Free PST Recovery Software

A PST file, short for Personal Storage Table, is a type of file used in Microsoft Outlook. It serves as a personal folder where users can store emails, calendar events, contacts, and other data. The maximum storage limit for a single user's PST file in Outlook is generally 2GB. When functioning as a cache for Outlook's Cached Exchange Mode, which allows users to work offline with their email data, the file is referred to as an Offline Storage Table (.ost) or an Offline Folder File. This feature enables users to access their emails even when they are not connected to the internet or the Exchange server, as it stores a local copy of their mailbox content.

As the popularity of Microsoft Outlook increases, instances of PST file data loss may occur in our lives. If you have lost PST files, proceed with Part 1. If your PST file has become corrupted, proceed to Part 2.

Part 1. Recover Lost PST File for Free (Recommended)

To efficiently recover your deleted Outlook PST files, you require an email recovery tool with robust data retrieval capabilities. The Tools Data Recovery program is the optimal choice for Outlook users to perform PST file recovery. It is suitable for various scenarios of PST data loss. This software supports all Windows systems, including Windows 10, 8, 7, and more.   
Furthermore, if you accidentally lose crucial office files like documents or Excel spreadsheets, you can also utilize this software to recover office files.

Step 1. Select the drive or partition where you lost email files, and click "Scan".

Step 2. The software will immediately start a scanning process. Wait patiently until the scanning is finished. To quickly find the email files, click "Others" in the left panel. Then, search for PST files or Outlook files in the list of file types.

Step 3. Next, select the desired email files and click "Recover". Save the files to a different location rather than the original one.

Part 2. Repair Corrupted/Damaged PST Files

If you're unable to open your Personal Folders file (.pst) or believe your .pst data file is corrupted, follow the procedure outlined in this section. Corrupted PST files can be thoroughly repaired using professional PST repair tools. Corruption or damage to the Outlook PST file leads to the unavailability of all your valuable Outlook emails. The Email Recovery Wizard can mend your corrupted, damaged, or inaccessible PST files. Let's explore how it functions:

Step 1. Download the tool Email Recovery Wizard, install it, and then launch it. Select the "Recover Deleted Email/Repair PST File" option and click the "Next" button.

Step 2. Click on "Select source file" to choose the corrupted PST file. Alternatively, you can use the "Search PST file" button to locate the damaged PST file. Ensure that you have selected the correct PST file before proceeding with the repair process.

This is an image caption in English: "Select source PST files to repair"

Step 3. Select a suitable destination location to save the newly created, healthy PST file. Make sure there is sufficient free disk space available to save your repaired PST file. Once you have configured your recovery options, click the "Next" button.

Note: If you don't get the desired results, select Intensive Scan.

Step 4. While the process is ongoing, recovered Outlook items will be displayed in the list. You can preview the emails here.

• Save the mail recovery results, including messages, contacts, and attachments in a new, error-free PST file with the complete folder structure intact.

Part 3. Frequently Asked Questions About Free PST Recovery Software

Here are 4 additional questions about PST recovery software. Find the answers here.

< strong > 1. Can PST files be recovered?

When you delete a device's PST file, the data is not actually erased. The operating system becomes unable to access the associated data since the entries for those files have been removed. It categorizes the sectors occupied by the prepared data as free space. New data is then written over these recently designated areas.

2. How to prevent PST file loss?

1. Regularly back up essential files, including the PST file, and store them on an external hard drive. 2. Scan your computer for viruses using antivirus software. 3. Be cautious not to accidentally delete files. 4. Avoid using "Shift+Delete"; instead, use the "Delete" key or right-click and select Delete. 5. Do not abruptly terminate Microsoft Outlook.

3. How do I retrieve PST emails? To retrieve emails from a PST (Personal Storage Table) file, follow these steps: 1. **Download and Install a PST Viewer Tool**: Since Outlook is required to access PST files, ensure you have Microsoft Outlook installed on your computer. If not, you can use a free or paid PST viewer tool, such as Stellar Phoenix Mailbox Exchange Recovery, or Outlook Import Wizard. 2. **Locate the PST File**: The PST file usually contains all your email data. It can be found in the default Outlook data file location, which varies based on the version of Outlook and the operating system you're using. Common locations include: - Windows: `C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook` - Mac: `~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/Outlook/Outlook Data File.pst` 3. **Open PST File in Outlook**: If you have Outlook installed, go to 'File' > 'Open' > 'Open Outlook Data File', then browse and select the PST file. 4. **Import PST File**: Alternatively, if you prefer to import the PST into your current Outlook profile, go to 'File' > 'Open & Export' > 'Import/Export', choose 'Import from another program or file', select 'Outlook Data File (.pst)', and follow the wizard's instructions. 5. **Access Emails**: Once the PST file is open or imported, you should see its contents in the Outlook folders, usually under 'Inbox', 'Sent Items', 'Deleted Items', etc. You can now read, search, and manage your emails as needed. Remember that accessing PST files might require a compatible version of Outlook, and large files might take time to load.

Data Recovery Wizard Pro is the most practical method to recover a deleted PST file for Outlook. It is one of the top-rated file recovery tools, efficiently restoring lost PST or OST files with a high success rate.

4. How can I view PST files without Outlook? You can view PST files without Outlook by using alternative tools or methods. Here are a few options: 1. **Microsoft Outlook Import Wizard**: Microsoft provides a built-in tool called the "Outlook Import Wizard" that allows you to import PST files into a new Outlook data file. Even if you don't have Outlook installed, you can use this wizard to access the content of the PST file. 2. **Free PST viewers**: There are several free third-party PST viewers available, such as Nucleus PST Viewer, PST File Viewer Lite, and Stellar PST Viewer. These applications allow you to open and read the contents of a PST file without needing Outlook. 3. **Email conversion tools**: You can convert the PST file to a more widely supported format like EML or MSG, then use any email client that supports these formats to view the emails. 4. **Online services**: Some online tools, like CloudMailin or Email Extractor, can help you view the content of a PST file by uploading it to their servers. Remember to exercise caution when using third-party tools, as they may not be entirely secure or could have limitations in functionality.

Kernel for Outlook PST Viewer is an automated tool capable of opening a PST file without the need to launch Outlook. It enables you to examine both healthy and corrupted PST files of any size and type. To utilize this utility for opening a PST file, it needs to be installed on your computer.