Fix Outlook is Using an Old Copy of your Outlook Data File (OST)?

Are you facing error Outlook is using an Old copy of your Outlook data file(OST) when opening Microsoft Outlook? If your answer is yes then you are alone as multiple users facing similar issues. This common issue mostly appears when your OST file has some issues as its crucial component to access Outlook offline. So, we will explain all effective methods to fix this error by explained top 5 methods manually and using alternative solution.

Outlook is using an old copy of your Outlook data file(OST) mostly when Outlook is not configured correctly or the OST file does not sync with the server. OST stands for offline storage table and it contains a duplicate copy of Outlook mailbox data and allows users to access mailbox data offline.

This error appears when Outlook detects outdated, corrupted or unsynchronized OST files. As a result, you may experience missing emails, delays in receiving new emails or inability to open OST file Outlook properly. This issue often appears when system crashes, unexpected shutdowns, Outlook version upgrade, or when changes are made to your Outlook profile or account settings. It also happens when OST is moved, deleted, or damaged.

Common Causes of Outlook is Using an Old Copy of Your Outlook Data File (OST) Error

• Damage of OST files caused by system crashes, unexpected shutdowns, or malware infections can make OST files outdated or invalid.
• If Outlook fails to sync properly with Exchange or Office 365 server, it may fall back on an old OST file version.
• Using an outdated version of Outlook can cause compatibility issues with newer versions of OST file structures or server configurations.
• Changes made to your Outlook profile can cause compatibility issues with newer OST file structures or server configurations.
• Changes made to your Outlook profile, such as modifying account settings or migrating to a new mail server may invalidate the OST file.
• When an OST file exceeds the storage limit supported by Outlook then it shows performance issues and synchronization failure.
• If an OST file has been moved, renamed or deleted without properly configuring Outlook, the program may attempt to use an invalid or old OST file.

How to Locate OST File?

Before fixing Outlook is using an Old copy of your Outlook data file OST error, then it’s helpful to know where your OST is stored. The OST file holds a local copy of your mailbox data and is usually stored on your hard drive. Follow steps to locate OST file:

1. Open Outlook and navigate to the file.
2. Click on Account Settings and press on Account Settings.
3. Under the data files tab, find your account and look at the location column. This shows the path of your OST file.
4. You can open this folder directly in file explorer to view or manage OST files.

Techniques to Fix Outlook is Using an Old Copy of Your Outlook Data File (OST)

If you are facing error message indicating Outlook using old copy of OST file then follow approaches as it can fix the problem and restore smooth Outlook functionality:

Approach 1. Delete and Recreate the OST File

1. Close Outlook.
2. Navigate to OST file location C:\Users \YourProfileName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook.
3. Delete or rename old OST file.
4. Restart Outlook, which will create an OST file and resynchronize with your mailbox.

Approach 2. Use Inbox Repair Tool(ScanPST)

1. Locate SCANPST.EXE C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 replace version on your Outlook.
2. Run Tool and browse your OST file
3. C:\Users \YourProfileName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook.
4. Click on the Start button and popup appears to notified Repair complete.
5. Relaunch Outlook to check errors are resolved.

Approach 3. Create a New Outlook Profile

1. Go to the Control Panel and click on Mail.
2. Press on Show Profiles and press on Add option to create a new Profile.
3. Configure your email account in the New profile and set the new profile as default.
4. Open Outlook with the new profile.

Approach 4. Update Outlook to Latest Version

1. Open Outlook and navigate to the file.
2. Click on the Office Account and click on Update options.
3. Press on Update Now and install available updates and relaunch Outlook.

Alternative Method to Fix Outlook is using old Copy of OST File

If your OST file is not configured in Outlook correctly then we recommend you to choose Jagware OST Converter as this software also supports Recovery Mode to fix file corruption and export in a healthy PST file to easily access in Outlook or can be imported in any Outlook profile.

Steps to Fix Outlook using old copy of OST File

1. Download Automated Software and follow on-screen instructions to Install it on your machine.
2. Now, Open software and choose Convert configured Outlook mailbox data or let me select the OST file.
3. Next, Choose mailbox folder or subfolders as the user wishes to export.
4. Browse PST file in the list of Saving options and choose separate PST per user and split PST as per required.
5. Choose destination path and select language to export the resultant file.
6. Now, Browse Advanced filters according to user requirements and press the Convert button to fix Outlook using an old copy of Outlook data file(OST).

Helpful Features of Automated Tool

• This software offers to convert OST to CSV, PST, PDF, EML, MBOX and 37+ Export features.
• It also offers a simple initiative interface to easily perform by any professional or individual users.
• It allows to auto-detect OST files and also offers to select OST from any specific location.
• You can also import OST to Microsoft 365, Thunderbird, Zimbra, Gmail, and all IMAP supported email platforms.
• This software is specially designed with advanced filters to convert crucial files as per date range, subject, from, to, exclude folders, organizer, root folder, exclude empty folder, mails, calendars, contacts and create Exception log etc.
• With this wizard, you can also restore and convert dismounted, corrupted, damaged, or inaccessible OST files.

Preventive Measures to Avoid Future Errors

• Keep both Outlook and the operating system updated for better compatibility and advanced security. Updates mostly come with bug fixes and also offer faster performance.
• Always close Outlook properly before restarting your computer. This helps to make a healthy OST file and reduce the chances of OST file corruption.
• Do not End Outlook Task using Task Manager unnecessary to allow the program to close naturally to avoid damaging OST files to interrupt sync processes.
• Regularly backup OST files especially if you rely heavily on email for business. As it works as recovery options when data loss or corruption happen.

Helpful Questions

How to Resolve OST file errors in Outlook?

To restore OST file error, close Outlook application and delete the OST file from its default location. Relaunch Outlook to auto generate a new OST file. Alternatively, use OST to PST Converter to fix OST corruption, damaged or oversize errors.

Is it OK to delete the Outlook OST file?

Yes, it’s safe to delete an OST file. Outlook will recreate when restarted, as long as your account is set up correctly. Deleting the file sync issues and corruption, but make sure your data is backed up or synced with the server.

Why does Outlook keep creating OST files?

Outlook creates an OST file to store Outlook mailbox data such as emails, contacts, calendars and other Outlook data. It allows access and modification of the OST file offline and it will reflect on the server when connection back.

How do I Reset the OST file in Outlook?

To reset an OST file in Outlook, locate the OST file and delete it. When you relaunch Outlook it will recreate the OST file and sync data from the mail server, This will help to fix corruption or outdated data issues.

Time to Say Goodbye

In this well-researched article, we have shared all valuable information to fix Outlook is Using an Old Copy of your Outlook Data File (OST) manually and using an alternative method. If you’re OST healthy then you can try a manual approach. If it’s not work or has a damaged OST file then we recommend you to choose an alternative method as it fixes errors quickly and has no risk of data loss.