“I need a quick solution to severe issues. I hope I will get the right answer here. I have deleted a huge PST file on my Windows computer mistakenly from C:\Users\******\Documents\Outlook Files. Immediately after deletion I emptied the recycle bin without cross-checking essential files. Now, I am really in need of help. Can anyone tell me how do I recover a deleted PST file in Outlook? Thanks in advance…”
Don’t worry, the deleted PST file can be recovered. When you delete a file, it is no longer available to you, however, the file still remains on the system’s hard drive and the occupied space is marked as free.
In such a situation, it is strictly suggested to stop using the drive from where you have erased the Outlook PST file because any other new file saved to the drive will overwrite the free space marked by deletion.
Reasons Behind Loss of PST File:
- Deleting the PST file by mistake and Hardware glitches lead to PST File Deletion.
- Malware issues and Power instability might cause the deletion of the PST file.
How to Recover Deleted PST Files In Outlook 2010/2013/2016/2019/2021?
There are various ways in which you can recover deleted PST files in Outlook. Here are a few tried and tested ways to recover Outlook PST files.
Method 1: Recover Deleted PST File From Recycle Bin
If a PST file is lost or deleted, the first place you can look into is your Recycle Bin. There are chances that you may find it in the Recycle Bin only if the PST file is not deleted permanently. However, if you have permanently deleted the Outlook .pst file, then you can make use of other methods mentioned below to recover the PST file in Outlook.
Note: Recycle bin also has some limitations, if your PST is very large then there are very chances of find your PST file in Recycle bin.
Method 2: Recover Deleted PST Files in Outlook From Deleted Items.
Follow the below steps to recover deleted pst files by making use of deleted items option:
Step 1: Launch Outlook and click on Deleted Items.
Step 2: Followed by the Home tab, select the Recover Deleted Items From Server logo.
Step 3: Select the PST file you want to recover and click on Restore Selected Items and click OK to restore.
Method 3: How to Recover Lost PST Files Using Backup
The AutoArchive feature in outlook will move a set of items to the archive folder, when it is enabled. This feature will free up space without deleting anything. Follow the below steps to open an auto archive backup feature in outlook:
Step 1: Select File → Open & Export
Step 2: Select Open Outlook Data File and click on archive. The mandatory location is Documents\Outlook Files until it is changed manually.
Step 3: Make use of the new Archives pull down which you can notice below the mailbox.
Method 4: How To Recover My Outlook Data File From The Previous Version?
Note: This method will help only if you have enabled the System Restore option on your Windows.
If the System Restore option was enabled previously, then follow the below-mentioned steps to recover lost or deleted PST file from Outlook.
- Open the File Explorer and go to the path C:\Users\USERNAME.
- Search for the Documents folder, right-click on it, and select Restore Previous Version.
- In the next window, you will find the list of previous versions, select the appropriate one to restore.
If you are unable to find any list of previous versions or if you have failed to recover the PST file even after trying the above method, don’t worry, you can still recover them. You can easily recover the deleted .pst file using the Yodot File Recovery tool.
Method 5: Recover Deleted PST File In Outlook Using Yodot File Recovery Tool
Yodot File Recovery tool is an popular file recovery tool in the file recovery industry. This tool works on an advanced algorithm, so that it can recover your deleted Outlook files under any file deletion scenario with its cool features. Download and try the tool to recover your deleted files from outlook.
Steps To Recover Lost /Deleted PST Files On Windows:
- Download and launch the Yodot File Recovery tool
- On the main screen, click on Deleted File Recovery button then it will automatically move to next window
- Here, select the drive from where you deleted your PST file and click Next to continue scan process
- After successful scan, view restored PST file either in Data View or File Type View
Simple Things Need To Remember About PST Files:
- Retain backup of the vital PST files regularly.
- Cross-check recycle bin carefully before emptying it.
- Always terminate the Outlook application in the proper mode.
