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Written By Lovely Baghel
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Published on: August 26th, 2014
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Updated on: September 13, 2025
Best Way to Fix Outlook PST Cannot Be Found Issue.
User Query: “My Outlook shows the error ‘PST Cannot Be Found,’ and I can’t open my crucial emails. How can I fix this problem on an urgent basis?”
Millions of users rely on Microsoft Outlook as their primary email and communication platform. It manages the emails, calendars, contacts, tasks, notes, and journals. Sometimes users encounter a frustrating error message, “Outlook PST Cannot Be Found”. This issue can cause access problems and risk of data loss if not resolved on time. To fix Outlook PST cannot be found issue, this blog explains effective manual methods and a professional automated solution using the SysInfo PST Recovery Tool.
Reasons Behind the PST Cannot Be Found Issue
When MS Outlook is unable to find the PST file, there can be several primary reasons. Here are the most common causes:
- If you deleted your PST file or moved it from its original strong path. Then Outlook fails to detect and display the error message.
- A damaged or corrupted file is the common reason for this error. Outlook cannot read the corrupted file properly, which leads to a repair PST could not be found type error.
- Outlook may fail to recognize the file path due to incorrect account or profile settings.
- If your PST file is stored on an external, removable drive or network location, disconnection may trigger errors.
- Malicious software and viruses can corrupt file headers and delete file components. Outlook cannot process or open the PST, leading to inaccessibility.
Manual Methods to Fix Outlook PST Cannot Be Found
There are several manual ways to address it, but they might not always work for severely corrupted files. Read the following manual methods that can help you resolve PST file cannot be found issue.
Method 1: Create a New Outlook Profile
- To begin with, go to Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles.
- Add a new profile and configure your account.
- Reconnect the PST file and set the new profile as the default.
Method 2: Close and Restart Outlook.
- Firstly, open the Windows search bar from your taskbar and type Task Manager.
- Then, click on More Details to expand and see the full list of running programs.
- After that, go to the Processes tab, scroll down, and locate Outlook in the list.
- Now, select it and click on End Task to forcefully close the application.
- Finally, once done, exit Task Manager and try reopening Outlook to check if it runs smoothly.
Method 3: Use Safe Mode to Run Outlook
- Firstly, close Outlook completely to ensure no background processes are running.
- Then, press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
- In the box, type outlook.exe /safe and hit Enter.
- Thereafter, if Outlook opens in Safe Mode, go to File > Options > Add-ins.
- Finally, disable the add-ins one at a time and restart Outlook after each change to identify the problematic one.
Note: The above manual methods can help fix minor issues with Outlook, but they have limitations. If your PST file is badly corrupted or too large. Then, in such cases, it’s better to use a professional PST Recovery Tool for a faster and more reliable solution.
Automated Solution to Fix Outlook PST Cannot Be Found
Manual approaches are very time-consuming; that’s why using a professional PST Repair Tool is the best way to solve this issue. An automated utility makes sure complete recovery of data and helps to fix PST files cannot be found error without technical issues.
Steps to Use the Automated Tool
- Firstly, download and start the PST File Recovery Tool.
- Then, go to Open > navigate to the corrupted file > choose recovery mode > Next.
- After that, select and preview files, and click on Save.
- Now, select the location to save > click OK.
- Finally, choose the File Format and apply the filter > then click OK to initiate the saving process.
Advantages of Using an Automated Tool:
- It recovers the corrupted or inaccessible PST files safely.
- This tool maintains folder hierarchy and data integrity during recovery.
- Repairs large-sized PST files without limitations.
- Offers preview of emails before saving recovered data.
- Moreover, you can save the repaired PST into multiple formats for flexibility.
Explore More: Outlook Email Search Not Working
Conclusion
To conclude, it can be stressful to deal with corrupted PST files, especially when important emails are at stake. Manual methods such as restarting Outlook, using safe mode, or creating new profiles can be helpful, but they may not always fix severe cases. That’s why using a professional PST File Recovery Tool to fix Outlook PST cannot be found errors is highly recommended for quick and secure recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why does Outlook show “PST Cannot Be Found” error?
Ans. This error appears when Outlook cannot locate the PST file due to accidental deletion, corruption, incorrect profile configuration, or storage issues.
Q2: How do I fix the Outlook PST Cannot Be Found issue manually?
Ans. You can manually fix it by reconnecting the PST file path, using safe mode to run Outlook, or creating a new Outlook profile.
Q3: What is the best tool to repair Outlook PST errors?
Ans. The best option is a professional SysInfo PST File Recovery Tool. It can recover data from damaged files, repair errors efficiently, and restore Outlook access. Moreover, it supports wide compatibility across all versions.
About The Author:
As a content writer, I specialize in Email Migration, Data Recovery, Email Backup, and File Management. I have been writing professionally for two years now. There is so much information available in this field that I am intrigued by the newer technologies and techniques.
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