How to Decrypt Outlook PST File? (Complete Guide)
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Common Reasons to Decrypt Outlook PST File
There are several reasons why users want to remove PST encryption:
- Users might forget the password, so they need to recover access to Outlook data.
- Access historical emails & other data from password-protected archives.
- Prepare PST data for transfer to another account or email service.
- Convert PST emails into formats like PDF, EML, MSG, MBOX or HTML.
- Users may remove password from PST file before splitting them into smaller files.
How to Decrypt Outlook PST File Manually?
Method-1: If you know the password
Following are the steps to unlock password protected PST file.
- If users know password , open Microsoft Outlook on your PC.
- Now Click File Tab.
- Select Account Settings.
- Select Data Files tab.
- Choose PST file you want and click Settings.
- Enter your Current password into Old password field.
- Leave New password and Verify Password boxes completely blank to remove any password.
Note: This method works if you know the current PST password. Microsoft does not offer password-recovery option for forgotten password.
Method 2: If you forgot the password (Older Outlook Versions Only)
In case you are dealing with a legacy Outlook 2002 or older ANSI PST file, you can use an old command-prompt utility developed by Microsoft called pst19upg.exe. Follow the steps as below:
- Close Outlook completely and make a backup copy of your PST file.
- Run the inbox repair tool (scanpst.exe) on your backup file to fix any integrity errors.
- Launch Command Prompt (cmd) in Windows.
- Run the utility command to strip the password structure into a temporary file:
pst19upg.exe -x filename.pst - This creates a .psx file. After that, run this command to convert it into a (clean) PST file:
pst19upg.exe -i filename.psx - A new password-free PST file will be generated that you can open in Outlook normally.
Limitations of Manual Methods
- It is not suitable if the current password is unknown.
- It can be time-consuming process if you are handling multiple PST files.
- This process requires users to process PST files one by one.
- Outlook needs to be installed on the system where PST file is stored.
- Cannot directly help to recover a forgotten password.
Decrypt Outlook PST File Using Advanced Tool: BitRecover
Users looking for the easiest way to remove PST encryption can use BitRecover PST Unlock Wizard. It is built to remove forgotten password from Outlook PST files. The application operates independently & offers batch processing that allows users to decrypt multiple PST files at the same time.
How to Decrypt Outlook PST Files in Bulk? (Step-by-Step)
- Firstly, download and run the dedicated tool mentioned.
- Click Select and choose the locked PST file and Press Open button.
- Enable Remove Password and click Unlock to decrypt Outlook PST file.
- Click OK after PST is successfully unlocked.
- Now to add a new password, enable Set New Password and click Unlock.
- Click OK to complete the process.
Key Features of the Tool
- Restores and retrieves lost passwords from PST files instantly without losing any data.
- Works entirely offline by processing files in your PC and does not require an internet connection.
- Completely eliminates the possibility of damaging files by preserving original folder structure and metadata.
- Is compatible with each of ANSI PST files and Unicode PST files created by any version of Outlook.
- Provides the batch processing option to unlock or decrypt multiple PST files simultaneously.
Summary – Key Takeaways
- To remove PST password manually, user must visit the settings of Outlook Data Files to initiate password removal.
- Outlook does not have any inbuilt option for password recovery or bypassing lost PST password.
- BitRecover solution helps users unlock PST files in a safe manner without risking their data.
- The batch feature in the tool allows users to decrypt multiple PST files at the same time thus saving time.
- Always back-up Outlook files efficiently to ensure you will not lose your data or encounter any troubles.
FAQ
Q: How to remove PST password in case it is known?
To do this, you must open Outlook Data File settings, select the change password setting and leave the new password space blank.
Q: Is there any built-in feature in Outlook that can help to recover the lost PST password?
No, it does not have any built-in recovery tool, so you will have to invest in a software solution that is reliable and effective in getting around encryption limitations.
Q: Is there data loss after using a professional third-party software solution to unlock PST file?
No, trusted tools like BitRecover successfully unlock the PST file without corrupting the original data structure.
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