How to Repair PST File of POP3 Account in Outlook
All PST files, in POP3 or IMAP-configured Outlook accounts, are prone to corruption. In most cases, repair is easily implemented with the built-in repair tool. However, at times, these corruptions could be too severe, this is often the case with PST files associated with POP3 accounts in Outlook. To repair such corruptions, an advanced third-party pst repair tool will required.
Hence, this tutorial will show you steps to repair PST file of POP3 account. Read on!
What is POP3 Account & how to set it up in Outlook?
POP3 is an acronym for “Post Office Protocol version-3”, which is one of the two main “incoming mail protocols” in Outlook. It serves as the alternative option to “Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)”.
Unlike SMTP (Standard Mail Transfer Protocol), which is the standard protocol for transferring/sending emails, POP and IMAP are basically used for retrieving (receiving) emails from servers (to local clients). Typically, all Outlook accounts run on either POP or IMAP; and while both basically do the same thing, they have slight differences.
The most noteworthy difference between IMAP and POP3 is in their storage patterns. POP3 typically receives messages and stores them in the client’s local storage (hard disk), while IMAP keeps messages in-app. With this, IMAP somewhat offers more flexibility, as you’re able to access your accounts from any location/device. On the other hand, POP3 offers better storage management, as your emails are saved directly on your hard disk – making them accessible offline.
Step-by-step guide to set up a POP3 account in Outlook:
- Open Outlook 2016 and click on File > Info.
- Select Add account and input your email address as prompted.
- Click Advanced options.
- Check the Let me set up my account manually box and select Connect.
- Set account type to POP.
- In the pop-up window – POP Account Settings – configure as follow:
- Incoming mail: input “pop.mail.com” in the “Server” box and “995” in the “Port”. Also, check the “This server requires an encrypted conncetion (SSL/TLS)” box.
- Outgoing mail: Input “smtp.mail.com” in the server box and “587” in the Port box. Also, select the STARTTLS option in the”Encryption method drop-down.
- Proceed by clicking on the Connect icon.
- Input your email address as prompted.
- Click OK to finish up.
- You’re all set!
Causes of corruption in Outlook
Various factors could be responsible for Outlook PST corruption; however, POP3 accounts’ link to local storage (hard disk) makes them more vulnerable to corruptions from system glitches/errors.
Typically, the following factors could cause corruption in Outlook 2016/2019:
- Oversized PST
- System corruption/error
- Virus infection
- Device glitch
- And more
To fix PST corruptions, irrespective of the cause, it’s recommended to first run the in-app repair tool, before adopting any third-party solution.
Methods to Repair Corrupt PST file of POP3 in Outlook
Various factors could be responsible for Outlook PST corruption; however, POP3 accounts’ link to local storage (hard disk) makes them more vulnerable to corruptions from system glitches/errors.
- Repair corrupt PST file of POP3 in Outlook using ScanPST
You can repair a corrupt PST file of POP3 in Outlook using ScanPST.exe (Inbox Repair Tool) by following these steps:
- Locate the ScanPST.exe in the Microsoft Office folder (under program files “C:”).
- Double-click on the tool to open it.
- Now, locate the PST file you intend to repair.
- Click on Start to initiate repair and wait for it.
- Open Outlook and sign into your POP3 account.
- Follow the prompt commands to recover the repaired file.
Most times, however, this tool fails to repair corrupt files, particularly files associated with oversized PST or those caused by system errors (typical of a POP3 Outlook account). To fix such corruptions, the ultimate solution would be to employ a third-party repair program, with better penetrative scans & Stellar Repair for Outlook helps effectively.
- Repair PST file of POP3 using Stellar Repair for Outlook
Stellar Repair for Outlook is widely seen as the ultimate repair tool for Outlook. And it’s especially ideal for fixing PST files in POP3 accounts, whose messages are saved locally.
To run this tool in Outlook (POP3 accounts), follow the steps below:
- Install and download Stellar Repair for Outlookfrom official website.
- Launch the tool and navigate to the Select PST File for Repair Click on Find to locate and select the target PST file (it can be on the “C:\” drive).
- Once selected, click on the Repair
- The software scans the file and shows preview of all mailbox items including the permanently deleted mail items.
- After the repair, go to Home> Save Repaired File. Select a format option; PST, EML, PDF, MSG, HTML or RTF.
- Proceed by clicking on Browse.
- Select a new location in your local disk and save the repaired file.
- Launch Outlook and log in with the POP3 account (associated with the repaired PST file).
Conclusion:
Repairing a corrupt PST file in a POP3 Outlook account can often be done using Outlook’s built-in ScanPST.exe tool. However, due to the nature of POP3, where emails are stored locally on the hard disk, these files are more prone to corruption caused by system errors, oversized PST files, or glitches. While ScanPST is effective for minor corruption, it may fail with severely damaged PST files.
For such cases, using an advanced third-party tool like Stellar Repair for Outlook is recommended. It provides deeper scans and successfully recovers mailbox data, including permanently deleted emails, ensuring a complete and reliable repair.
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