[Solution] The PST Archive File is not Working after Upgrading to Windows 11

Microsoft Outlook allows users to create an archive of their old mail items and store them to a local PST file. They can either manually create this PST archive file or set up auto-archive which automatically creates a local PST archive. They can access the archive files whenever they want.

However, some users have experienced an issue where their Outlook PST (Personal Storage Table) archive file for their POP email account is not working after upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11. There are several reasons that could make PST archive inaccessible. Below, we will find out the reasons for the PST archive file is not working after upgrading to Windows 11 issue and see how to resolve this issue.

Reasons for the PST Archive is not Working after Upgrading to Windows 11 Problem

The PST archive file becomes inaccessible or stops working due to the following reasons:

1. Compatibility issues due to Windows OS upgrade
2. Outdated Outlook application
3. Corrupt or damaged PST file
4. Incorrect PST file path
5. Change in file permissions
6. Damaged or corrupt Outlook profile
7. Incompatible or faulty add-ins

Solutions to Resolve PST Archive File is not Working after Upgrading to Windows 11 Issue

Follow the solutions given below to troubleshoot and resolve this issue.

1. Check File Permissions

In case there has been some permission changes to the folder path or file, the PST file may fail to open. You can check and change the file permissions to fix the issue. One easy way to do it is to launch Outlook as administrator. This provides permission to access all locations. Alternatively, follow the below steps:

• Close Outlook.
• Go to the location where PST is stored.
• Right-click on the PST file and choose Properties.
• Under the Security tab, make sure that the user account has full control over the file. Also make sure that the file is not Read-Only under the General tab.

• Click Edit to change permissions, if necessary.
• Click Apply > OK and then restart Outlook.

2. Create a New Outlook Profile

When Outlook profile gets damaged or corrupted, it can lead to plethora of issues in Outlook, including inaccessible PST archives. However, you can create a new profile to get rid of this issue. The steps are as follows:

• On your Windows PC, open Control Panel, search and click on Mail. This opens the Mail Setup dialog box.
• Click Show Profiles.

• Next, click the Add button to create a new Outlook profile.

• Type the profile name in the ‘Profile Name:’ field and click OK.
• In the ‘Add Account’ window, enter the email account details along with your name and password. Then, click Next > Next.
• Now, go back to the Mail Setup dialog box and select the old profile. Click the Remove button.
• Then, select the new profile from the dropdown and choose the ‘Always use this profile’ radio button. Click OK.

Restart Outlook for changes to take effect.

3. Disable Incompatible or Faulty Add-Ins

Incompatible or faulty add-ins may also lead to such issues and problems in Outlook. They may interfere with normal Outlook functioning and prevent it from accessing PST archive file. To get over this, you can disable the faulty add-in. The steps are as follows:

• While holding the Ctrl key, launch the Outlook client. This will start Outlook in Safe Mode.
• If you are able to access the PST archive file in safe mode, this means incompatible or faulty add-in was causing the issue.
• In Safe Mode, go to File > Options > Add-Ins.
• Click the Go button and then uncheck all the add-ins.
• Click OK. This will disable add-ins in Outlook.
• Close Safe Mode and start Outlook normally.
• Go to File > Options > Add-ins.
• Click the Go button and enable one add-in.
• Restart Outlook and see if the PST archive is accessible or not.
• Repeat the above two steps until the PST archive becomes inaccessible and that’s the add-in that you need to remove.
• Simply select the add-in and click Remove.

4. Update Outlook

After updating Windows operating system, it’s important to update all your software, including Outlook, to avoid any incompatibility issues. Follow the below steps to check and install latest Outlook updates:

• Open Outlook and go to File > Office Account > Update Options.
• From the dropdown, select Update Now. This will open an update wizard.

• In case a new update is available, immediately download and apply it.

After the update, restart the system and check if the PST archive file is accessible now.

5. Repair/Reinstall Outlook

Damaged Outlook installation files or corruption in critical program files can also lead to such discrepancies in Outlook. You can either repair Outlook or reinstall it to resolve this issue. To repair Outlook,

• Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
• Click on Outlook or Microsoft Office and then click on the Change button at the top.

• From the available options, choose Repair and then click Continue.

If repairing Outlook did not work, try reinstalling the program.

6. Check the PST File Path

You can check and correct the PST file path in case the directory path has been changed or you have moved the PST file to some other location. The steps are as follows:

• Start Outlook and go to File > Info > Account Settings > Account Settings.
• Under the Data Files tab, click on the archived PST file associated with your account. If the path is incorrect, click on Add.
• Then, browse and select PST archive file and set it as the default.

Restart Outlook. The PST archive should be accessible now.

7. Disable Compatibility Mode

Sometimes, compatibility mode can also lead to such issues. You can disable the compatibility mode to try to resolve the issue. Follow these steps to disable compatibility mode in Outlook:

• Find Outlook.exe. It is usually located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\OfficeXX\OUTLOOK.EXE.

• Right-click on OUTLOOK.EXE and choose Properties.
• Click on the Compatibility tab and uncheck any options which are enabled under the Compatibility tab.
• Click Apply and then click OK.

8. Repair the PST Archive File

Damaged or corrupt archive PST file may also be a reason behind this issue. However, you can use the built-in Inbox Repair Tool (SCANPST.exe) in Outlook to repair the PST file. The steps are as follows:

• Close Outlook.
• Then, find the SCANPST.EXE tool on your computer. It is located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\OfficeXX\SCANPST.EXE by default. Here, XX represents the MS Office version.

• Launch SCANPST.EXE and click Browse to choose the PST archive file which is not accessible or working after Windows 11 update.
• Click Start to begin the scan process.
• Then, click Repair. This may take a while based on PST file size and severity of corruption.

• After the repair, start Outlook.

This should resolve the issue. However, if the SCANPST (Inbox Repair Tool) fails to repair the PST file, you can use Stellar Repair for Outlook to repair the PST archive file. Unlike SCANPST, this advanced Outlook PST repair tool can fix severely corrupt, large, inaccessible, or encrypted PST files in a few clicks. It saves the recovered mail items from the damaged PST file to a new healthy PST file. You can add this new PST file in Outlook as archive file and get access to the mail items.

Conclusion

If the PST archive file is not working after upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11, then you’re not able to access your old archived mail items. In this post, we will mention some effective solutions to help you get back access to your PST archive files that become inaccessible or stopped working after the Windows 11 update. With the help of an advanced Outlook repair tool, such as Stellar Repair for Outlook, you can easily get back access to your inaccessible, corrupt, or damaged PST file with complete integrity. It can repair the corrupt archive PST file and save the recovered mail items to a new healthy Outlook importable PST file.

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About The Author

Ravi Singh

Ravi Singh is a Senior Writer at Stellar®. He is an expert Tech Explainer, IoT enthusiast, and a passionate nerd with over 7 years of experience in technical writing. He writes about Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft 365, Email Migration, Linux, Windows, Mac, DIY Tech, and Smart Home. Ravi spends most of his weekends working with IoT (DIY Smart Home) devices and playing Overwatch. He is also a solo traveler who loves hiking and exploring new trails.