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How to repair a corrupted Outlook PST file and recover emails, contacts and calendar
Repair a damaged Outlook data file (.pst), check that your emails, contacts, calendar and folders were recovered, and import the repaired file back into classic Outlook or New Outlook.
By Nur Islam- 4:53 video
- 6 steps
Jump to a step (6)
When a PST file is corrupted, Outlook freezes, crashes, will not open or shows errors like "your PST file cannot be accessed". Years of emails, contacts and calendar items can look lost, and the built-in tools do not always fix it.
In the video I use Stellar Repair for Outlook, a third-party desktop app. It scans the damaged PST in read-only mode, rebuilds the folders and lets you preview everything before saving. Previewing is free, but saving the repaired file needs a paid licence. Then you import the new PST with Outlook's Import and Export wizard, or through Settings in New Outlook.
What you need
- The corrupted .pst file (or the Outlook profile that uses it)
- A PST repair tool (the video uses Stellar Repair for Outlook, which needs a paid licence to save)
- Classic Outlook or New Outlook to import the repaired file
Step by step
0 of 6 done-
01
Select the corrupted PST file
Open the repair app. Choose
List Profilesto scan the data files of the accounts in Outlook and pick the damaged one, or browse to the corrupted PST file on your computer manually. SelectRepair. -
02
Preview the recovered data
When the repair finishes, check the folder tree: inbox emails, notes, contacts, calendar events, deleted items and your custom folders. The original folder structure is kept.
-
03
Save the repaired file as PST
Select
Save Repaired File, choosePST(needed to import into Outlook), selectNext, pick a destination folder such as Downloads and selectOK. Saving requires a purchased licence. -
04
Import into classic Outlook
In classic Outlook select
File>Open & Export>Import/Export. ChooseImport from another program or file>Next>Outlook Data File (.pst)>Next. Browse to the repaired PST and selectNext.Expand the file to import only one folder (for example just Inbox or Calendar), or select the top level to import everything. Choose the mailbox to import into and select
Finish. -
05
Move the emails where you want them
The imported items appear in Outlook. To tidy them, select the emails, right-click, choose
Moveand pick a folder such as the account's Inbox. Once they are in an Exchange mailbox they sync to Outlook on the web and the Outlook mobile app. -
06
Import into New Outlook
In New Outlook select the gear icon >
Files>Import, thenGet startedunder Outlook data file. Select the repaired PST and follow the import wizard.
Tips and common problems
- Preview the recovered items before you buy anything, so you know your data is actually recoverable.
- Save the repaired file as PST, not another format, if you want to import it back into Outlook.
- Import only the folders you need by expanding the file in the import wizard.
- The repair runs in read-only mode, so the original PST is not changed. Keep a copy of it anyway until you have checked the import.
Questions
How do I import a PST file into New Outlook?
Select the gear icon, then Files > Import, and select Get started under Outlook data file. Choose the PST and follow the wizard.
How do I import a PST file into classic Outlook?
Go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export > Import from another program or file > Outlook Data File (.pst), browse to the file and select Finish.
What does a corrupted PST file look like?
Outlook may freeze, crash, refuse to open, or show an error such as your PST file cannot be accessed.
