Have you faced Outlook not opening or crashing because your PST file was damaged, along with error messages saying you can't open the Outlook window or your file isn't a personal folder file (.pst)? Then you understand the importance of a good PST repair tool.
Outlook, like any software, can have problems, and PST file corruption is a common issue. This can lead to losing access to your emails, contacts, and calendar entries. In these cases, having a dependable PST repair tool is essential.
In this article, we'll explore the best 5 free PST repair tools for MS Outlook to help you recover your precious data.
Part 1: What is a PST File and Why Do PST Files Get Corrupted?
A PST file is like a digital box where Outlook keeps all your stuff—emails, contacts, calendar events, and more. It's saved on your computer, so you can check your Outlook stuff even without internet.
However, PST files can become corrupted due to various reasons, such as:
- Abrupt Outlook or system shutdown.
- Virus or malware infection.
- Power failure or system crash.
- Oversized PST file (exceeding the maximum recommended size of 50GB).
- Disk errors or faulty hard drives.
When a PST file gets corrupted, Outlook may fail to open or display errors, such as "Cannot open the Outlook window" or "Your file is not a personal folder file (.pst)." In such cases, you need a reliable PST repair tool to recover your data from the corrupted PST file.
Part 2: Best 5 Free PST Repair Tools for MS Outlook
Choosing the right PST repair tool can be a daunting task, as there are numerous options available in the market. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a list of the best 5 free PST repair tools for MS Outlook, along with their key features, pros, and cons.
Here's a comparison table to help you quickly evaluate the tools:
Feature |
Repairit PST File Repair Tool |
Recovery Toolbox |
Stellar Repair |
Remo Repair |
Shoviv Outlook Repair |
Ease of Use |
Easy |
Moderate |
Moderate |
Easy |
Easy |
Compatibility |
Windows, Mac |
Windows |
Windows |
Windows |
Windows |
File Format Support |
PST, OST |
PST, OST |
PST, OST |
PST, OST |
PST, OST |
Price |
Free version, paid plan starts from $69.99/1 month license |
Free version, paid plan starts from $25/personal license |
Free version, Paid plan costs around $299 (1-time cost) |
Free version, paid plan costs around $149.97 (1-time cost) |
Free version, paid plan starts from $29/ personal license |
Now, let's dive into the details of each PST repair tool:
#1 Repairit PST Repair Tool
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Repair damaged PST & OST Files in Outlook in all Email corruption scenarios, such as hard disk crashes & bad sectors, virus attacks & tojan horse, outlook corruption & malfunctions, improper shutdown procedure, etc.
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Restore Outlook Emails deleted for a long time and extract the Email messages, folders, calendars, etc. within seconds.
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Repair corrupted Emails and restore deleted Emails with a 100% success rate.
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Repair Emails in bathes without size limits and support to preview all of them before saving.
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Compatible with Windows 7/8/8.1/10/11, Windows Server 2012/2016/2019, and MacOS X 10.11~ MacOS 12 (Monterey).
Repairit PST File Repair Tool is a powerful and user-friendly PST repair tool that can efficiently repair and recover data from corrupted or damaged PST files. It supports all versions of Microsoft Outlook and can repair PST files of any size.
Additionally, it works on both PST and OST formats, compatible with Windows and Mac. It's great at recovering deleted emails and lets you preview before saving.
Key Features
- Repairs and recovers emails, contacts, calendar entries, tasks, and more.
- Previews recovered data before saving.
- Compacts and splits large PST files.
- Supports all PST and OST file versions.
Pros
Easy-to-use interface with step-by-step guidance
Fast and reliable recovery process
Compatible with Windows & Mac Devices
Cons
The access to these file types is quite limited and remote.
The free version has limited functionality
#2 Recovery Toolbox PST Repair Tool
Recovery Toolbox PST Repair Tool is a simple yet effective PST repair tool that can repair and recover data from corrupted or damaged PST files. This powerful tool efficiently restores your emails, appointments, attachments, contacts, tasks, notes, calendars, journals, and more from corrupted PST or OST files.
Key Features
- Repairs and recovers emails, contacts, calendar entries, tasks, and more
- Previews recovered data before saving
- Exports recovered data to various formats (PST, MSG, EML, HTML, RTF)
Pros
Simple and straightforward interface
Effective in repairing and recovering data
Offers a free trial version
Cons
Slower than some other tools for large PST files.
The interface is a bit-outdated.
Limited additional features
#3 Remo Repair Outlook PST Fix Tool
Remo Repair Outlook PST Fix Tool offers a complete solution. It fixes issues with corrupt or damaged PST files in Microsoft Outlook. It has a user-friendly interface and powerful recovery algorithms. It efficiently restores emails, contacts, and attachments. It also restores calendar items and other Outlook data. This ensures minimal data loss.
It works for small file corruption or more severe damage. The tool is a reliable and efficient way to recover valuable Outlook data.
Key Features
- Fix PST files that are really broken on any Outlook version.
- Make sure your Outlook stuff like emails, contacts, notes, and reminders are safe.
- Crafted to execute a thorough recovery of email attributes including subject lines, Cc, and Bcc fields.
Pros
Effective in recovering data from severely damaged PST files
User-friendly interface
Compatible with all versions of Outlook
Offers a free trial version
Cons
Slower than some other tools for large PST files.
Fewer additional features compared to some other tools.
#4 Stellar Repair for Outlook PST Recovery Tool
Stellar Repair for Outlook PST Recovery Tool is a feature-rich PST repair tool. It can repair and recover data from corrupted or damaged PST files.
This strong tool repairs Outlook PST files quickly. It also retrieves mailbox items such as emails, attachments, contacts, and calendars. It also restores deleted emails and other mailbox items while maintaining data integrity.
Key Features
- Previews recovered data before saving
- Supports MS Office 365 2021, 2019, 2016, and earlier versions.
- Splits large PST files
- Exports the repaired PST to Office 365/M365 (Technician Edition).
Pros
Offers advanced features for selective data recovery and management
Reliable and effective recovery process
Cons
The paid version can be expensive for some users
#5 Shoviv Outlook PST Repair Tool
The Shoviv Outlook PST Repair Tool is a strong and simple tool. It can help you fix and get back your lost data. This includes "emails, contacts, calendar events, and other important Outlook PST data. This tool checks and fixes all kinds of PST files. It can handle files harmed by viruses, power failures, or surprises.
Key Features
- Handle large PST files with no restrictions for Outlook PST file repairs.
- Retrieve permanently deleted items from Outlook PST files.
- Easily adjust the size of the resulting PST file to keep it small for smoother operations.
- Maintain the original folder structure without altering its properties.
- Resume interrupted exports with the Incremental export option.
- Export PST files to Office 365 and Live Exchange.
Pros
Easy-to-use tool designed for users of all skill levels, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
Fast recovery process.
Offers a free trial version.
Cons
It could be hard to get the right size for your resulting PST file. This makes the process a bit complicated.
Part 3: How to Use Repairit PST Repair Tool to Fix Corrupted PST Files?
Stuck with corrupt Outlook PST/OST files? Repairit for Email is here for Windows and Mac, fixing all your email troubles effortlessly! With its user-friendly interface, recovery is a breeze, ensuring you're back on track in no time.
In this section, we'll provide a step-by-step guide on how to use Repairit PST File Repair Tool to repair and recover data from a corrupted PST file.
Step 1: Launch the tool, and on the main screen, click on the "Select File" button to browse and select the corrupted PST file you want to repair.
Step 2: To locate a PST file on a particular drive, simply click the "Find" button.
Step 3: Begin the file repair process by clicking the "Repair" button.
Step 4: Once the repair is finished, you'll see the fixed PST file items on the left. Check them over, then hit "Save" to download them to your computer.
Once the repaired PST file is saved, you can import it back into Microsoft Outlook and access your recovered data.
Part 4: Tips to Prevent PST File Corruption in Outlook
While PST repair tools can help you recover data from corrupted PST files, it's always better to prevent PST file corruption in the first place. Here are some tips to help you avoid PST file corruption in Microsoft Outlook:
- Compact PST Files Regularly: The larger your PST file gets, the more likely it is to get corrupted. Outlook has a feature to make PST files smaller, lowering the chance of corruption. Compacting your PST files often can keep them in good shape.
- Manage PST File Size: Microsoft suggests keeping PST files under 50GB. If yours is bigger, think about archiving old emails and making a new PST file. Large PST files can corrupt easily and slow down Outlook.
- Turn on Cached Exchange Mode: If you use an Exchange account in Outlook, enable it. This mode saves a copy of your mailbox on your computer, reducing the chance of losing data or file corruption due to network or server problems.
- Keep Your Antivirus Software Updated: Viruses and malware can damage PST files. Make sure your antivirus is current and scan your computer often for threats.
- Back Up PST Files Regularly: Regularly save copies of your PST files to an external drive or the cloud. If your PST file gets corrupted or you lose data, you can get it back from these backups.
Conclusion
Dealing with a corrupted PST file can be a frustrating and stressful experience, but with the right PST repair tool, you can recover your precious data and get back on track. The five free PST repair tools discussed in this article offer reliable solutions for repairing and recovering data from corrupted PST files.
Can I repair a severely corrupted PST file using these tools?
Yes, most of the PST repair tools mentioned in this article, such as Remo Repair Outlook PST Fix Tool and Stellar Repair for Outlook PST Recovery Tool, are capable of repairing and recovering data from severely corrupted PST files.
Do I need to pay for these PST repair tools?
While most of the tools offer free trial versions with limited functionality, their full versions are typically paid. However, some tools like Recovery Toolbox PST Repair Tool offer a completely free version with basic repair and recovery features.
Can I recover deleted emails from a corrupted PST file using these tools?
Yes, most PST repair tools can recover deleted emails, contacts, calendar entries, and other data from corrupted PST files, as long as the data has not been permanently overwritten on your hard drive.
