How to Fix Your Outlook Data File Cannot Be Configured Error?

Updated on April 08, 2022

Microsoft Outlook is one of the most efficient email clients used in many corporate organizations. As this application enables the use of mail accounts in offline mode by creating an OST file; it is very beneficial for Outlook users of a particular organization to securely carry out remote access emails and other mail attributes from their mail accounts.

Microsoft Outlook 2010 included many advanced features that were not present in its previous versions. But, unfortunately, while using Microsoft Exchange Server OST file many users have come across an error message saying that the data file is not configured. And users do not understand what triggers this error message in Outlook. So, let us try to understand more about the Outlook error ‘this data file has not been configured ‘ on Windows computers.

What are the Causes for the Error Message “Cannot Configure Data File in Outlook”?

Following are a few causes that result in Outlook data file cannot be configured issue:

• Missing OST or PST File: If the Outlook system gets crashed while importing the data file, the OST and PST file may get displaced. As a result, the process will get dismissed, and Outlook may not configure the profile you are looking for.
• Corrupt Data File: If the OST and PST file gets corrupted due to a virus attack, synchronization error, abrupt termination, logical error, etc., you may get this error message.
• Roaming Profile: Outlook users, who have roaming profiles connected to the MS Exchange server of the organization, usually encounter this problem. Their roaming profiles are saved on a shared network wherein they can easily access their Outlook profile from any computer connected to that network. Many users get the error message, “your Outlook data file cannot be configured,” when they try to access their profile.
• System Crash: If the system crashes while importing data files, it disrupts the configuration process. As a result, you may get an error message.

Quick Fixes for Outlook data file cannot be configured error

Follow the steps mentioned below to fix your Outlook data file cannot be configured error:

1. Recheck the Outlook data files path in the system, and reset it to the original one if changed.
2. In the case of the OST file, delete the .ost file and download it from Exchange.
3. Reinstall Outlook and try to open Outlook data files.
4. Use inbuilt Inbox repair tool(Scanpst.exe).

If this method doesn’t work, then try to fix the error with the following methods:

How Do I Fix Outlook Data File Cannot Be Configured?

Method 1: How to Fix “Your Outlook Data File(.ost) cannot be Configured “ Error?

You can access your Outlook account through the OST file. OST file is a replica or copy of your information saved on your mail server. If you encounter any problem with the OST file, delete it and recreate it by downloading a copy of the file using the Exchange Server when ”Outlook .ost is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed Error“. Follow these steps:

• Go to the Control Panel and search for mail from the Search Control box.
• The Mail Setup dialog box appears. Select Email accounts.
• Choose the Data Files tab from the available options, select the Exchange account, and then select Open File Location on the mini toolbar.
• After closing Account Settings and the Mail Setup box, return to the File Explorer window.
• In the corresponding File Explorer window, right-click Exchange data file(.ost) and click on the Delete button.
• Restart the system and try accessing again.

A new OST file is created for rebooting the system.

Method 2: How to Fix “Your Outlook Data File(.nst) cannot be Configured” Error on Outlook?

NST is an extension of the Outlook file stored on the local computer whenever you configure Office 365 in Outlook. Outlook synchronizes the local copy of Office 365 and stores it on the PC in a group storage table, also known as NST files. NST files allow you to work offline on Office 365 as OST works for MS Outlook. Both OST and NST files are stored in the same folder. Outlook Slider manages and controls the data synchronized in the NST files with the .nst extension.

The NST files are created automatically whenever you configure Office 365 to Outlook as all the cached data of Office 365 are stored in the NST file format. So if you get an error message saying “ Your Outlook data file cannot be configured in Office 365” while configuring your Office 365 account in Outlook, it is pointing towards a .nst file. Follow these steps to fix this error:

Step 1: Verify the System for Corruption

• Press Windows + R.
• Now, type “ sfc/scannow” and press Enter.

To run this command, admin privileges might be required.

Step 2: Install the Latest Windows Update

• Click the Start button.
• Type update and press Enter.
• Windows dialog box will appear.
• If the updates are available, click on the install updates option.

Step 3: Clean Up Junk Files

• Press Win + R.
• Now type Cleanmgr and press Enter.
• Pick the OS partition and click OK.
• Finally, click on Clean Up System Files.

Method 3: Resolve Outlook File (.pst) cannot be configured

If you cannot start MS Outlook, your profile is not configured. It is linked to your PST file, and you can fix it by using a professional tool like Yodot Outlook PST Repair. To fix the “Outlook data file cannot be configured in Windows” error. Follow these steps:

Exit Outlook and do one of the following:

• Browse to C:/Program Files: or browse to C:/Program Files (×86)
• In the search box, type scanpst.exe.
• Open scanpst.exe.
• A new window appears; type the name of the .pst file you want to check.
• Hit Start to begin the scanning process.
• If the scan finds an error, choose Repair to fix the error.
• Once the Repair completes, start Outlook with the profile associated with the repaired data file.

If the above-mentioned resolutions cannot fix the error that you encounter while trying to access the OST file on your system, then it is recommended to make use of the best OST to PST conversion tool.

Method 4: How to Repair OST File Error On Outlook Using Yodot PST Repair Tool?

Make use of Yodot Outlook PST Repair to fix the error this data file has not been configured in the Microsoft Outlook application and successfully access all mail attributes in a few clicks. Software repairs all the irregularities with Outlook OST files and repairs them so that they can be accessed by Outlook without trouble. The tool can convert healthy as well as corrupted Outlook OST data files from different versions of Microsoft Exchange Server like 2019, 2016. and previous versions. Users can implement this tool on Windows 11, 10, and previous versions.

Steps For Converting Corrupt OST File To PST File In MS Outlook:

Step 1:Download Outlook PST Repair software and install it on a Windows computer.

Step 2:Run the utility and choose any option from “Open PST File”, “Find PST File” or “Select Outlook Profile” to select the OST file that you want to repair, by clicking on Open PST File.

Step 3:Select destination location by browsing and select mode of scan, either “Normal Scan” or “Smart Scan” and click on “Repair” button

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Step 4:Software starts scanning Microsoft Outlook OST file and you could view resulted information about OST file contents in a short duration

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