If Outlook won’t open because errors have been detected in the OST file, then continue reading below to fix the problem.
When you use Outlook with an Exchange account, Outlook syncs and stores your Exchange email messages locally in an OST file so you can view them even when offline. However, there are cases where the OST file becomes corrupt for various reasons, with the result that Outlook cannot open by displaying the message:
Errors have been detected in the file C:UsersUsernameAppDataLocalMicrosoftOutlookuser@example.com.ost
What can cause Outlook .OST file Corruption?
- Sudden shutdown of Outlook or PC during the synchronization process (eg after a power failure)
- An Oversized Outlook OST file.
- Incompatible Outlook Add-ins.
- Virus or malware infection.
- Disk problems (e.g. bad sectors)
In this tutorial you will learn to fix the Outlook problem “Errors have been detected in <path to .OST> file” in Outlook 365, 2019, 2016, 2013, etc..*
* Note: If the OST file is frequently corrupted or if the OST file is renamed to “.CORUPPT” (e.g. ‘user@example.com.ost.CORRUPT’, follow the instructions in this tutorial: FIX: Outlook .OST file is corrupted over and over again.
How to fix a Corrupted .OST Outlook file (Outlook .OST Corrupt).
If you cannot open Outlook because there are errors in the OST file, follow of the methods below to solve the problem:
Method 1. Repair Errors in OST Outlook file.
The first method to repair a damaged .OST file, is to repair it using Microsoft’s Outlook repair tool “scanpst.exe”.
1. Close Outlook.
2. Navigate to Control Panel and open the Mail applet. (Set the View by to Small icons if you cannot see it)
3. Click the Data Files button.
4. Notice the name of the.OST file for your Exchange account and click Open File Location. *
5. Click in address bar, select the path and right-click copy.
6. Open Windows explorer and locate the scanpst.exe repair tool at the following location, according your Windows and Office version:
Office 2019 & 2016 & Office 365:
Windows 32-bit > C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice16
Windows 64-bit & Office 32-bit > C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice16
Windows 64-bit & Office 64-bit > C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice16
Click-to-Run Office 32-bit > C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficerootOffice16
Click-to-Run Office 64-bit > C:Program FilesMicrosoft Office 16rootoffice16Office 2013:
Windows 32-bit > C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice15
Windows 64-bit & Office 32-bit > C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice15
Windows 64-bit & Office 64-bit > C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice15
Click-to-Run Office 32-bit > C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficerootOffice15
Click-to-Run Office 64-bit > C:Program FilesMicrosoft Office 15rootoffice15
Office 2010:
Windows 32-bit > C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice14
Windows 64-bit & Office 32-bit > C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice14
Windows 64-bit & Office 64-bit > C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice14
Office 2007:
Windows 32-bit > C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice12
Windows 64-bit > C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice12
7. Double-click to open the SCANPST.EXE
8. Click Browse.
9. Right-click in the address bar and Paste the path you copied on step-5 above.
10. Select the corrupted Outlook OST file and click Open.
11. Press the Scan button and be patient until the Inbox Repair Tool repairs the corrupted file. *
* Note: During the repair process you will be asked if you want to create a backup. Answer “Yes” to continue the repair operation.
12. When the repair process is completed, open Outlook and see if the problem is fixed.
Method 2. Recreate Outlook OST file.
The second method to fix a corrupted .OST archive is to force Outlook to re-download and save all your emails from Exchange server and to store them in a new OST file. To do that:
1. Close Outlook.
2. Go to Control Panel, open the Mail applet and choose Data files -> Open file location. (steps 1-4 in Method-1 above).
3. Right-click and Delete the corrupted OST file.
4. When you are done, try opening Outlook and if it opens normally let it download and synchronize all your emails from the Exchange server.
Method 3. FIX “Errors have been detected in OST file” by deleting and re-Creating Outlook Profile.
To final method to fix the error “Errors have been detected in the file <path to .OST>” , is to create a a new Outlook profile.
1. Close Outlook.
2. Navigate to Control Panel and open the Mail applet.
3. Click Show Profiles.
4. Click Remove to delete the current Outlook profile. *
* Attention: If you have setup a secondary POP/SMTP email account in Outlook, backup the PST file of that account to another location before deleting the Outlook profile or, add a new Outlook profile without deleting the current one.
5. Then click Add and type a name for the new Outlook profile.
6. Proceed to setup again your Exchange account in Outlook. *
* Note: If after following the above instructions Outlook still does not open due to a corrupted OST file, or if the OST file is frequently corrupted, follow the instructions on this tutorial: FIX: Outlook .OST file is corrupted over and over again.
That’s all folks! Did it work for you?
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