I have come across an increasing number of complaints on the internet coming from users who are facing errors while accessing the emails of Outlook OST files, when they attempt to open the OST file, are unable to access their emails from the Microsoft Outlook OST file. A dialog box appears stating that “Outlook is Using an Old Copy of your Outlook Data File. ost” to users.
Users are encountering complications with MS Outlook as a result of several scenarios, including Outlook updates, OST corruptions, mailbox synchronization, and others. Considering this difficulty, we will resolve this error promptly.
Queries
Query 1. I have updated my Outlook for betterment recently. When I opened my OST file, It displayed a dialog box error “Outlook is Using an Old Copy of your Outlook Data File .ost. Exit Outlook, delete the .ost file, and restart Outlook.” The solving process is also included in the error message, but I cannot risk losing any data from the OST file. Does anyone have another way of solving the error?
Query 2. Hello guys, I wanna share my problem for getting the safest solution. When I was managing some emails of Outlook OST files. All of a sudden, the electricity cut off for half an hour. After that when I turn on the desktop and open Outlook, It shows the error “Outlook is using an old copy of your Offline Folder file .ost. Exit Outlook, delete the .ost file, and restart Outlook.” I have restarted Outlook several times but The error comes every time whenever I attempt to open the file. Explain the solution, If you have
OST stands for (Offline Storage Table) and is a file format that is used by Microsoft Outlook to store synchronization copies of email items like Emails, Calendars, Contacts, Tasks, Notes, and others. Users can access the email data even in offline mode. However, sometimes OST files get damage due to plenty of factors. Sometimes Outlook shows the error “Outlook is using an old copy of your Outlook data file” OST while opening the OST file and Outlook refuses to open any email messages.
These are some reasons for Outlook OST files get damaged:-
- Synchronization issue
- Corruption in Outlook data file OST
- OST files becomes larger in size and Outlook hangs
- Outlook update and OST files get corrupted.
- Abrupt System Shutdown and power failure
Users won’t be able to access the OST file’s email contents if Outlook OST is corrupted for any of the reasons listing above. then it hinders the synchronization process. The error appeared in the dialog box while opening the OST file “Outlook is using an old copy of your Offline Folder file .ost. Exit Outlook, delete the .ost file and restart Outlook. A new file will be automatically create the next time you initiate a send/receive as shown below.”
Ways of solving the Outlook is using an old copy of your Offline Folder file (.ost)
Now we are going to discuss the methods of solving the OST errors, mainly I will describe two main methods of solving the errors. If the first method does not work, you must go for the second option which is prescribed a Third-Party Software for solving the issue explained.
First Method – A Manual Approach
First take a look on the error message-
As you see in the above error message, few steps are mentioned such as-
- Delete the *.ost file and restart Outlook and
- A new file will be automatically create on the Outlook saving location.
But, before going to these steps, there is a 100% risk of data loss because through the step, Outlook automatically deleted your OST file which results you have no option to restore your Outlook emails. So, before proceeding with this method, you must copy the OST file to any safe place for future use. The stepwise method is mentiones below for users to understand easily.
- Close the MS Outlook Application and navigate the location of the OST file as per window O/S.
- Copy the OST file and save it on a safe location, drive or local storage.
- After that, delete the OST file and reopen the Outlook program.
- It will recreate the new OST file
This method will resolve the Outlook error and you will not see any error message again in your Outlook but what you can do with your copied OST file and how to recover the emails from the OST file? This question remains unresolved as your emails are out of control from MS Outlook.
Let’s discuss how to recover emails from your copied OST file through an expert solution which is describe in our below second method.
Second Method – An Expert Solution to Fix All Kinds of Errors
The second method we discuss here is “Enstella OST to PST Converter”, sometimes called “Enstella OST Recovery”. The method and technology used by the software is developed by highly trend professionals and they have more than 20+ years of work experience with Outlook.
While using the OST Recovery software, there is a ZERO percentage of data loss and 100% of data safety during the conversion process. The software supports unlimited sizes of OST file scanning, opening, and displaying items such as emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, notes, and journal items.
Users can easily rebuild the new fresh copy of the PST file from OST and open it through any version of MS Outlook including MS Outlook 2021 and below versions.
Take a short description about the software below-
Add single as well as Multiple OST files – The software offers 2-ways to input the OST files as Single or Multiple. It depends on you to choose single or multiple and scan the OST file to view its emails and content before the actual migration.
Save OST files into 14+ different format and mail servers – Through using this software, you have more than the option to convert OST files such as convert OST to PST, EML, EMLX, MSG, HTML, vCard, ICS, Thunderbird, MBOX, MHT, Office365, Gmail, G-Suite, Outlook.com, YahooMail, and IMAP server account mailboxes.
Large coverage of Outlook editions – The software supports all editions of MS Outlook like Outlook 365, 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007 and below versions.
Follow the Steps to recover the data of the corrupt OST file
- You have to download and install OST to PST Converter Software in your system.
- Open the software and click on the Select OST Button.
- Select “Single file conversion” or “Bulk file conversion”.
- Browse the Location Of the OST File to Add the OST file in the Software.
- After the addition of OST files, click on the start scanning button.
- After scanning the OST files, you have to choose the exporting conversion option and choose the PST file format or desired file format for exporting.
- Enter the location where you want to save the file in your system and click on the convert button.
It will successfully save the OST file into a newly generated desired file format.
Also Read:- How to Open MSG file without Outlook?
Conclusion
I have seen a lot of queries on the internet coming from users who are facing errors while opening the emails of Outlook OST files,In this blog, I have provided the best and complete Guide to users on how users can solve the problem of errors appearing on the screen with the assistance of OST to PST Converter Software. This Software’s trial version is also available to users on the Enstella website where users can convert up to 25 files from every Mail folder of the OST file.