Summary: The Outlook error 0x80070003, also referred to as the "unknown error code", appears when Outlook encounters an issue with the data file, such as PST. This guide helps you understand the possible reasons behind the error and the solutions to troubleshoot and resolve the error. It also mentions an advanced PST repair software that can help fix the error 0x80070003 if the reason is corruption in PST file.
The Outlook error 0x80070003 is a generic error that can appear in Outlook 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, or 2021. It appears when a user tries to access or open the Outlook application or the local Outlook data file (PST).
The complete error message reads as follows: “An unknown error occurred, error code: 0x80070003.”
Unlike other error messages, this error message does not tell the possible underlying issues or problems, leaving users in a tricky situation.
In this guide, you will learn the possible causes of the Outlook error 0x80070003 and the solutions to effectively troubleshoot it.
Common Causes of Outlook Error 0x80070003
The Outlook error 0x80070003 may occur due to several reasons, such as:
1. Locked PST File
The error code 0x80070003 may occur if the Outlook data (PST) file that you are trying to open or access is locked or being used by another process or Outlook itself. These may include antivirus software or unified messaging services, such as Lync, Skype for Business, MS Office Communicator, etc.
2. Corrupt PST File
If the PST file is corrupt or damaged, you can encounter the error 0x80070003.
3. Outdated Microsoft Outlook Client
If your Outlook has not been updated for a while, it can lead to incompatibility issues that can trigger the 0x80070003 error.
4. Anti-Virus or Firewall Interference
An anti-virus or firewall software that is over-aggressive can sometimes interfere with Outlook’s functionality, leading to errors, such as 0x80070003.
5. Corrupt or Damaged Outlook Profile
A damaged or corrupt Outlook profile can also interfere with Outlook functionality triggering various errors, including the error 0x80070003.
7. Third-party Add-ins
Incompatible or faulty third-party add-ins are known to cause numerous issues with Microsoft Outlook. They can cause conflicts, leading to errors.
Solutions to Troubleshoot and Fix Outlook Error 0x80070003
Follow the below-given solutions to troubleshoot and fix the Outlook error 0x80070003.
Method 1: Close Outlook and Its Processes
Follow these steps to find and close Outlook and associated processes. This can help free the PST file from the locked state and resolve the error 0x80070003.
- Press CTRL + ALT + DEL and click Task Manager > More Details.
- Find all Outlook processes, including Lync, Skype for Business, etc.
- Select them one by one and click the End Process button.
- Repeat the steps until all Outlook and associated processes are closed.
You can also try to close the antivirus software. If you can’t close it from the Task Manager, try to disable it temporarily and then check if the error is resolved.
Method 2: Check File Permissions
If PST file attributes are changed to read-only, Outlook may fail to access the file leading to the error 0x80070003. This may happen due to virus or malware intrusion. Follow these steps to check the PST file attributes and permissions:
- Close Outlook and press the Windows + R keys.
- In the Run dialog box, paste %localappdata%/Microsoft/Outlook/.
- Click OK or press the Enter key. This will display the PST file location.
- Find and right-click on the PST file.
- Choose Properties.
- Then, uncheck the Read-only checkbox and click Apply > OK.
- Finally, restart the Outlook.
Method 3: Update Outlook and Windows
By updating the Outlook application, you can resolve any incompatibility issues or bugs that may have triggered the Outlook error 0x80070003. The steps to update Outlook are as follows:
- Open Microsoft Outlook.
- Go to File > Office Account > Update Options and select Update Now. This will check and show if any updates are available.
- Download and install the latest updates and then restart the system.
Follow these steps to download and apply Windows OS updates:
- Open Settings and go to System and Updates > Windows Updates.
- Click the Check for Updates button.
- If new updates are available, download and install them immediately.
- After applying the Windows Updates, restart the system.
Method 4: Disable Problematic Add-ins
By disabling or removing faulty or incompatible add-ins, you can quickly resolve the Outlook error 0x80070003 if add-ins are causing it. To do so, follow these steps:
- Close Outlook and press Windows + R.
- Type outlook.exe /safe and press Enter or click OK to launch Outlook in safe mode.
- Next, navigate to File > Options and click Add-ins.
- Then, click the Go button at the bottom, beside Manage Add-ins.
- Clear checkboxes of all the add-ins and click OK.
- This will disable all the add-ins.
- Then close Outlook Safe Mode and restart Outlook normally.
If the Outlook error 0x80070003 is fixed or does not appear after disabling the add-ins, you must find and remove the faulty add-in from Outlook. For this, start Outlook normally and then enable one add-in at a time. Restart Outlook and observe for the error. Repeat this process until you see the error. Then, uninstall or remove the faulty add-in to permanently fix the error.
Method 5: Create a New Outlook Profile
Sometimes, corrupt Outlook profile may also lead to the error 0x80070003. You can create a new profile and replace it with the corrupt one. The steps are as follows:
- Close Outlook and open the Control Panel.
- Go to User Accounts > Mail and click Show Profiles > Add.
- Then, type any name for the new Outlook profile and click OK.
- Sign in using the wizard with the same email account you had in Outlook.
- Then, click Next > Finish to complete the process.
- Once the new profile is set up and configured, restart Outlook.
- From the dropdown, choose the new profile.
Method 6: Repair PST File
Corruption in the PST file is one of the reasons for the error 0x80070003. You can try to repair the PST file. For this, you can use the built-in utility in Outlook – SCANPST.exe The steps are as follows:
- On your PC, go to the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office/Officexx or C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office/root/Officexx folder and launch SCANPST.EXE.
- Click Browse and choose the PST file. You can find the PST file in the %localappdata%/Microsoft/Outlook folder.
- After selecting the PST file, click Start.
- If errors and inconsistencies are found, click Repair. The tool will create a backup of the original PST file with the .bak extension and then attempt to repair the original PST file. This process may take a while to complete based on the corruption level and PST file size.
- Once the PST file is repaired, you can start Outlook.
In case the Inbox Repair tool crashes, stops responding, or fails to repair the PST file, you can use an advanced Outlook PST repair software, such as Stellar Repair for Outlook. The software can repair severely corrupt/damaged and/or encrypted PST files as large as 50 GB with complete integrity and precision.
After repairing the PST file, you can save the recovered mail items to a new PST file at your desired location on your PC. You can then set up a new profile and import this PST file into your Outlook profile to restore all mail items. You may also export all the recovered mail items from the corrupt PST file to Microsoft 365 (Office 365) or Exchange Server in a few clicks.
Conclusion
The Outlook error 0x80070003 prevents users from accessing their emails or sending and receiving new emails. The error may occur due to several reasons, such as locked or corrupt PST files, faulty add-ins, etc. You can try the methods discussed in this guide to troubleshoot and resolve the error. If these solutions do not work, you can try to repair the PST file using the SCANPST tool. Also, remember to use an advanced PST repair tool, such as Stellar Repair for Outlook, when SCANPST fails to repair severely corrupted or large PST files.
