How to fix the “Outlook data file the file .pst cannot be found” error? Looking for solution to resolve the query then go with this write up and utilize provided multiple solutions for ‘error message Outlook PST cannot be found’ and help to restore corrupted or missed Outlook .pst file.
Outlook Error PST cannot be Opened, Why?
A User Query
“I urgently need to send a mail using my Outlook application, but got the error message that “the file C:\Documents\Outlook Files\Outlook.pst cannot be found” I don’t have any idea about the message and why is it displaying. How can I simply access Outlook data file. Thanks”
MS Outlook is an effective program for mailing service and data management, and therefore, in use by thousands of users. It doesn’t crash easily in comparison to other available mail programs or services. But sometimes, users face an error issue with MS Outlook and they are unable to access their data. They get ‘Outlook Error PST cannot be opened’ message, if Outlook cannot find PST file on system. How to fix Microsoft Outlook PST file cannot be found? In this blog utilize the valuable multiple solutions to resolve the above discussed error and how to generate PST of corrupted Outlook data.
Why Outlook.pst cannot be Opened Windows 10
Personal Storage Table, PST is the actual Outlook data file to store all data of Outlook – mails, events, contacts, address book, calendar, reminder, etc. Before getting the solution of “Outlook error PST cannot be Opened”, firstly know about the causes of this problem and go with a particular solution because Outlook data files can be missed by multiple reasons.
- Mails folder may exceed its limit and provides issue to maintain it.
- PST file corruption
- Outlook data file is located on the network server for short term and becomes unavailable.
- Clashing between Outlook app & other programs which have been installed in the computer recently.
- Availability of Malware programs on system
There may multiple reasons which are cause for PST file got corrupted. Such as – virus attack, sudden system shutdown and improper closure of Outlook app can lead to the corruptions of Outlook software. Also, the bad sector of C drive or large size of PST file may provide the error of missing PST file in Outlook.
Method 1 – Check Microsoft Outlook
To resolve “Outlook data file the file .pst cannot be found” error, the first method is check your MS Outlook and PC app which is recently installed. It can assist to fix the error caused by exceed mailbox or clashing software between other programs on your system. If your mail folder is exceeded by lots of unimportant & unnecessary data, it may be the reason for corruption of PST file and therefore you cannot get it anymore. Therefore, you should remove unnecessary data of Outlook and keep the data in size limit of 15GB. There are some ways which you can use to view mailbox size & fix the error of missing PST file.
- Function 1: Go with File Menu >> Mailbox Cleanup > View Mailbox size.
- Function 2: go with your account under the Folder tab on the top section of Outlook screen. Then go to Folder Properties > Folder Size.
In newly opened window, you can check the used size of mailbox & what is occupying your mailbox storage. After confirmation of mailbox storage size, decide to delete some unnecessary data if mailbox limit is overload and empty some mailboxes if possible such as – deleted items, junk folder, unwanted mails data of your mailbox, mails with unimportant attachments & images.
Method 2 – Generate New PST File
Generating of new PST file is another method which can resolve the Outlook PST file cannot be found error. It needs to create a new PST file. Users will have to make use of Mail Setup Wizard for doing the same. To know about how to create a new PST file in Outlook 2016, follow the given simple steps which help to do the process.
Step 1. Locate default PST file
To create new Outlook PST file, users have to confirm the file location and save it at right path which can be used by Outlook app. For that the navigation is very simple and three functions are available.
Function 1- Go to home page & right click on “Archives” on left panel. Choose open file location & users can locate Outlook data file.
Function 2 – Go to control panel > Mail > Mail Setup – Outlook. Select Show Profiles > Properties > Data files. In the Account Setting window, users can find .pst file location. Copy the location / click on the open file location to locate Outlook data file.
Step 2. Create new Outlook Data file
To create a new Outlook data file, Mail Setup wizard is still a crucial tool, you require it. In Account Settings window, go with “Add” option under the data files function. Then click on OK.
After that, you can set the newly generated .pst file as default.
- Choose the new file
- Hit on “Set as Default”
- Close “Mail Setup wizard” Window
- Re-open MS Outlook
Method 3 – Repair PST by Inbox Repair Tool
The Inbox Repair Tool has been offered in Outlook app by Microsoft Team. Users can use it and resolve the “Microsoft Outlook PST file cannot be found” error. It supports the use of “ScanPST.exe”. Users will have to perform the app by getting it in the MS Office folders. As it has been performed, the tool scans corrupted PST file. If the tool gets any error in it then it will ask for initiating the repair process. On completion the Outlook repairing process, users can restart the Outlook to check that executed repair process has fixed the issue or not.
The PST file repair with Inbox Repair tool is risky process and you may have issue in launching “ScanPST.exe” So, users can go with the app by finding one of the provided paths by the Run Command or searching box
Path 1 – C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16
Path 2 – C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
Moreover, please note down the file path which may vary according to Outlook edition. If you are not sure then follow the given steps –
- Choose “Local Disk (c)” in File Explorer
- Select “Program Files (x86)” & Microsoft Office
- Search Office16 or Office 13/14 / 15
- Search the program file – “ScanPST.exe”
Repair PST Corruption Error with Alternative Solution
If the above mentioned methods are not able to fix “Outlook.pst cannot be opened Windows 10” error then you can go with alternative repair tool to repair PST File and remove all corruption of Outlook data files. The PST Recovery tool can resolve all types of corruption issues for accessing Outlook and its data. It smartly scan Outlook .pst file & repair them successfully, then provide a complete preview of recovered data with all details and after that provides option to save recovered data in new PST, EML, MSG, HTML & Office 365 directly. It flawlessly works and maintains all data file items properly – mails properties (metadata, images, formatting, etc.), contacts data (name, address book, fax, website, etc.), attachments, etc.
Download it and use its free edition which can scan & recovered all Outlook data and save 25 Outlook items (mails, contacts, etc.) to new PST / EML/ MSG/ HTML / Office 365 absolutely free of cost. Therefore, resolve “Microsoft Outlook PST file cannot be found” error without any issues at all.