Outlook file is not an Outlook data file (.pst) error may arise when you try to import a PST file to Outlook application. This article will tell you how to get rid of this error.
Outlook is widely used email client that facilitates users to send or receiving emails. It uses PST files format to store its mailbox data items like emails, tasks, calendars, contacts, notes, journals, tasks, etc.
Note: In Outlook 2013 and Pervious versions, PST file is also used to store emails and other files.
Outlook is a very useful email client but isn’t without its flaws. One particular error that users reportedly encounter is the PST file is not an Outlook data file. If something like this also happening with you then, no need to worry. This article helps you to resolve this error PST file is not a PST file.
Check PST File Attributes & Open File
The PST originally saved in your computer, the highest possibility occurs when you importing PST file to Outlook. If your personal storage file is stored in a Remove able device like hard drive, CD-ROM, a floppy disk, or any other storage source. There are lots of chances the file is on Read-only status. Thus you should check the PST file attributes first when you copy the file to the computer.
- Right-click the file and choose properties from the context menu.
- Then, under the General tab in the new dialog box, you should ensure that read-only attributes is not selected.
- After this, launch Outlook application and go to file menu.
- Then, switch to Open tab, and click open Outlook data file.
- In the new emerging window, browse to the destination folder where the PST file is located and double click the file to open it straightly.
Repair PST File by Using Inbox Repair Tool
Beside Read-only attributes and importing, above all, there are one major factor that are also responsible for this error PST file is not an Outlook file. Corruption of Outlook data file can also cause this error, by repairing corrupted PST files we can access PST files in Outlook. With aiming to repair corrupted PST files, Outlook offers the scanpst.exe tool that only helps to repair minor corruption issues.
Follow the given steps to run the scanpst.exe tool:
- Go to the directory C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16 (Outlook 2016, Outlook 2019) Double click to start the inbox repair tool.
- Click on the Browse button to select the corrupted file.
- Then, hit on the start button to scan file.
- If any error found, click on the Repair button to recover the corrupted files.
Limitations of Using Manual Procedures
- ScanPST can only repairs minor level of corruption.
- It can only repair header part of a file.
- Cannot repair Over-sized file
- There is a high risk of data loss while repairing the data file.
What to Do When Manual Methods Fails
After trying every method still you cannot able to repair your PST file corruption. This means the PST file is highly corrupted, Microsoft Outlook Scanpst.exe tool not able to repair PST file. We come up with the best alternative SysTools PST Repair Software.
This software is capable to repair both minor and major corrupted files in a few minutes without any hassle. It can fix severely damaged files or inaccessible files without any data loss. This tool provides 100% data integrity.
Step by Step Instruction to Repair Corrupted File
Follow the steps to complete the process to repair corrupted file
- First, Go to Add file button and insert Corrupted PST file.
- Select file/folder and then choose Export from the menu bar.
- You can select advance settings according to your need.
- Then choose the destination and tap browse.
- At last, Press Export button, and your PST file will be repaired.
Let’s Wrap Up
In this article, we have discussed the error PST file is not an Outlook data file, we talk about some manual methods and automated procedures to fix these Outlook issues. But the manual method is not successful 100% it contains some drawbacks but this software overcome all the drawbacks of the manual method. So, we recommend you to go with the automated solution, for the hassle-free, easy, and safe solution.