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PCVITA software to recover deleted and lost emails from a corrupt OST file
OST Recovery Tool
PCVITA OST Recovery Tool recovers deleted emails, calendars, contacts, tasks, notes and journals from corrupt, orphaned and oversized OST files from Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013 and older versions back to Outlook 2000. OST recovery software reads the offline data file without Exchange Server, a live mailbox or an Outlook profile, strips S/MIME or OpenPGP encryption and saves the recovered items as PST, EML, MSG, HTML or PDF files or uploads them to a Microsoft 365 mailbox. Demo edition is free, shows every recovered item and saves 25 items from every folder.
- Input
- Outlook 2000 to 2021 OST files, corrupt, orphaned or oversized, plus the BAK file from ScanOST
- Output
- PST file for Outlook, four file formats (PDF, EML, MSG, HTML) or an upload to Microsoft 365
- Recovers
- Emails, attachments, contacts, calendar entries, notes, tasks and journals, deleted ones included
- Needs
- No Exchange Server connection, no Outlook profile, no live mailbox
Encrypted emails open again with the right certificate or key, Search All Drives finds every OST file on the machine and recovered deleted emails show in red. See all features. If the OST file is healthy and you only want it in another format, the OST Converter is the right product.
How OST Recovery Tool Recovers a Corrupt OST File
Load the OST file that Outlook refuses to open. PCVITA scans it, lists every item it finds and saves the data in whichever format you choose, folder tree intact.
Corrupt or Orphaned OST File
Outlook 2000 to 2021, Exchange or Microsoft 365 account
- Orphaned OST after the mailbox or profile was removed
- Damaged OST that stops Outlook from opening
- Outlook.bak copy that ScanOST left behind
PCVITA OST Recovery Software
Works offline on your Windows PC
- Two scan depths, Quick and Advance
- Deleted emails marked in red
- OpenPGP and S/MIME encryption removed
Readable Mailbox Data
Six save options, a fresh PST file or a Microsoft 365 mailbox among them
- Folder hierarchy kept as in the OST file
- Attachments and metadata stay in place
- Read or unread status and dates unchanged
- 1AddBrowse to the OST file, or let the tool search the drives.
- 2ScanChoose a scan depth, then look through the recovered items.
- 3SaveExport all items or only the ticked ones in one of six formats.
Recover Deleted Emails From an OST File in 6 Steps
One screen per step, from Add File to the saved output. Click a step for its screen, or read every step in the Software Guide.
Step 1. Open the Tool and Click Add File
Install the software, then start it from All Programs in the Start menu. Click Add File on the main screen to load the damaged OST file or its Outlook.bak copy.
Step 2. Browse to or Search for the OST File
Choose Select File and browse to the OST file or its Outlook.bak copy. Choose Search File when you do not know where Outlook kept the file, and let it scan one drive or all of them.
Step 3. Set the Scan Mode and Click Add
Quick scan suits a file that still opens but throws errors. Switch to Advance scan for a highly corrupted OST file or when Quick scan brings back nothing, then click Add. Add the certificate or private key first if the emails are encrypted.
Step 4. Preview the Recovered Items
Save the scan report when asked, so the tool reloads this file later without a second scan. Bold folder names hold data and red emails are the recovered deleted ones. Every email opens in any of the 8 views, Normal Mail through Attachments.
Step 5. Press Export or Export Selected
Click Export to save every item, or tick the items you need and click Export Selected. Select PST, PDF, MSG, EML, HTML or Office 365 and open Advanced Settings for the date filter, categories and naming options.
Step 6. Set the Destination and Export
Click Browse and select the destination folder. Keep Maintain Folder Hierarchy ticked, or tick Don’t Export Empty Folders, then click Export. When the success and fail counts appear, save the export report as a CSV file and open the recovered data from the destination folder.
No licence needed for the demo. Scan the file, look through every item and save 25 from every folder.
OST Recovery Software Features
Every job the PCVITA tool does on an offline Outlook data file that Outlook refuses to open.
Recovers Corrupt, Orphaned and Oversized OST Files
Outlook needs the account and the server to rebuild an OST file. PCVITA needs only the file.
Orphaned OST File Recovery
Mailbox deleted or Exchange Server gone, OST recovery tool still reads the file and brings the mailbox data back without the account.
Severe Corruption With Advance Scan
Advance scan rebuilds mailbox items from a highly corrupted OST file that Quick scan cannot read, on 32 bit and 64 bit Windows.
BAK File From ScanOST
Load the Outlook.bak file that ScanOST or ScanPST created and recover the items the repair utility left behind.
No OST File Size Limit
Oversized offline folder files recover without a size cap, and Split PST keeps the output under any limit you set.
Search Every Drive for OST Files
Search Selected Drive or Search All Drives brings up every OST and BAK file stored on the machine, so you add several files without typing a path.
Recovers Deleted and Encrypted Emails
Emails that Outlook shows as gone and emails locked with a certificate both come back readable.
Permanently Deleted Emails
Advance scan brings back soft deleted and Shift Delete items of every type, and the preview panel marks them in red.
S/MIME and OpenPGP Decryption
Load the S/MIME certificate for S/MIME mail, or the OpenPGP private key plus its password, and PCVITA decrypts the emails during the recovery.
Attachments and Metadata
Attachments stay with their emails. Dates, sender, recipient and read or unread status stay as they were.
Folder Hierarchy Intact
Maintain Folder Hierarchy keeps the same folder tree in the output. Don’t Export Empty Folders skips the empty ones.
Shows Every Recovered Item Before You Save
Look over the recovered mailbox on screen, tab by tab, and decide what goes out.
8 Email Views
Normal Mail, Hex, Properties, Message Header, MIME, HTML, RTF and Attachments views open any recovered email.
Item Type Tabs
Mail, Calendars, Contacts, Tasks, Notes and Journals tabs split the preview by item type, with the folder list beside them.
Bold and Red Markers
Bold marks folders with data, regular font marks empty ones and red marks recovered deleted emails.
Saved Scan Report
Save the scan once and OST recovery software reloads the file next time without a new scan.
Saves to the Format or Mailbox You Need
Recovered OST data lands in a fresh PST file, in one of four other file formats or inside Microsoft 365.
PST, PDF, MSG, EML or HTML Output
Recovered items go out as a PST file for Outlook or as PDF, MSG, EML or HTML files, folder tree included.
Direct Export to Microsoft 365
Type the mailbox login, validate it and PCVITA uploads the recovered items to that mailbox. Admin impersonation moves data into an admin account.
Date Filter, Categories and Split PST
Set a from and to date or select categories like mails, contacts and calendars. Split the output PST by size to avoid oversize errors.
PDF Page Settings and Bates Numbers
Set margins, Portrait or Landscape, A3, A4 or Letter size, a date stamp and Bates numbers before the PDF export.
Naming Conventions and CSV Report
Name EML, MSG, PDF and HTML files by subject or subject and date, then save the success and fail counts as a CSV report.
Try every option above on your own OST file. Demo lists every recovered item and saves 25 per folder.
Why Outlook Cannot Rebuild Every OST File
Four things Microsoft says about offline Outlook data files, and where PCVITA OST recovery software steps in.
- 1
OST Files are Copies of the Server Mailbox
Microsoft states that offline Outlook Data Files are always copies of items saved on a mail server, and that Outlook downloads the data again when you add the account. Once the mailbox, the account or the server is gone, nothing rebuilds the file. PCVITA OST Recovery Tool reads the orphaned file on its own and saves the data.
- 2
Microsoft’s Fix is to Delete the File
For an Exchange account, Microsoft’s repair page says to delete the offline Outlook Data File so Outlook recreates it, and notes that the Inbox Repair Tool does not analyze Exchange mailbox data. Items that were permanently deleted or damaged past repair do not come back on that route. Advance scan in PCVITA software recovers deleted items from the file itself.
- 3
Size Limits Hit OST Files Too
Size settings in Microsoft Learn apply to both .ost and .pst files. Unicode files get 50 GB by default from Outlook 2010 onward and 20 GB in the 2003 and 2007 versions, while ANSI files cap at 2 GB. At the limit, sending fails and items cannot be copied or moved. PCVITA tool recovers an OST file of any size and splits the output PST.
- 4
Sync Faults Point to a Damaged OST
Folders that do not update, mail that shows in Outlook on the web but not in Outlook and message counts that differ are the signs of a damaged .ost file that Microsoft lists. Its fix is to rebuild the file, which needs the server and the account. OST recovery software from PCVITA recovers the local copy when a rebuild is not possible.
Prepare Before Using OST Recovery Software
Seven checks before the first scan, then open the software.
- Copy the OST file with Outlook closed and work on the copy. Default location is C:\
Users\ <user>\ AppData\ Local\ Microsoft\ Outlook, or use Search All Drives in the tool. - Check that Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 or later is installed. Keep 100 MB of disk space free and 2 GB RAM on the machine.
- Sign in to Windows as an administrator on Windows 11, 10, 8 or 7 before a Microsoft 365 export.
- Have the S/MIME certificate ready, or the OpenPGP private key and its password, for encrypted emails.
- Install Outlook only if you plan to tick Use Outlook on a PST export. No other export needs it.
- Give the Microsoft 365 admin account an E3 licence and impersonation rights if the recovered data goes into an admin account.
- Scan your file with the free demo before you buy. Download the OST Recovery Tool demo, look at every item and save 25 from every folder.
System needs here match the Specifications table below. Microsoft pages behind the OST facts sit in the Sources list.
OST Recovery Software Pricing
Start with the free demo, then buy one licence. Both editions carry the same recovery options, only the save count differs.
Demo Edition
Free
Every recovered item on screen, 25 saved per folder
- Save limit25 per folder
- FeaturesAll
- LicenceNot needed
Version 10.0, 97.74 MB, Windows
Full Edition
$49 one licence
Every item out of every OST or BAK file, no cap
- Save limitNone
- FeaturesAll
- DeliveryEmail, 15 minutes
30 Days Money Back*, Safe & Secure checkout
What Both Editions Include Demo and full edition carry the same options, the save count is the only difference
- Single or Several OST and BAK Files
- Quick and Advance Scan Depths
- Deleted Email Recovery Marked in Red
- Email Decryption With Certificate or Key
- Preview Panel With 8 Email Views
- Date Filter, Categories and Naming Options
- Split PST and Folder Hierarchy Control
- Six Save Options Including Microsoft 365
OST Recovery Tool Specifications
Version, Windows needs and recovery limits on one screen.
| Version | 10.0 |
|---|---|
| File size | 97.74 MB |
| Windows versions | Windows 11 (64 bit), Windows 10, 8 and 7 (32 and 64 bit), Windows Server 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012 R2 and 2008 |
| Prerequisite | Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 or later |
| Hardware | Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 2.40 GHz class processor, 500 MB RAM (2 GB recommended), 100 MB free hard disk space |
| Free demo limit | Every item previewed, 25 items per folder saved in any format |
| Delivery | Licence key and download link by email within 15 minutes of payment |
| Input files | OST files from Exchange and Microsoft 365 accounts, and the BAK file from ScanOST or ScanPST |
|---|---|
| Outlook versions | OST files of Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003 and 2000 (32 and 64 bit) |
| Items recovered | Emails with attachments, calendars, contacts, tasks, notes and journals, with the read or unread status and dates |
| Scan modes | Quick for light damage, Advance for severe corruption and deleted items (64 bit Windows supported) |
| Output formats | PST, PDF, MSG, EML, HTML and Office 365 |
| Microsoft 365 plans | Enterprise E1, E3 and E5, Business Premium, Essentials, Exchange Online Plan 1 and 2, Office 365 A1, A3, A5 and F1 |
| Outlook installation | Only when you tick Use Outlook on a PST export |
| Microsoft 365 export | E3 licence and impersonation on the admin account before data goes into it |
OST Recovery Tool vs Outlook’s Own OST Rebuild
Microsoft’s route of deleting the OST file so Outlook downloads it again, next to PCVITA software, so you can decide which one fits your case.
| Point | Outlook OST Rebuild | PCVITA Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Where the data comes from | The mailbox on the server, downloaded again | The OST file on your disk |
| Needs the account | Yes, a working Exchange or Microsoft 365 mailbox and profile | No account, no server, no Outlook |
| Orphaned OST file | Nothing to download, data stays locked | Recovered and saved in six formats |
| Deleted items | Only what the server still holds | Advance scan recovers them from the file and marks them in red |
| Corrupt file | Deleted and replaced | Scanned, data saved to new files |
| File size | 50 GB default for Unicode files, 2 GB for ANSI | No limit, Split PST on the output |
| Encrypted emails | Stay encrypted | Decrypted once you add the certificate or key |
| Output | A new OST tied to the same profile | Six options from a PST file to Microsoft 365 |
| Price | Free with Outlook | Demo free, full edition $49 |
Rebuild facts are from Repair Outlook Data Files (Microsoft Support) and Open or import items from an .ost file (Microsoft Support). Size numbers come from Configure the size limit for Outlook data files (Microsoft Learn). Everything on the PCVITA side comes from the Specifications and Features parts of this page.
Check the OST Size Limit Before You Call It Corruption
- Microsoft applies the same size settings to .ost and .pst files.
- ANSI format files cap at 2 GB, and Outlook drops any higher value you set.
- Unicode OST files get 20 GB in Outlook 2003 or 2007 and 50 GB from Outlook 2010 onward.
- At the limit, compaction starts, emails cannot be sent and items cannot be copied or moved. Forced sync in Outlook 2013 can throw errors or crash the app.
- Shared folders and site mailboxes synced into the OST can push it over the limit. Recover the file, then export to PST with Split PST set, or trim the old mail with the OST Splitter.
See the Software Guide for the Split PST and date filter settings that keep the output under the limit.
Sources for OST Recovery Facts Official pages behind the OST facts above
- Microsoft SupportOpen or import items from an offline Outlook Data File (.ost)
- Microsoft SupportRepair Outlook Data Files (.pst and .ost)
- Microsoft LearnHow to configure the size limit for both (.pst) and (.ost) files in Outlook
- Microsoft SupportIssues when you synchronize your Exchange Server mailbox with your .ost file in Outlook
OST Recovery Tool FAQs
What users ask before they scan an OST file and while the recovery is on, sorted by topic.
Working and Limits What happens while the scan and save are on
How does the OST Recovery Tool work?
Six steps recover a corrupt OST file.
- Step 1. Start PCVITA OST Recovery Tool and press Add File.
- Step 2. Browse to the OST file, or let Search File find it.
- Step 3. Select Quick or Advance scan, then press Add.
- Step 4. Look through the recovered folders and items.
- Step 5. Press Export, or Export Selected for ticked items, and choose the output.
- Step 6. Browse to the destination folder and click Export.
Can I recover emails from an orphaned OST file without the Exchange account?
Yes. OST recovery tool reads the file on its own, so a deleted mailbox, a removed profile or a decommissioned Exchange Server does not block it. Load the orphaned OST file, scan it and save the emails as PST or any other format.
Can OST recovery software bring back permanently deleted emails?
Yes. Both soft deleted and Shift Delete items come back with Advance scan, attachments included. Red marks them in the preview panel, and they go out with everything else.
Can ScanPST.exe repair an OST file?
Not in a route Microsoft documents. Microsoft’s repair page tells Exchange users to delete the OST file so Outlook recreates it, and notes that the Inbox Repair Tool does not analyze Exchange mailbox data. If you already used it and have an Outlook.bak file, load that BAK file in the PCVITA tool.
Is there an OST file size limit for the recovery?
No. PCVITA OST recovery software scans an offline folder file of any size, well past the 50 GB default that Outlook sets. Split PST on the export keeps the output file under the size you set.
Where is my OST file stored?
In the Outlook folder of your Windows profile. On Windows 11, 10, 8 and 7 the default path is C:\
Can I recover several OST files at once?
Yes. Open Add File, switch to Search File and choose Search Selected Drive or Search All Drives. PCVITA lists every OST and BAK file it finds, and you add the files you need together.
How do I open the recovered PST file in Outlook?
Open it as a data file. In Outlook open the File menu, select Open & Export and click Open Outlook Data File. Browse to the recovered PST file and click OK. Its folders appear in the folder pane with the recovered emails inside.
Demo and Price Demo limits and the licence price
What is free in the OST recovery software demo?
Everything except saving every item. Demo edition scans corrupt and orphaned OST files in either scan mode, shows every recovered item in 8 views and saves 25 items from every folder, in any output option.
What does the full edition of PCVITA OST Recovery cost?
$49. Full edition has no 25 item limit and money back is guaranteed for 30 days. Your licence key reaches your inbox within 15 minutes of payment.
Compatibility and Exports Supported Outlook and Windows editions, Exchange, Microsoft 365 and encrypted mail
Which Outlook versions does OST recovery software support?
Outlook 2000 through 2021, 32 bit and 64 bit. OST recovery software from PCVITA reads files from Outlook 2021 and every earlier version down to Outlook 2000. Recovered PST files open in Outlook 2007 to 2019.
Does OST recovery software work on Windows 11 and Windows Server?
Windows 11, 10, 8 and 7, plus Windows Server 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012 R2 and 2008. Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 or later must be on the machine, with 500 MB RAM (2 GB recommended) and 100 MB of free disk space.
Is Outlook or Exchange Server needed to recover an OST file?
No. Scanning, preview and all save options except one need no Outlook, and no step needs an Exchange Server connection. Outlook matters only when you tick Use Outlook on a PST export.
Can the tool export recovered OST data to Microsoft 365?
Yes. Tick Office 365 in the export options, type the mailbox login, click Validate and wait for the green tick, then click Export. Admin accounts need an E3 licence and impersonation before the upload.
Do encrypted S/MIME or OpenPGP emails inside an OST file come back readable?
Yes, with the certificate or key. PCVITA asks for the encryption type, then for the S/MIME certificate or for the OpenPGP private key and its password. Emails then come out decrypted in the output.
Still have a question? Ask on Live Chat or send it from the Contact Us page.
OST Recovery Tool Reviews
Star ratings left on pcvita.com, plus three customers in their own words.
There was a sudden hardware crash in my office system due to which I lost all of my calendar entries in MS Outlook 2013. Since I am a working in a law enterprise, there were several notes that were essentials for me and recreating them was totally impossible. Thank to your support executive who provided me with this OST recovery utility and I was able to recover OST calendar entries back in Outlook. Great job!
The best thing I liked about this application is the interface. Each and every step of file repairing procedure is explained in such a simple manner that no technical guidance is needed to work with this tool. Being a normal computer user, I was able to fix an orphaned OST file for a secretive purpose. The efforts of developers are reflected in this software and I highly appreciate the team work who created this OST recovery wizard. Well done guys!
My problem was that I wanted to repair OST file of Outlook 2016, which got corrupted due to maintenance change in the Exchange server. Initially, I used scanpst.exe utility to fix the error but, it was of no worth. Then, I searched for the solution upon the same and came to know about this OST recovery wizard from a technical forum site. The Microsoft OST recovery application is best product to repair & restore items from severely damaged .ost file.
GearDownload: 100% clean badge, no spyware, adware or viruses found in PCVITA software.
DownloadAtoZ: 5 star award badge for PCVITA software. See every badge on the PCVITA awards page.
Key Takeaways on OST Recovery
This page in five lines.
- Files covered: PCVITA recovers corrupt, orphaned and oversized OST files from Outlook 2000 up to 2021, plus the BAK file, with no size limit.
- No account needed: the scan works without Exchange Server, a live mailbox or an Outlook profile.
- Deleted and encrypted mail: Advance scan returns permanently deleted items, marked in red, and S/MIME or OpenPGP emails open with the key.
- Preview and save: 8 email views, date filter, categories, Split PST and six save options from PST to Microsoft 365.
- Demo and price: 25 items a folder free, every item for $49, money back for 30 days.
Test the OST Recovery Tool on Your Own OST File
Get the free demo, scan the OST file and check every recovered item on screen. Save 25 per folder now and the rest after you buy.
Safe & Secure · 30 Days Money Back*