How to recover lost PST Password in Outlook 2016

Summary: If you have lost your Outlook PST file password, then do not panic about safe recover method? In this tutorial, we are going to discuss different possibilities to retrieve or unlock your PST file.

MS Outlook stores data to Personal Storage Table (PST) file. However, The PST file contains all confidential details like emails, contacts, meetings and attachments.  So, it becomes necessary to protect Outlook data file (.pst) from unusual access. Although, Outlook provides option to lock your PST file with a strong password .You can do it yourself at any instant.

But, you also have responsibility to remember the password that have applied on Outlook PST file. Without having a valid password, MS outlook will refuse your access towards Outlook mailbox repeatedly.

                  

                             

Scenario of a Lost Outlook PST File Password:

After applying password on PST file, you accept guideline to access email files through valid password. Then, you should enter the correct password for hassle-free access.

If you will enter the wrong password, then a dialog box appears with error message i.e.

“The password you have type is incorrect. Retype the password”.  In this circumstance, you need to retrieve the lost password as soon possible.

Methods to Recover Lost MS Outlook Password:

Users have generally two options, such as:

1.  Use .pst19upg.exe i.e. free tool
2. Assistance of any reliable Third Party Software

 1. Use ‘.pst19upg.exe’ i.e. free tool

Microsoft provides a free utility that is pst19upg.exe, which removes password strings from PST file.

In this method, you have to use ScanPST.exe and pst19upg.exe to remove password from PST File.

Follow the below steps to remove password using .pst19upg.exe and ScanPST.exe

Step 1: Close Outlook if running and backup your PST data

Step 2: Locate ScanPST.exe on your PC

MS Outlook 2002 & XP:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MAPI\<locale ID>\scanpst.exe

MS Outlook 2000:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MAPI\<locale ID>\NT\scanpst.exe

MS Outlook 98 & 97

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Messaging\scanpst.exe

Step 3:  Run ScanPST.exe to repair your PST file, take backup before starting the repair process.

Step 4: Click on Start and then click on Run or press “Windows key + R”

Step 5: Now type CMD and then press the enter button.

Step 6: In the command prompt copy the location of your PST file

Step 7: It will create a copy of PST file (yourpstfilename.psx) (same as PST file)

Step 8: When the process gets complete, rename the PST file as the Old PST

Step 9: At the command prompt type “pst19upg.exe – newfilename.psx and then press the enter button

Step 10: This will create a PST file which don’t have any password

Step 11: Now Run the ScanPST.exe and repair the newly created PST file

Step 12: Now Open MS Outlook and then check the data file

Limitation of pst19upg.exe:

This tool will only work for ANSI PST file, which are Outlook 2002 and earlier versions. It does not work with UNICODE PST file (Outlook 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016).

Alternative Method:

If you have a requirement to find out a reliable software which retrieves password from all versions of MS Outlook, then try free demo of third party tool like Stellar Phoenix Outlook Password Recovery. It is compatible with latest MS Outlook 2016 and Windows 10.

Reference:

http://www.stellaroutlooktools.com/pwd/outlook-password-recovery.php