OST File Not Recognized by Outlook 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019

The end users have to face several problems while locating the OST file as it is such a common problem among Microsoft Outlook users. You would be working perfectly on email client and one day you will see an error message like OST File not Recognized by Outlook. This can happen due to many possible reasons and this article explains all the reasons along with their solutions.

Microsoft Outlook has now become a popular medium for email communication between corporate users. It offers so many advanced features like users can synchronize their mailbox with Exchange Server. When it is synchronized with Microsoft Exchange Server, Outlook creates an OST data file. Like any other file, the OST files are also prone to corruption, If such a situation occurs, then Outlook displays an error message showing that the OST file is not recognized by Outlook.

If the users encounter this prompt, then they look for a reliable solution that can help them to solve the issue. However, it is not at all a simple task to find out the best method. Moreover, it is really important to get the best solution and in this article, we will come up with a perfect solution for you. Also, get the best and most reliable solution to fix corrupted OST file issues.

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Possible Reasons Outlook Does Not Recognize OST File Error

Before directly going to the method to fix the issue, let us first discuss the main cause behind it. There are many possible reasons why this error message can be triggered. Some of them are discussed below:

1. OST File Corruption – Like other normal files, OST files can also get corrupted or damaged due to various possible reasons such as files reaching maximum size, virus infection, and abnormal termination of Outlook / Exchange.
2. OST File Synchronization – When Outlook is synchronized with Microsoft Exchange, Outlook creates an OST file. Thus, if Outlook is unable to connect to the Exchange mailbox due to any cause and the synchronization of the OST file stops, then the users might encounter this error message.

Manual Approach to Fix OST File Not Recognized by Outlook Issue

As the damaged OST file makes it impossible for the users to work on Microsoft Outlook. The users have to take immediate steps to repair the file and make it accessible again so that users can start working on it again.

The users can implement the following approaches to resolve Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, and 2010 do not recognize OST file error message:

Approach 1 – Inbox Repair Utility

The first method using which the users can try to fix OST File Not Recognized by Outlook error is the scanpst.exe utility offered by Outlook. This in-built utility can help users to diagnose and fix the damage by implementing the following steps:

• First, launch the inbox repair utility
• Click on the Browse button to choose the corrupted OST file
• Hit the Start button and it will start the scan process
• Once the scan gets completed, it will generate a list of errors. Then, hit the Repair button to resolve the listed issues
• After the completion of the process, restart Outlook and check if the OST file works or not.

Approach 2 – Recreate OST File

Another method that might help users to resolve the issue is to create a new OST file and make alterations in the cache mode of files. The steps to create a new OST file are explained in the following section:

• First, Close Microsoft Outlook and then go to Control Panel
• Select the Mail option and then click on the Profiles button
• Select the associated profile name
• Now, go to Properties >> Email Accounts
• Choose the email address and press the Change button
• Here, under the Advanced Settings tab, check the Use Cached Exchange Mode option
• Now, hit the OK button to save the changes.

These steps will create a new OST file for the selected email account.

Easiest Way to Remove OST File Not Recognized by Outlook Issue

If you have tried both the above-mentioned procedures and you are still unable to make OST file accessible again, then you need to go for the automated solution. As the manual approaches have some limitations associated with them, this SysTools OST to PST Conversion Software overcomes all those limitations.

It can even fix corrupted OST files to remove Outlook 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019 does not recognize OST file errors, and recover permanently lost data. Therefore, the users can use the output PST file to import it into Outlook directly, as the OST file cannot be imported into Outlook. Moreover, the tool supports OST files of all Outlook versions such as Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, and 2003.

Conclusion

As the most common reason behind the occurrence of OST files not being recognized by Outlook is file corruption. Thus, it is always suggested to handle the files carefully. After understanding the possible causes of the issue, we have discussed the manual procedures to resolve the error.

But, there might be chances that the users will still get the message. So, in such situations, they can use the suggested third-party application and remove corruption with ease.

More OST File Related Errors:

• Errors Have Been Detected in The OST File
• Profile.ost is Not An Outlook Data File
• Outlook OST File is in Use & Cannot be Accessed
• Outlook.ost Has Reached The Maximum Size