However, if your email server supports ONLY a POP3, auto account setup will create a POP3 account. More often than not, it’s caused by either a corrupted Outlook profile or a change in the data file’s location. And though an error Fix Outlook Not Opening After Windows Update message might look worrying, you may be able to fix the problem.

Fixing 'Outlook Data File Cannot Be Accessed' Error on PC

Then, in the next window, make sure you're on the tab marked \"Sync and backup\". On the righthand side of the window, choose the button to \"manage backup\". In that window, ensure the \"Documents\" folder is not enabled to sync to OneDrive. You may need to move the Outlook data file back down from OneDrive. fix MFA prompts not working Sometimes, rather than keeping a backup it actually takes the files off your system and moves them up to the cloud.

• It can recover all the mailbox items from the corrupted file and save them to a new PST file, which you can import into your Outlook profile.
• Find solutions to common problems or get help from a support agent.
• If you moved your data file or its location changed somehow, Outlook might not be able to find it.
• You may need to move the Outlook data file back down from OneDrive.
• Sometimes, data files get corrupted in a way that none of the methods above can help.
• The Inbox Repair tool creates a backup file with the same name as the original, but with a .bak extension, and saves it in the same folder.
• If your email server supports both IMAP and POP3, auto account setup will create an IMAP account by default.

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To make sure this is not the case, try opening Outlook and see if it found the data file. Then, in the next window, make sure you're on the tab marked "Sync and backup". On the righthand side of the window, choose the button to "manage backup".

What Our Users Say

I tried using the repair process (SCANPST.EXE) which appeared to detect issues but also appeared to complete a successful repair, but the issue persists. I tried to manually access the OST file location and I could read the file just fine. If this diagnostic step works and fixes the error, disabling your add-ins should help prevent it from happening again. Creating new Outlook profile or rebooting the computer fixes the issue. Find solutions to common problems or get help from a support agent. You can check the location of your Outlook Data Files in Outlook.

Repair Outlook Data Files (.pst and .ost)

From single external hard drives, SSD’s, mobile devices to enterprise NAS, SAN, and RAID failures, we are ready to help recover from digital disasters, anywhere. When you want to replicate a copy on the cloud, manually copy the PST in the OneDrive folder. This will result in one copy in the folder in OneDrive being used for backup purposes, and another copy in your Outlook client that can be kept open by Outlook. Outlook 2013 and 2016, users of both have reported this issue.

Method 2 - Manually create an IMAP or POP3 email account

Sometimes, data files get corrupted in a way that none of the methods above can help. This might happen due to a power failure or improper shutdown, hardware issues, or viruses and malware. This could happen if, for example, OneDrive backs up your Documents folder flush DNS and re-sync Outlook to the cloud and includes the Outlook Files folder where the file is located.