If you are unable to access your Outlook mailbox due to an Exchange outage or deletion of your account, this can be incredibly stressful. You cannot access your orphaned or disconnected OST files directly through Outlook, which also creates significant difficulty in retrieving mailbox data from offline OST files.
This guide will discuss in depth your options regarding this issue and provide an overview of manual recovery methods, identify the limitations of those methods, and present a reliable solution where you can recover your mailbox data.
Understanding the Problem with Offline OST Files
An OST (Offline Storage Table) file is a copy of your Exchange mailbox that is always up to date on your computer. It lets people read emails, see contacts, check calendars, and open attachments even when they aren't online.
But there are problems when:
- The Exchange Server stops working.
- The account for the mailbox has been turned off or deleted.
- The profile in Outlook gets messed up .
- The OST file is corrupt.
When this happens, the OST file becomes orphaned, which means it is no longer connected to the Exchange account it was made for. Outlook can't open or import these kinds of files directly, which makes it hard to get mailbox data back from an Offline OST file.
Common Causes of OST File Inaccessibility
It's important to know why the problem happens before trying to fix it.
- The Exchange Server isn't working.
- Accidentally deleting a mailbox
- There is something wrong with the Outlook profile.
- An OST file that is large or oversized
- A sudden crash or shutdown of the system
- Problems with the disk or malware
When any of these things happen , users may have trouble synchronizing, logging in, or starting Outlook.
Manual Methods to Recover Mailbox Data
There are a few manual methods that might work in some situations.
1. Reconnect to Exchange Server
If the server is fixed:
- Reconfigure the Outlook profile
- Let mailboxes sync with each other
- Export mailbox data to PST
You can only do this if the original account is still active and you can reach it .
2. Recreate the Outlook Profile
Sometimes, problems with access are caused by profile corruption.
Steps :
- You should see the Control Panel.
- Click on "Email"
- Pick Show Profiles
- Create a new profile
- Add your Exchange account
You can save data in PST format if it works .
Limitations of the Manual Method
There are some situations where manual solutions work , but they have a number of problems .
- They need to remain connected to the exchange at all times.
- You can't fix serious corruption.
- Data that is not synced may be lost forever.
- It may take a lot of time to complete this process .
If the Exchange account is no longer active, manual methods will not work well to get mailbox data back from an offline OST file. When this happens, you need to use a professional tool.
Professional Solution to Recover OST Mailbox Data
When manual methods don't work , the best way to get back to your account is to convert the OST file to PST format.
MailsClick can retrieve information from OST files that are inaccessible, orphaned, or corrupted and convert them to PST format without the need to connect to an Exchange server.
Simple Steps to Convert OST to PST File
- Place the software on your computer and run it.
- Find and select the offline OST file.
- View mailbox items ahead of time
- Select PST as the output format
- Choose a place to go
- Click "Convert".
After conversion, open Outlook and import the PST file to get full access to your mailbox data again .
Final Thoughts
If your Exchange server shuts down or your mailbox account is deleted, it may be difficult to retrieve the data in the OST file. There are times when manual methods can help , but they usually don't work when files are orphaned or badly damaged.
The safest way to get mailbox data back from an offline OST file is to convert it to PST format. A professional solution ensures that everything is recovered without the risk of losing data or losing connection to the server.
If you can't access your OST files, a dedicated conversion tool can help you get your mailbox data back quickly and safely.
