How to Fix Outlook .pst is not a Personal Folders File Error?
Imagine you begin your work by clicking on Microsoft Outlook but instead of seeing your inbox you get a pop-up that says Outlook.pst is not a personal folders file. This is frustrating because your Outlook PST file is inaccessible and you cannot get your emails, contacts and calendar entries.
This error means that Outlook cannot recognize the structure of your data file but the good news is that this problem is common and can be solved. There are clear steps to solve this error whether you are a home user or an IT admin. Today we will look at why your Outlook PST file cannot be accessed and see the best ways to get your email back using both the manual and the expert solution.
Table of Contents:
Common Reasons Why an Outlook PST File Cannot be Found
Understanding the reason why this occurs can help you prevent the Outlook .pst is a personal folders error in the future. Let’s see some of the common reasons why this error is happening:
- Some bad sectors on your hard drive can corrupt the file.
- Older versions of Outlook struggle when the files get big.
- The file breaks if the computer shuts down suddenly when Outlook is saving.
- Sometimes the Outlook PST file is not accessible because the security software locks the file.
- You may find Outlook PST files not synchronizing on OneDrive if you use cloud storage. This can lead to file header damage which can cause the personal folders file error.
Methods to Solve the Outlook PST is Not a Personal Folders File Error
There are many ways to solve this error and you should follow these in order as every situation is different: sometimes a file lock can cause this error and other times it is due to internal damage. You can restore the data by starting with the manual methods and then moving to the professional tools without needing an IT expert.
Method 1: Check File Attributes and Location
Sometimes the simplest reason why this error occurs is due to the Read-only settings. This happens if you have moved your backup from a CD, DVD or an external drive recently. Use the following steps to check the file:
- First make sure that the application is shut down.
- Go to the folder where your file is stored and if the Outlook PST file cannot be found then check your Documents or AppData folders.
- Then right-click the File and select the Properties option.
- Make sure that the Read-only box is not ticked in the General tab.
- Finally restart Outlook and try opening the file again.
Method 2: Use the Inbox Tool (ScanPST.exe)
Microsoft provides a free tool called ScanPST.exe which is a defense against the Outlook .pst is not a personal folders file error because it knows that files can break. You can follow these steps to use this tool:
- Find this tool as it is hidden in your Office installation folder.
- Double-click ScanPST.exe to run the tool.
- Click on Browse to find your PST file and use the Windows search bar to look for .pst extensions if your Outlook PST file cannot be found.
- Then click Start and the tool will check for errors.
- If errors are found, click Repair and ensure to check the box to create a backup before starting.
Method 3: Restore from a Previous Version
You can use the Windows Previous Versions if you have system protection turned on to solve the Outlook .pst is not a personal folders file error. Look at the following steps to restore from a previous version:
- First locate the folder containing your PST.
- Right-click the folder and select the option that says Restore previous versions.
- Look for a version that is one or two days old when the error did not happen.
- Finally click on the Restore button.
Note: You will lose the emails that you received after the backup date.
Method 4: Expert Tool for the Outlook .pst is Not a Personal Folders File Error
Manual methods are great for small errors but they do not work when there is too much load. The ScanPST generally crashes on large files or fails to fix header corruption when your Outlook .pst is not a personal folder file.
The DataHelp PST Repair Tool is designed to repair corrupt and inaccessible Outlook PST files and recover emails, attachments and Mailbox data safely. It can export data from PST files in various formats such as PST, PDF, MSG, EML and HTML.
Why Choose This Tool?
- Fix corruption of PST file using the expert solution.
- Option to search multiple PST files and fix multiple PST files.
- Allows you to restore deleted data items from the Outlook PST file.
- This tool supports MS Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016 and below versions.
- Effective in solving the Outlook PST file is large but empty error.
Steps to Use This Tool:
- Download the tool and click on the Add File button.
- Then click on the Browse button and press the Select File button.
- This tool provides an email decrypt option to perform this task so you need to check the Remove Encryption option
- Finally click on Done and you can also save the file on your computer.
Note: If you also want to create a new Outlook PST file then you can read the proper steps required for the same here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why does it say my Outlook .pst is not a Personal Folders File?
Ans. This happens when the file header is corrupted due to an improper shutdown or a virus which causes Outlook to lose the map of your data.
Q2. What should I do if ScanPST fails to fix the error?
Ans. If the built-in tool fails then it means that the corruption is too deep and it cannot handle it. Using a professional repair utility is an effective way to get your Outlook PST file cannot be accessed.
Q3. Can my PST file become inaccessible due to a large file?
Ans. Yes, if a PST file grows too large (especially over 20GB or 50GB depending on your Outlook version), it can become unstable and regularly get errors.
Q4. Is it possible to recover deleted emails during the repair?
Ans. The manual tools cannot do this but the professional software can undelete items during the repair process.
Summary
Dealing with the Outlook .pst is not a personal folders file error can be frustrating but it can be solved. We have seen the most effective ways to solve this error, from checking simple file permissions and moving on to the Microsoft ScanPST tool. Then we saw the drawbacks of the manual methods when there are large or damaged files and why an expert solution is a safe option to recover data.
If your Outlook PST file cannot be accessed, start with the free manual methods but do not risk your data by running failing repairs. You can save hours of work and bring back your personal and business emails by following the steps mentioned above.