What Happens If I Delete Outlook OST File?
Millions of users use Microsoft Outlook, a famous email client, to simply and easily handle their emails, contacts, calendars, and other items. Microsoft Outlook uses several files to store and synchronize data behind the scenes. Microsoft Outlook needs an important file called Offline Storage Table (OST). The OST file not only makes offline message access possible, but it also maintains data synchronized with the Exchange Server.
If the OST file becomes inaccessible or gets erased accidentally, you will not be able to access or view your Outlook emails. Various OST file problems and errors can occur from deleting an OST file since MS Outlook depends heavily on them. Well, in this post, we will discuss the effects of removing OST files from Outlook.
It Is Safe to Delete the OST File?
It is important to get the purpose of an OST file in MS Outlook as well as the consequences of removing one before deciding whether or not to delete an Outlook OST file.
Microsoft Outlook uses an OST file, which stands for “Offline Storage Table,” to save a duplicate of our contacts, calendar entries, emails, and other mailboxes on a computer. Even when we are not online, we may still view and utilize our crucial emails thanks to this file. The modifications you made will synchronize with the mail server when you return online in the meantime. An OST file effectively allows us to work offline and guarantees that our data is always up-to-date.
What Is the Importance of Safely Deleting OST File?
To safely and securely remove an OST file to stop data loss and guarantee correct procedure. Remember that all other data, including supplicate email messages are stored in this Outlook OST data file. To avoid any data loss issues, ensure your Outlook OST data file is backed up or synchronized with the exchange server before removing it. To find out if removing an OST file from Outlook is safe, continue reading the article.
If I Delete an Outlook OST File, What Happens?
What happens if you delete an Outlook OST file and delete OST files without losing email messages is explained in the following points:
Slow Performance – When Microsoft Outlook tries to download and synchronize profile data from the server, it may take longer than normal.
Chances of Data Loss – If changes are made to an offline OST file that hasn’t synchronized with the exchange server, they could be lost.
Account Corruption – When an Outlook OST file is not securely deleted, the Outlook profile may occasionally become corrupted as well. The operator may need to rebuild or fix the damaged OST file if this happens after deleting the file.
Recreating the File – Microsoft Outlook may create a new one when you launch the application and start a connection with the mail server.
Restricted Offline Access – In this case, users experience limited access to their email messages and other items in offline mode until the new OST file is completely regenerated.
Loss of Configuration – Deleting the OST file may also result in the loss of all of your personalized preferences, including view, filters, and cache data stored in the previous OST file. This may necessitate a reconfiguration.
Data Recovery – A new OST file including the contacts, calendar events, and email saved on the server will be downloaded.
Problems with Add-Ins – After removing the OST file, you can also need to edit some Add-ins in Microsoft Outlook.
Long Process in Search Indexing – You may need to remake the search index after removing an OST file. It is time-consuming and affects search functionality.
Network Load – The network load is another possible outcome of deleting the OST file. Large mailboxes in particular load may experience significant network demand during the initial sync.
Is It Possible to Delete OST Files without Losing Email Messages?
If you are searching for a solution to what happens if I delete Outlook OST file? Is it safe to delete OST file? If yes is your answer, then don’t worry, you can try the CubexSoft OST Converter Tool to make a backup of all the import files and remove OT files without erasing email messages. The application is seamless to guarantee that you may not lose even a single piece of information from your OST file and keep it on your computer anywhere you need.
Moreover, this application supports various saving output formats such as OST to PST, MBOX, PDF, EML, MSG, TXT, Office 365, Gmail, Exchange Server, Thunderbird, etc. Therefore, you can safely delete all your Outlook OST file without bothering about erasing any data and make sure it is safe to remove OST file.
How Can I Safely Delete OST File?
In this section, you can follow the below-mentioned steps to delete OST files without erasing email messages:
- Initially, close the MS Outlook application if it’s open.
- Then, enter Win+R using your keyboard to run the search box.
- Type the command shown below in the box and hit Ok. Drive:\User\user\AppData\Local\Microsft\Outlook
- After that, the OST file destination path will appear on your computer screen.
- Choose the OST file you need to delete and click on the Delete button.
- After using the Delete button, a confirmation message will open the screen: Are you sure you want to move this file to the Recycle Bin?
- Finally, click on the Yes button to confirm.
It is important to consider if deleting an OST file is safe, though, as doing so will need you to create a new file to keep Outlook operating properly. Create a new file on a different directory and synchronize it with the Exchange server by following the steps listed below. After the synchronization process is finished, set up your Outlook account and begin using your newly created OST file.
Recreate to Check Whether Deleting the OST File Is Safe
- First of all, close the Outlook program.
- Then, rename the current OST file.
- Navigate the following error notice in Outlook: There was an error in the file “C:\Exchange directory\file name.OST”.
- Now, press the OK button to safely delete OST files.
- Select Offline Folder File Settings, then press the OK button.
- Select Yes to display the ensuing pop-up message: It was not possible to locate the file c:\Exchange directory\file name.OST. Do you want to make it?
- Select the Synchronize-All folders option from the Tools Menu.
To determine whether or not it is safe to delete an OST file, this is how to synchronize new OST files with the Exchange server.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained the query for users who were worried about it is okay to delete OST file. Moreover, securely deleting Outlook OST file can make free space and fix several Outlook errors. To avoid data loss and functional issues, it is important to carefully delete OST files. Remember to always use professional software to create a backup of the data you are about to delete.
CubexSoft Tools help to securely remove OST files without losing email messages and save them safely wherever the users need them. Also, explains the roles and importance of an OST file and what happens if I delete Outlook OST file. We hope the informative blog helped and solved the question is it safe to delete OST file or not.
