How to Handle "Errors Have Been Detected in Outlook.OST"?

Outlook OST files are known as the data storage files of Microsoft Outlook.

Understanding its necessity, Outlook OST is now in constant utility. This, however, can be accompanied by some problems which will display the "Errors have been detected in Outlook.OST” message on the screen, which shall be the center of discussion in the article.

Primary Reasons for Detecting an Error Across Outlook.OST

To dissect the message "Errors have been detected in Outlook.OST,” the best method is to recognize the issues that are leading to such a problem. Having some knowledge about the reason will help you diagnose the issue across your Outlook.OST can be potentially resolved through the right means. As we proceed, we shall list down the probable reasons that may be the base of the problem:

  • The OST file may be infected through a virus that will damage the content of the file. It won’t only have an effect across the content, but it will spread across the computer if not controlled properly.
  • You may have deleted the Exchange Mailbox accidentally from your computer that detaches the connection of your OST file with the Exchange Server.
  • The device that you may have been using may face the problem of power failures or system crashes that may have malfunctioned during the complete process.
  • The OST file you may have been using across your email client account may have been filled out to the maximum. You may have to take measures to securely cover all the data that is present across the OST file and make space for new data.
  • There can be issues with the synchronization of data across the email client and the OST file, which may be leading to such a problem as it is important for both entities to be aligned and updated at all times.

Recreating the Outlook OST File (All Versions)

The first approach that may lead to a solution to the errors across the Outlook.OST file is by recreating the OST file that can function properly across the computer without any problem. Based on the provided versions, you can look through the steps as shown to figure out the resolution of “Errors have been detected in Outlook.OST”:

Step 1: To start with the process, you need to locate the OST file across your computer that needs to be replaced with a new OST file of the same email client account.

Step 2: With the location discovered, you now need to follow the steps for recreating the OST file according to the version of Outlook you use:

For Outlook 2007

Step 1: Open Microsoft Outlook on your device and proceed into the “Tools” menu on the top-most panel of the window. You need to select the option of ‘Account Settings’ in the drop-down menu that opens up.

tap on account settings

Step 2: The Account Settings Window opens on the front. Find the option of ‘Microsoft Exchange’ and double-click it to proceed. The “Change E-mail Account” screen will open on the screen.

double tap on account

Step 3: On the next screen, you need to click on the “More Settings” option. Locate the “Advanced” tab across the next screen that opens.

open more settings

Step 4: Tap on the “Offline Folder File Settings” button on the screen and add the accurate path of the file which is to be used as the OST file in the “File” section.

access offline folder file settings

Step 5: Click on “OK” and set the name for the OST file as “Outlook.ost.” Conclude the procedure by clicking “Finish.”

For Outlook 2010

Step 1: You need to proceed into the "File" tab and go into the "Info" section. Find the option of "Account Settings" on the screen. Follow up by clicking on the "Account Settings" from the options available on the menu.

open outlook 2010 account settings

Step 2: In the new window, you need to click on the “Microsoft Exchange Server” option and click on “Change” to make changes across the server settings. Click on the “More Settings” button and follow up the step by looking for the “Offline Folder File Settings” across the “Advanced” tab on the new screen.

select change option

Step 3: Copy the OST file location and paste the location across File Explorer to locate it on your computer. Keep in mind that you can delete or move the previous OST file from the defined default location of the OST file to recreate the file for your email client.

copy the address

For Outlook 2013 and Later Versions

Step 1: Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer and proceed into the "File" section. Find the "Info" tab on the left pane and click on the "Account Settings" button on the screen. You need to select the "Account Settings" option across the menu that appears.

tap on account settings

Step 2: Look for the "Data Files" tab and select your email account. Click on the 'Open File Location…" button to go across the File Explorer window with the OST file on the front. You need to simply delete the file across the defined location that opens up and proceed with rebuilding the OST file automatically.

open ost file location

Step 3: Once you re-launch Outlook on your computer, the OST file will automatically rebuild for your email.

Convert Your OST File to PST (An Alternative to Save Data)

The data across an OST file is quite important to the email client account. Since the process we've discussed above deletes the file permanently, it will also permanently delete the data across it, which would essentially never be accessed by the user because of specific reasons.

However, if you are willing to save your data for the email, the best way to approach this is by converting the existing OST file to a PST file.

This process will be covered by Stellar Converter for OST, which primarily provides an easy-to-use environment and consistency in working across the platform.

While it allows users to preview the screen with the details of the OST file, it can also cover multiple files in the conversion. This makes it a very impressive option in the market. To understand how users can convert their OST file to PST, follow the steps shown below:

Step 1: Opening Stellar Converter

Launch the tool across your computer and select the "Select Outlook OST" button across the "Home" tab on the window. A new window opens up for the selection of the file across the computer.

use select outlook ost option

Step 2: Finding the OST File

Locate the OST file on the computer. If you are aware of the location, click on "Browse" to find the file. If you are not aware of the location, go through the "Find" option to find the OST file automatically. Once found, click on "Convert" to start the process.

start ost conversion

Step 3: Converting and Previewing OST File

The files are converted and previewed across the screen with the division of folders. You can also view the deleted content of the specific OST file in red. Select all the files that you wish to convert to PST. Proceed to the “Save Converted File” option that you will find across the “Home” tab.

ost all data displayed

Step 4: Set Location and Execute

Specify the conversion format to “PST” and browse the location of the file where you want to save it. Complete the process and save the converted file successfully.

save the ost data as pst

Import PST File into Outlook

Once you have converted your Outlook OST file to PST, you can now keep this as a backup for your email account. As you are looking forward to recreating the OST file, you can import all the data from the PST file across the Outlook email once you have recreated the OST file.

This can be quite significant in saving your data from getting deleted. Follow the steps as described below to import the PST file across Outlook:

Step 1: Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer and access the “File” tab. Navigate to the option of “Open & Export” across the left column of the screen and click on the “Import/Export” button you’ll find across the window.

select import export option

Step 2: With a new window on your front, you need to select the option of “Import from another program or file” and proceed to the “Next” window.

choose import file option

Step 3: You should select the option of "Outlook Data File (.pst)" on the next screen and proceed by clicking the option "Next."

choose pst format

Step 4: Locate the PST file from the computer that you are looking forward to importing. In the “Options” section, you may need to select the right option for the duplicate content and click “Next” to continue.

browse the pst file

Step 5: Finalize the folders that you wish to import from the PST file. Check the option of "Include sub-folders" and select the profile where you wish to import the file across the "Import items into the same folder in:" option. Click "Finish" to conclude the process.

choose the folder for import

Conclusion

This article has successfully provided you with a detailed guide on the message "Errors have been detected in the file Outlook.OST” and looked across all the possibilities that can help them resolve the issues with their Outlook. Look through these methods to know more about the process in detail.