PST File Recovery in 2026: Fix Corrupted and Deleted Outlook Data Files

PST (Personal Storage Table) files are Outlook's local data storage — they contain emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, and notes. Corruption, oversizing, and accidental deletion are the most common PST problems.

Part 1. Fix Corrupted PST With ScanPST

Microsoft includes a free Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe) with every Outlook installation:

Location by Outlook version:

How to use:

1. Close Outlook completely
2. Run ScanPST.exe
3. Browse to your PST file
4. Click Start — the scan identifies errors
5. Check Make backup before repairing (strongly recommended)
6. Click Repair

⚠️ Important: ScanPST repairs PST structure but may not recover every deleted email. For severely corrupted PST files where ScanPST fails repeatedly, third-party PST repair tools (Stellar Repair for Outlook, Kernel for Outlook PST Repair) go deeper.

Part 2. Find Your PST File Location

PST files can be in several locations:

C:\Users\[Username]\Documents\Outlook Files\
C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\

In Outlook: File → Account Settings → Account Settings → Data Files tab — shows the exact path for each PST file.

💡 Tip: After finding the PST location, make a copy before running ScanPST. Even though ScanPST creates a backup, having your own copy gives you an extra safety net.

Part 3. Recover a Deleted PST File

If the PST was accidentally deleted:

1. Check the Recycle Bin first
2. If empty: use data recovery software to scan the drive for .pst files
3. After recovery, open in Outlook: File → Open & Export → Open Outlook Data File

💡 Tip: PST files are large (often multi-gigabyte) and stored in predictable locations. Data recovery software finds them quickly when scanning for .pst files specifically — filter by file type to speed up recovery instead of scanning for all files.

🗣️ r/sysadmin advice: "ScanPST is the first tool to try for any PST issue. It fixes most logical corruption. For physically damaged PST files that ScanPST can't handle, Stellar Repair for Outlook goes much deeper and has saved many large PST files in my experience."

Part 4. Convert OST to PST

If you have an OST file (Outlook offline cache) but the original PST/Exchange connection is gone, the OST can be converted:

• Outlook's built-in export: File → Open & Export → Import/Export → Export to a file → Outlook Data File (.pst)
• Third-party converters: Stellar OST to PST Converter, Aid4Mail (for Exchange disconnected scenarios)

💡 Tip: Outlook's built-in OST export only works when the account is still connected and active. For orphaned OST files (where the Exchange account no longer exists), you need a third-party OST-to-PST converter to access the data.

🗣️ r/sysadmin advice: "ScanPST is the first tool to try for any PST issue. It fixes most logical corruption. For physically damaged PST files that ScanPST can't handle, Stellar Repair for Outlook goes much deeper and has saved many large PST files in my experience."

🗣️ r/techsupport user: "PST file became corrupted after a power outage. ScanPST ran for 20 minutes and fixed it. Lost about 5 emails from the day of the outage but everything else was intact."

Part 5. Recover Deleted PST Files With Ritridata

Ritridata can scan a Windows drive for deleted .pst files — useful when the PST was accidentally deleted and the Recycle Bin is empty.

Step 1 — Select the Windows drive where Outlook data was stored

Step 2 — Run a scan and filter by .pst file extension

Step 3 — Recover the PST file to a safe location, then open in Outlook

FAQ

What is a PST file in Outlook? PST (Personal Storage Table) is a local file format Outlook uses to store emails, contacts, calendars, and tasks. Microsoft 365 accounts increasingly use online storage, but POP3 and older Exchange setups still rely on PST files.

What's the difference between PST and OST files? PST is a standalone local data file. OST is a cached copy of Exchange or Microsoft 365 server data — it syncs with the server and cannot be used independently without a server connection.

What is the maximum PST file size? Outlook 2007+: 50 GB (ANSI format PST: 2 GB). When the PST approaches its limit, Outlook may slow down or show errors. Split large PST files using Outlook's Archive feature.

Can ScanPST recover deleted emails? ScanPST repairs PST structure but does not recover deleted email content. For deleted email recovery, use Outlook's Recover Deleted Items (if available for your account type) or third-party PST recovery software.

References

• Microsoft — Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST)
• Microsoft — Manage PST Files
• r/sysadmin — ScanPST and Stellar
• r/techsupport — PST Repair After Power Outage
• r/MSOffice — PST Location