A PST file is a personal folder file in Microsoft Outlook. In Outlook, the storage limit for a single user's PST file is 2GB. When functioning in its capacity as a cache for Outlook's Cached Exchange Mode feature, it may be called an Off-line Storage Table (.ost) or an Off-line Folder (File).
As the popularity of Microsoft Outlook grows, PST file data losses sometimes happen in our life. If you lost PST files, follow part 1. If your PST file got corrupted, go to part 2.
Part 1. Recover Lost PST File for Free (Recommend)
To effectively recover your deleted Outlook PST files, you need an email recovery tool with a strong data recovery capacity. EaseUS data recovery program is the best choice for Outlook users to do PST file recovery. It can be used for all kinds of PST data loss situations. All Windows systems are supported, including Windows 10/8/7, etc.
In addition, if you happen to lose important office files such as documents or Excel spreadsheets, you can also perform office file recovery with this software.
Step 1. Choose the drive or partition where you lost email files, and click "Scan".
![select a location and click scan](/images/en/data-recovery/drw-pro/screenshots/recover-emails-step1.png)
Step 2. The software will initiate a scanning process immediately. Wait patiently until the scanning process completes. To quickly locate the email files, click "Others" in the left panel. Then, look for PST files or Outlook files in the file type list.
![scan lost emails](/images/en/data-recovery/drw-pro/screenshots/recover-emails-step2.png)
Step 3. Then, choose the desired email files and click "Recover". Save the files to another location instead of the original one.
![recover lost emails](/images/en/data-recovery/drw-pro/screenshots/recover-emails-step3.png)
Part 2. Repair Corrupted/Damaged PST Files
If you can't open your Personal Folders file (.pst), or you suspect that your .pst data file is corrupted, follow the method in this section. Corrupted PST files can be fully repaired by professional PST repair tools. Corruption or damage in the Outlook PST file results in the inaccessibility of your entire valuable Outlook email. EaseUS Email Recovery Wizard can fix your corrupted, damaged, or inaccessible PST files. Let's see how it works:
Step 1. Download EaseUS Email Recovery Wizard, install it and then launch it. Select the "Recover Deleted Email/Repair PST File" option and press the "Next" button.
Step 2. Select the corrupted PST file by pressing "Select source file". You may also search for the corrupted PST file from the "Search PST file" button provided. Make sure that you have chosen the appropriate PST file before attempting the repair process.
Step 3. Choose an appropriate destination location to save the new, healthy PST file. Ensure that there is enough free disk space to save your working PST file. After configuring your recovery options, click the "Next" button.
Note: Intensive Scan should be selected if you do not get the desired results.
Step 4. During the process, recovered Outlook items are visible in the list. You can preview the emails here.
- Save mail recovery results, including messages, contacts, and attachments in an error-free new PST file with a full folder structure.
Part 3. Free PST Recovery Software FAQs
Here are 4 additional questions about PST recovery software. Check here for the answers.
1. Can PST files be recovered?
The device's PST file data is not wiped when you delete it. The operating system cannot access the accompanying data because the entries for those files have been deleted. It classifies these sectors, occupied by prepared data, as free. Over these freshly designated sections, new data is written.
2. How to avoid PST file loss?
- Back up essential files, including the PST file, regularly and save them on an external hard drive.
- Scan your machine for viruses with antivirus software.
- Take care not to erase files by accident.
- Instead of pressing the "Shift+Delete" keys, use the "Delete" key or right-click the mouse with the Delete option.
- Do not shut down Microsoft Outlook abruptly.
3. How do I retrieve PST emails?
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is the most practical way to recover a deleted PST file for Outlook. This is one of the best file recovery programs for recovering lost PST or OST files with a high success rate.
4. How can I view PST files without Outlook?
Kernel for Outlook PST Viewer is an automated tool that can open a PST file without launching Outlook. It allows you to inspect healthy and corrupt PST files of any type and size. This program must be installed on your machine to open a PST with this utility.
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Updated by Dany
Dany is an editor of EaseUS who lives and works in Chengdu, China. She focuses on writing articles about data recovery on Mac devices and PCs. She is devoted to improving her writing skills and enriching her professional knowledge. Dany also enjoys reading detective novels in her spare time.
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Approved by Mahesh Makvana
Mahesh is an experienced computer tech writer. He's been writing tech how-to guides for about 8 years now and has covered many topics. He loves to teach people how they can get the most out of their devices.
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