Cannot Open Your Default Email Folders (xxx.pst) in Outlook – Fix Error Now
Once a year, Microsoft users encounter at least one error while regularly working with MS Outlook. One of the common errors among all is Outlook PST file cannot be opened in Outlook 2007/2010/2013/2016. It is easy to find out causes behind the Cannot Open your Default Email Folders (xxx.pst) in Outlook error. This makes it simple to research for a foolproof solution in order to fix the issue. In this post, we are delivering information regarding this error with its causes and solutions.
Corporate houses, home computer users, and professionals around the world prefer and recommend others to use Microsoft Outlook. They find the email client easy to use as well as manage, allowing end users to make things simpler. In order to determine workaround for resolving PST cannot be found in Outlook 2016 / 2013, it is essential to go in the depth of causes and fix the problem with accurate solutions.
Cannot Open Your Default Email Folders The PST File Cannot be Opened – Introduction
Several customers complain about the annoying errors that usually occurs at the time of launching MS Outlook. They state that Microsoft email client is unable to open and access default email folders because of which information cannot be retrieved. When such type of situation occurs, it is quite obvious that individuals cannot continue their work and now they are restricted from doing it. There are multiple causes that are involved behind PST File Cannot be Found issue. Following are few of them:
- The occurrence chances of this particular error are high when Microsoft Outlook program is working in compatibility mode.
- When there is the presence of corruption in settings file of MS Outlook Navigation Pane, it might lead to this error.
- If the Outlook database file is corrupted, severely damaged, or shift-deleted then, for sure this causes the same error.
Workarounds to Fix PST File Cannot be Opened Error
An expert team of Microsoft Outlook delivered foolproof measures, which can be implemented for fixing root causes of the error. Below mentioned is the solutions to this issue that needs to be executed one after the another.
1. Disable Compatibility Mode of Outlook
- Go to the location of Microsoft Outlook installation folder i.e., C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office XX\Outlook.exe
- You will find an Outlook.exe file listed on current PC’s Windows Explorer screen. Right-click on this file
- Choose Properties and then, click on the Compatibility tab
- Uncheck the checkbox of Run this program in compatibility mode
- Click on Apply to resolve ‘Cannot Open your Default Email Folders (xxx.pst) in Outlook’ error.
2. Open Microsoft Outlook in Safe Mode
- Open Run prompt window on your machine and execute Outlook.exe /safe command
- This displays a dialog box where you have to select the profile in which PST file cannot be opened error is occurring. After choosing the profile, click on OK
- If the password is enabled in the profile then, enter it; else skip this step
- You are lucky if Microsoft Outlook gets opened in safe mode
3. Repair Outlook File With scanpst.exe
Microsoft team provides an inbuilt utility, which performs only the repairing process to handle corrupt PST file. If the PST file cannot be found error is caused due to low-level file corruption, make use of scanpst.exe. It is totally available for free of cost and present in the installation folder of Microsoft Outlook 2016 / 2013.
Conclusion
Cannot Open Your Default Email Folders The PST file cannot be opened in Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010 error is caused due to any one of the three listed causes. The solution for each cause is explained in this blog. If a person is unable to learn the root cause of the error then, he or she should implement all these workarounds one-by-one.