The smooth functioning of Microsoft Outlook depends on the health of its data file formats—OST and PST. Both the files store the mailbox data like email messages, contacts, calendars, etc. locally on the system. OST, or offline storage table files, are encrypted with a MAPIEntryID GUID key and are linked with a particular profile. It means accessing this file requires authentication from the linked MAPI profile. In contrast, the PST (Personal Storage Table) file is portable, or transferrable, and can be accessed easily through a different Outlook profile. This portable nature makes PST files more prone to corruption or damage.
Many factors are responsible for corruption in the Outlook data file (.pst). Such factors comprise issues with hardware or software, an oversized mailbox, a malware attack, etc. Since PST files store crucial data, we need to repair it at the earliest. To fix corruption and errors in Outlook data file (.pst), Microsoft has provided a built-in utility called Inbox Repair Tool, or ScanPST.exe. However, this tool has some drawbacks. Firstly, it is a time-consuming, manual exercise that requires a degree of technical knowledge. Secondly, it may fail to repair a large PST file. Thirdly, it may not be able to repair a PST file that is severely damaged by a virus or malware attack. Sometimes, ScanPST may delete irreparable items, leading to partial data loss.
We can employ any PST Repair Software to fix PST files and get around the limitations of ScanPST.exe. Such tools offer quick repair solutions. These software options also feature options like choosing specific items to recover, previewing recoverable items, etc. Selecting the right tool for PST repair is a bit challenging because there are many options available. In this post, we will explore the top 5 PST repair software for Outlook. You can evaluate the pros and cons of each software and pick the best one for your needs.
ScanPST V/s PST Repair Software:
| Characteristics | Third-Party PST Repair Tool | ScanPST |
| Speed: | Quickly fixes files. | Process comprises multiple passes, thus time consuming. |
| Large File: | Can repair large-sized Outlook PST files. | It may struggle to fix an oversized data file. |
| Formats: | Saves in multiple formats. | Saves in PST format only. |
| Preview: | Offers an in-depth preview of the converted data. | This feature is not available in ScanPST. |
| Comprehensive Repair: | Can solve almost each and every issue. | It can’t repair every PST issue or problem, even if the tool detects it. |
List of Top 5 PST Repair Software for Outlook:
Below is the list of 5 top-rated repair software for Outlook:
1. Stellar Repair for Outlook: This tool is reliable, quick, and user friendly. IT managers and MVPs worldwide put their faith in this software. This software excels at repairing highly corrupted Outlook data files (.pst), regardless of size. It also offers an option to preview all recoverable mailbox data. It supports MS Office 365, 2021, 2019, 2016, and earlier versions. This converter software is available in three versions: Professional, Technician, and Toolkit.
Pros:
- A user-friendly GUI
- Previews the recovered items
- Improved scanning and saving speed
- Supports selective recovery of mailbox items
- Ability to repair corrupt PST files of any size
- Repairs password-protected and encrypted PST files
- Can recover deleted emails and other mailbox data files
- Saves repaired data in varied formats—PST, MSG, EML, RTF, PDF, and HTML
- Supports Outlook for Office 365, MS Outlook 2021, 2017, 2016, and earlier versions
Cons:
- The trial version only allows you to scan and preview the recoverable mail items
- Save option for the repaired items not provided in the demo version
2. Aryson Outlook PST Repair: It is another software that can repair damaged PST files. This tool is available in 3 versions—Standard, Advanced, and Deep—to address varied corruption levels. This repair software is also capable of solving alignment issues in PST files. Moreover, it can also recover data from encrypted and password-protected PST files.
Pros:
- Repairs damaged PST files
- Recovers all the mailbox items
- Saves recovered files in formats like PST, DBX, MSG, EML, and MBOX.
- Search feature to locate and recover selected mail files
- Date Range feature to selectively restore files
- Maintains hierarchy of the folder after file repair
Cons:
- GUI is a bit complex for a user with a non-technical background
- The tool sometimes struggles while repairing a large data file (.pst)
3. Shoviv Outlook PST Repair Tool: This software is designed to scan as well as repair all kinds of PST files. It is capable of repairing Outlook data files (.pst) damaged by a virus attack, power failure, or other causes. This tool is compatible with all versions of Microsoft Outlook and Windows.
Pros:
- Restores deleted mail items
- Efficiently repairs PST file, including large-sized PST files
- Repairs password-protected or encrypted PST files
- Retains the folder hierarchy without changing its properties
- Perpetual license and lifetime free technical support
Cons:
- Slow speed, takes enough time to repair corrupt PST files over 100 MB
- Unable to split large PST files
- Demo version allows processing of first 50 items per folder
4. SysTools PST Repair: It can efficiently recover all mailbox data including emails, contacts, calendars, etc. This software can export the repaired PST files in multiple formats like PDF, MSG, HTML, and PST. It can also repair severely damaged and encrypted PST files. Additionally, it supports multiple languages.
Pros:
- Can repair multiple PST files
- Supports PST file of UNICODE and ANSI formats
- Option to remove SMIME and OpenPGP encryption from messages
- Restores lost or deleted data items
- Supports all versions of MS Outlook
Cons:
- It takes a lot of time in repairing a large PST file
5. Kernel for Outlook PST Repair: It is another popular tool, which deeply scans and repairs corrupt PST files. It features advanced filter options for customize email selection. This software also quickly repairs oversized PST files. It can also capable of recovering deleted items from corrupt or damaged PST files.
Pros:
- Repairs corrupted PST files of any size
- Recovers all the mailbox data from the damaged file
- Recovers deleted mails from PST file
- Saves the repaired PST file in different file formats, such as PST, DBX, PDF, MSG, and Office 365
Cons:
- Takes ample time in scanning and repairing a large PST file exceeding 1 GB
- Not compatible with all versions of Microsoft Outlook
Table Highlighting Comparison on the Basis of Core Competencies of the Above Software Tools:
| Core Capabilities: | Stellar Repair for Outlook | Aryson Outlook PST Repair | Shoviv Outlook PST Repair Tool | SysTools PST Repair | Kernel for Outlook PST Repair |
| Ability to repair severely corrupted PST Files | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Capability to restore permanently deleted mailbox data | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Recovery of deleted email messages with attachments | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Encrypted PST repair capability | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Split option availability | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Ability to compact the repaired file | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Ability to save the converted file in different formats | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Offers preview of recoverable items | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Option to recover selected mailbox content | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| User-friendly interface | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
Conclusion:
The above guide throws light on 5 different Outlook PST recovery software. We have also explored some benefits and drawbacks of each tool for convenience in the selection process. Conduct the in-depth analysis of each software before making any final choice. Evaluate the functionality by downloading the free trial version. Besides this, it is always better to do in-depth research on such tools in reputed magazines. Compare the prices as well as go through the reviews and feedback of customers on popular sites before making an investment in such software.
Working as a cyber security solutions architect, Alisa focuses on bug bounty and network security. Before joining us she held a cyber security researcher positions within a variety of cyber security start-ups. She also experience in different industry domains like finance, healthcare and consumer products.