Can I delete OST files without deleting emails?

Can I delete OST files without deleting emails?

Due to the oversized OST file, the chances of corruption becomes higher. In such case, users need to delete OST file without deleting emails. To resolve the queries of several users, we have defined a step by step procedure to delete OST file from Outlook without deleting emails.

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Important Note: Before deleting OST file, keep a backup of offline Outlook data file.

How to delete OST file without losing emails?

Use this manual method if you have Outlook installed on your system. You can follow the steps discussed below to delete OST file from Outlook 2019/2016/2013/2010/2007/2003.

In this method, you can simply delete OST file and then create a new OST file.

Steps to delete OST file without deleting emails –

• Close MS Outlook.
• In the Run window, enter the following command – C:UsersUser NameAppDataLocalMicrosoftOutlook as displayed in the below image

• Click OK and you will get the location of PST file
• Select OST file and hit Delete button. This will ask you for reconfirmation to delete OST file. Click Yes.
• This will delete OST file and move it to the recycle bin.

Once the OST file is deleted, you can create a new OST file with different path name & synchronize it with Exchange. This will help you to work efficiently in Outlook with OST file.

Steps to create a new OST file

After getting a message of successful deletion of OST file, verify it from Outlook. Then, follow the steps to create new OST and synchronize new OST –

• Exit MS Exchange client (MS Outlook)
• Rename the existing OST file and make sure that the file name is different for each file.
• Now, restart Outlook in online mode.
• You will get the error message - The file “C:\Exchange directory\file name.ost could not be found”. Hit OK.
• Now, go to Offline folder settings dialogue box and click OK.

Note: You can change the path & filename of OST file using this dialogue box.

• You will find an error message - The file c:\Exchange directory\file name.ost’ is not found. Would you like to create it?” Press Yes.

Note: Now, start MS Outlook in online mode.

• Synchronize all folders by click on Tools menu.

This is how you can create a new OST file and get it synchronized with Exchange Server. Now, configure Outlook to start working in offline mode with the new OST file.

Why it is needed to delete OST file?

It is not a voluntary decision to delete OST file. It is required due to excessive file corruption. Corrupt OST file can harm use system and affect the working of Outlook application. Using the above used manual procedure, OST file can be deleted without losing emails.

Users can also use OST to PST Converter by GainTools to repair corrupt file without deleting Outlook PST file.

In a normal situation, when a corrupt OST file is deleted by users resulting in deleting email messages are able to retrieve Outlook data by synchronizing data with Exchange Server but when the file is inaccessible, users need to repair the corrupt OST file and for this, the software we have mentioned above can be used that efficiently retrieve data in PST file format. The software assists users at every step to recover data from corrupt OST file.

Lets’ Wrap Up

In this blog, we have tried to resolve user queries on how to delete Outlook OST file without deleting emails. We have mentioned manual and professional tool to delete OST file.