How to Recover Deleted PST File in Outlook 2019/2016/2013/2010

I accidentally deleted my .pst file. Can I recover it?

"I accidentally deleted my entire PST file from C:\Users\Name\Documents\Outlook Files. Is there any way to recover it? Now, when I try to open Microsoft Outlook, I get an error message stating, 'Cannot find C:\Users\xxx\documents\Outlook Files\xxx@*******.com.pst.' How can I restore my deleted PST file? I need it to continue with my work. Thanks in advance. Please help!"

PST or Personal Storage Table is a personal folder file that gets automatically generated in Microsoft Outlook. It stores user data like emails, tasks, contacts, calendar, events, attachments, and other files on the client's hard drive. Sometimes, due to certain reasons such as Trojan and malware virus infections, accidental deletion using Shift + Delete keys, hard disk failure, or operating system crash, PST files might get deleted or lost.

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If you have just deleted your PST file, you should be able to recover it from the Recycle Bin. If it was permanently deleted or you have emptied the Recycle Bin, then you will need to restore it from a backup if you have one. If you don't have a backup (as is the case for most users), you can use a utility like the Ultimate Data Recovery Wizard to recover a permanently deleted PST file.

The most effective way to recover deleted PST files from hard drive with utf-8 encoding

The most practical way to recover deleted PST files in Outlook is by using the Data Recovery Wizard tool. This is a top-rated file recovery software that retrieves lost PST or OST files with a high success rate.

Aside from PST file recovery, this data recovery application also retrieves various other file types, such as Word, Excel, PPT, PSD, videos, photos, audio, and more. Download the software now and follow simple steps to recover your deleted PST files with just a few clicks.

Step 1. Select the drive or partition where your lost email files were located and click “Scan”.

Step 2: The software will immediately start the scanning process. Wait for the scan to finish. To locate email files quickly, click on 'Other' in the left panel. Then, look for PST files or Outlook files in the list of file types.

Step 3. Next, select the email files you want and click “Recover.” Save the files to a location other than the original one.

How to Import PST Files into Outlook

After you recover a PST file, you can import it into Outlook to restore all of its mailbox items, such as e-mail messages, attachments, contacts, calendar items, journals, and notes.

Step 1: Launch Outlook. Go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export > Import from another program or file > Open Outlook Data File.

Step 2: In the Navigation Pane, drag e-mail messages, contacts, and other folders from the .pst file into an existing Outlook folder.

• Related tutorial you may need: How to recover and repair corrupted PSD files

Recover Deleted PST Files from Previous Versions

If you have File History or System Restore enabled on Windows, you might be able to recover the deleted PST file from a backup or previous version.

Step 1: Open File Explorer.

Step 2: Go to the C:\Users\UserName\Documents\Outlook Files folder.

Step 3: Right-click on "Outlook File" and select "Restore previous versions." Switch to the "Previous Versions" tab. Then, choose the version you want to restore.

Last Words

If you accidentally delete your Outlook PST file, you should avoid compacting the PST or saving any new data, as these actions might lead to overwriting. Then, you need to recover the deleted PST file using effective methods. If you have backups enabled, you can restore from the backup, or use a file recovery tool to retrieve emails and other content within Outlook. The sooner you attempt recovery, the higher the likelihood of successfully restoring your data.

Useful Tips to Prevent Loss of PST Files

Depending on the reason that led to data loss, you can take the following measures to prevent PST file loss:

• Regularly back up important files, including PST files, and store them on an external hard drive
• Scan your system with antivirus software to check for and remove viruses
• Be cautious not to accidentally delete files
• Use the "Delete" key or right-click and select "Delete," instead of using "Shift+Delete" to remove items
• Avoid abruptly closing Microsoft Outlook