When you encounter an Outlook error saying “Outlook Data File Cannot be Opened“, you cannot access your PST file and cannot send or receive emails.
Did you face other issues like “Outlook frequently crashing or freezing” or “slow performance, especially when switching between folders, opening emails, and performing searches? “Missing Outlook items,” “Emails became unreadable and appearing garbled, or contains strange characters,” “Lot of too many duplicate emails and other data,” “Issues with sending/receiving emails,” “Inability to open or save emails attachments,” “Outlook taking unusually long to load profile,” or “You are unable to access Outlook data, files, or folders, and any attempts to open or access them results in errors.”
All of these symptoms indicate that your Outlook data files have become corrupted. In that case, I recommend that you waste no time and start repairing your corrupt files as soon as possible.
If you’re sure your Outlook data is safe and sound, I suggest you try other solutions, such as changing the mail location and creating a new Outlook profile.
Table of Contents:
Table of contents
How to Fix the Error Outlook Data File Cannot be Opened?
Here is a complete guide on opening Outlook data files using the four proven solutions to resolve the Outlook data cannot be accessed error. These solutions include repairing Outlook data files using a specialized repair tool or an in-built tool like ScanPST. I have also explained solutions like creating a new Outlook profile and changing the mail delivery location.
Method 1: Repair Outlook Data File using Remo Repair Outlook PST
The best way to repair PST files is by using Remo Repair PST software. This tool quickly scans and repairs corrupt or damaged Outlook PST file created on any version of Outlook, including the latest Outlook 2019.
How to Repair Outlook Data File .PST When You Get Outlook Data File Cannot Be Opened Error?
Step 1. Download and install Remo Repair PST Software to fix Outlook’s inability to open PST files.
Step 2. Launch the tool, select an option based on your need, and click Next.
Open Default PST File: Select this option if the corrupt PST file is in the defined location.
Select PST File Manually: Select this option to locate your PST file, not open it manually.
Find All Your PST Files: If you have multiple Outlook profiles, select this option to locate all your PST files. Later, you can select the inaccessible Outlook PST file that needs to be repaired.
Step 3. Click the Smart Scan option, select a destination to save your Repaired PST file on your Windows, and click Repair.
Step 4. After the repair process, check the destination path to view repaired Outlook PST file.
In case of a minor issue or if you want to repair your corrupt PST files for free, you can try using ScanPST.
Method 2: Repairing Outlook Data File using SCANPST
If your PST file is corrupt, creating a new profile will not help you fix the Outlook data file cannot be opened error. To fix corrupt PST files, you can use SCANPST by Microsoft Outlook, an inbuilt repair tool. Using this ScanPST tool, you can quickly fix and access Outlook data files without issues.
- Quit the Outlook application and start with the following steps to fix the ” cannot open Outlook PST file” error.
- Locate the ScanPST tool based on your Outlook version:
Outlook 2019:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
Outlook 2016:C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
Outlook 2013:C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15
Outlook 2010:C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14
Outlook 2007:C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12 - Open the SCANPST tool on your Windows to fix the Outlook data file cannot be opened error.
- Click the Browse button to select the Outlook Data File (.pst) not opening.
- Select the Start button to scan for Outlook PST file problems.
- If the scan finds Outlook cannot open PST file error, choose Repair to fix it.
- After repairing the corrupt Outlook data file, start or open Outlook using the profile with the Outlook Data File (PST) you just repaired.
Note: If you select the “Make a backup of scanned file before repairing” option, the scan creates a backup Outlook data file during the repair process. To change the default backup file name, enter a new name in the Enter name of the backup file field.
One disadvantage of the ScanPST tool is that it cannot repair a severely corrupt PST file. You should repeatedly repair your Outlook data file using this method to access it.
The next solution involves changing the file location. This solution can be beneficial in oversized data files, improper file closure, or misconfigured profile settings. It is also a temporary fix for accessing emails and data without interruption.
Method 3: Change the Mail Delivery Location
Another solution is to add a new data file and set Outlook to use it to store your emails. This will create a fresh data file for Outlook and will usually fix the unable to open Outlook data file error or “Outlook data file cannot be opened” error.
- Open the Start Menu and launch Outlook.
- Select the File>Info>Account Settings>Account Settings.
- By default, you’ll be in the Email tab. Switch to the Data Files tab and click the Add button to add a new data file.
- Outlook will ask where you’d like to save the file. Select a location, enter a name for the file, and click OK to save the file.
- Outlook will still use your old data file to save your messages. You can change that by setting your new data file as the default file. Select your newly created file in the list and click Set as Default at the top.
The last solution in this list involves creating a new Outlook profile to fix the Outlook data file that cannot be opened error.
Method 4: Create a New Outlook Profile
Creating a new Outlook profile eliminates the configuration problems related to the current Outlook data file, which cannot be accessed or opened. Using the new profile as the primary Outlook profile helps you fix the Outlook data file that cannot be opened.
1: Type Control Panel in the Windows search box and Open it.
2: Select the Mail option.
3: Click on the Show Properties button > Properties > and Data Files.
Note: Record the Outlook Data File location.
4: Go to Control Panel and click the Mail option.
5: Select the Show Profiles button to locate your Outlook profiles.
6: Click the Add button to add a new Outlook profile.
7: In the Profile Name field, provide a name for your new profile and click OK to save it.
8: To start setting up your email account with Outlook, select the Manual setup or additional server types option and click Next.
9: Select your Outlook account type and click the Next button.
Note: If you have POP or IMAP email account credentials, select the POP or IMAP option and manually configure the Outlook account settings.
10: Completely provide information about your email account in the respective fields, as shown in the image below. Select the Existing Outlook Data File under Deliver new messages and click the Browse button to locate the Outlook data file you noted earlier.
11: Now, finish the email account setup wizard. Follow the steps below to make your new profile the default for Outlook.
12: Go back to the Control Panel > Mail > Show Properties and select your newly created Outlook profile. Always use this profile and click OK.
Conclusion
I hope that this article helped solve the “cannot open outlook data file” issue. Closing applications properly before shutting down your computer and regularly updating Outlook help prevent such obstacles. If you have any queries or any new suggestions, please feel free to let me know.
Frequently Asked Questions
there are a few reasons-
1. Corrupt Outlook data file
2. Maximized Outlook data file storage
3. Microsoft Outlook errors
4. System or Outlook application crash
1. Create a New Outlook Profile
2. Change the Mail delivery location
3. Repair an Outlook data file (.pst) file using the SCANPST.EXE tool
4. Repair Outlook Data Files using Remo Repair PST
You can use the below paths to locate ScanPST-
2019 Outlook: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
2016 Outlook: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
2013 Outlook: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15
