Outlook.pst cannot be Accessed? Fix Error Code 0x80040116

Imagine you open Outlook expecting to find the mailbox filled with emails, but instead you get a cryptic message stating:

What is Outlook.pst Cannot be Accessed Error?

Generally, Outlook PST Error occurs when Outlook is unable to open the PST (Personal Storage Table) file associated with your mailbox. The PST file contains all of your messages, contacts, calendars, and other information. When the data structure or indexes of the PST are corrupted, Outlook cannot access it. This results in the error messages. These may look like:

• “Error 0x80040116: Outlook data file cannot be accessed.”
• “Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. The file Outlook.pst cannot be found.”
• “Outlook is unable to access your data file.”

To know better, take a look at this user query :

Causes & Symptoms of Outlook Error 0x80040116

Knowing what causes this issue may help prevent the problems in the future. Some common reasons may include:

• Over-sized PST files or improperly closed ones often contribute to index or corruption.
• If the PST file is on a failing drive or has bad sectors, access errors are inevitable.
• Old PST files that take up more than 20 GB of mailbox space can become unstable.
• Force-closing the app while synchronizing or updating causes PST header corruption.
• Conflicting add-ins or virus scans with security apps can create blockages to reading PST files.
• If the PST file had been moved or compromised, Outlook would not be able to read the file.

Furthermore, other symptoms may include:

• Frequent system freezes or Outlook crashes
• Inability to open particular folders or emails
• Outlook spam filter not working
• Slow indexing and Outlook search performance
• Data file unclosed messages during shutdown

All of the following states that your PST file requires immediate attention with effective measures for recovery before full inaccessibility.

How to Fix Error Code 0x80040116?

For technical experts, there are a few manual workarounds that can help troubleshoot the error. But if it’s related to serious PST damage or corruption, then for both techies and non-techies, it is best to get the “SysInfo PST Recovery Tool”. To understand them better, take a deep look at the upcoming sections.

Manually Resolve Outlook.pst Cannot be Accessed

Follow the methods below to know how you can resolve the PST inaccessible issue:

1. Repair PST Using the SCANPST.exe

Outlook has a built-in repair tool that will help you with small PST file corruption. It’s called the Inbox Repair Tool (SCANPST.exe). The steps to use it are as follows:

1. First, close Outlook completely and find the SCANPST tool.
2. You may usually locate it on Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016 at:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\SCANPST.exe

3. Afterward, run the tool and browse your PST file. Click Open to load it.
4. Next, click “Start” to begin scanning for corruption.
5. For the issues found, click “Repair” when the scanning completes.

If this doesn’t fix error code 0x80040116, try the other simpler alternatives that may reduce your issue upto some extent.

2. Create a New PST and Set It Default

If your original PST cannot be repaired, you can try creating a new PST file and have it bypass the old PST. The steps are:

1. In Outlook, click File >> Account Settings >> Account Settings.
2. On the Account Settings window, select “Data Files” and click “Add” to create a new PST file.
3. Then, give it a name and click OK.
4. Further, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the creation of the new PST.
5. Afterward, set the newly created PST file as “default” and restart Outlook.
6. At last, import your old PST (if possible); it should populate the new PST data file.

3. Start Outlook in Safe Mode

Running Outlook in Safe Mode will disable any add-ins or customizations that may be causing the error. Try the following:

1. Initially, press Windows + R, then type outlook.exe /safe to run Outlook in Safe Mode.
2. If Outlook opens, you are most likely looking at an add-in causing the error.
3. Therefore, disable each add-in one at a time from Outlook File >> Options >> Add-ins >> Manage COM add-ins >> Go.
4. If needed, once you find the add-in causing trouble, enable the rest at a later stage and then restart Outlook.

By now, the Outlook error 0x80040116 must have been resolved. If not, maybe your PST file is oversized. As a last alternative, once try to reduce its size too.

4. Compact Outlook PST File

An oversized PST is the primary cause of file damage and corruption. So, to fix it:

1. Access the Outlook File >> Account Settings.
2. Then, in the Data File tab, select your PST file.
3. Lastly, from Settings, click Compact Now and reduce the PST file size.

This will also help you optimize the speed and performance of MS Outlook.

Loopholes of the Manual Methods

• SCANPST will only work on small corruption issues and not on a heavily damaged PST or one that is large in size.
• It is not possible to repair the deleted items or encrypted PST folders.
• Older Outlook versions have a size limit of 2 GB, and the features may vary depending on the Outlook version.
• No feasible or accurate solution to completely resolve the issue at once.

Professionally Fix “Outlook.pst Cannot be Accessed”

If the solutions above are unhelpful, or if you suspect that the PST file is very corrupt. Then use the SysInfo PST Repair Tool that is specifically designed to repair Outlook PST files.

Steps to Solve Error Code 0x80040116

Launch the PST File Repair and click Open from the top-left to add a file.

1. Then, browse and load the PSTs that you want to fix from corruption.
2. Further, choose the Standard/Advanced/Deep recovery mode and click OK.
3. Afterward, the files appear, and you can preview them in the software.
4. Select files, click Save, pick a destination, and desired format. Finally, hit OK.

Key Features of this PST Repair Tool

• Repair corrupt, inaccessible, password-protected, or too large (up to 80 GB) PST files.
• Restore all the content in the mailbox, including email attachments, as well as considering contacts and calendar objects.
• Keep the folder structure and the integrity of the data intact as the original PST.
• Allow the user to save the repaired content in PST, EML, MSG, DBX, MBOX, and archive.
• Set filters for specific conversions and use the Free Demo Version for evaluation.

Conclusion

Your Outlook data file is the “engine” of your email system. Don’t wait for issues like 0x80040116 to cause work stoppage. Repair, optimize, and protect your PST files regularly so your workflow does not go offline. With the right diagnosis and a logical approach, restore access to the mailbox timely and secure emails. However, for quick, effective, and trusted results, prefer the automated software as recommended by the experts!

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About The Author:

Suman Rawat

Suman Rawat is a technical content writer and expert in the fields of email migration, data recovery, and email backup. Her passion for helping people has led her to resolve many user queries related to data conversion and cloud backup.