is in procedure, we still receive error messages. Further, at times we also search that some items from OST Files are either missing or deleted. In such situations, the only reason could be a corrupt OST. Here is big query arise how to repair corrupt .ost files in Outlook?

Why We Need to Recover Corrupted OST File?

There are various reasons for an OST file to get damaged. And once this occurs, then become completely unreadable. It is really important to understand the main reasons of corruption before repairing it, which are listed below:-

• It can be due to some virus in the machine if a user is not using an anti-virus tool.
• Accidental deletion of important file or folder from Exchange profile also results corrupt in OST file.
• Unclean termination of a session in Microsoft Outlook
• The OST file grows unnecessarily large, then also there are chances of corruption.
• Other causes: power failure, incompatible add-ins, network interruption during synchronization procedure, and data storage failure.

How to Fix a Corrupt OST File in Outlook 2019/2016/2013 & other versions?

There are multiple method available through which user can try to recover corrupted OST files and all of them mentioned below:-

1. Manual Approach
2. Third Party Software

Manual Solution#1. Update Folder

Using this manual method, you can repair your all damage OST files by only updating it. Follow the given steps:-

1. Right click on the folder>> Select the Properties option
2. A dialog box will appear. Under this dialog box, press the “Clear Offline Items” option
3. Then Click on Ok button
4. Now select the Send/Receive option on Outlook 2010 ribbon and above editions
5. After that, click on the Update Folder and save all the changes

Solution#2. Use ScanPST

Scanpst.exe is one of the most useful manual solution presented to resolve this type of errors in MS Outlook account. A user can use scanpst.exe to analyse and repair both OST and PST file. Thus, one just need to perform scanpst.exe and repair the Outlook OST along with PST file. It will look for all errors and try to fix all of them. However, in the case of badly corrupted OST (Offline Storage Table) and PST (Personal Storage Table) file, the scanpst.exe will fail and ask you to recreate it.

Solution#3. Recreated OST File

Users knows the OST files are the offline version of the Microsoft Exchange Server files. Due to any reason the OST file deleted, then a user can easily and simply get it back by downloading the copy from the server again. Now, to recreate the OST file, a user needs to follow the given steps below:- 

1. First of all, leave MS Outlook application
2. After that, click on the Control Panel and then on Mail
3. A Mail Setup- outlook dialogue box appear. Then Click on Email Accounts
4. Now, a new account settings dialogue box appear having all Outlook accounts. Then, press the Data Files option and choose the OST file. After that click on Open File Location option.
5. After that, to delete the file, you need to right click on the OST file and select Delete button

Note:- Before deleting the OST file, you have to close the Account Settings and Mail Setup window otherwise, it will  give  an error message.

Lastly, start Microsoft Outlook application and it creates a new OST file automatically for the account.   

Limitations of Repair a Corrupt/Damage .OST File in MS Outlook Manually

The manual solution is a not completely suitable to recover corrupted OST file. Moreover, in this case of badly damaged or corrupted OST file all above manual process fails. In addition, it needs MS Outlook and Exchange Server to be in a proper sync. When Microsoft Exchange Server is down, then also it will not perfectly.

Efficient and Convenient Third Party Solution: - OST to PST Converter Software

Manual solution are always lengthy and time-consuming. Who doesn’t prefer an easy and simple effective solution? One can choose to proceed with professional tools such as OST to PST Converter by Mailsouls Email Converters. You can also download free demo version of the software for free here: - http://www.mailsouls.com/dl/mailsouls-ost-export.exe

And if you want to multiple conversion of OST files to PST format then, go ahead and purchase License Edition of OST to PST Converter Tool. It is the utility that fix corrupt or damaged OST file and convert OST to Outlook PST format in just few number of clicks.  

Conclusion

Corrupt or damaged OST file can make lots of effort while working on Microsoft Outlook. Therefore, it really important to fix it as soon as possible. Therefore, in the following blog post, we have discussed all thinkable methods i.e. a manual and third party solution of how to fix a corrupt OST file in Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013 efficiently. One can easily use them and recover all data items stored in OST file in Outlook an efficient manner.