Start with Microsoft’s Inbox Repair Tool, SCANPST.EXE, which checks Outlook data files for corruption and offers to repair detected errors. If it cannot recover what you need, Stellar offers desktop software that processes the PST locally and an online service that requires uploading it. Which route makes sense depends mainly on file size, privacy, installation preference, and whether the preview shows the content you need.
How do I repair a corrupted PST file?
Make a copy of the damaged PST and work on that copy if you can. Keep the original unchanged until you have verified any recovered data. Then try Microsoft’s Inbox Repair Tool, SCANPST.EXE. Microsoft describes its purpose as checking Outlook data files for errors and giving you the opportunity to fix them. It is for data-file errors; it does not connect to or analyze data in an Exchange mailbox.
Microsoft cautions that some items might not be recovered if they were permanently deleted or corrupted beyond repair. A repair attempt is not a guarantee that the resulting file will contain every message, folder, or attachment. See Microsoft Support’s instructions for repairing Outlook data files.
What to do after ScanPST
- Keep the original PST and make a working copy when possible.
- Use SCANPST.EXE to check and attempt to repair the data file, following Microsoft’s instructions.
- Open the resulting file in Outlook and check the folders and items that matter to you.
- If needed content is still missing or the repair does not work, compare the available recovery options below. Do not discard the original while checking alternatives.
Stellar desktop versus online PST repair
Stellar describes its desktop product as repairing files locally on a computer, while its online service requires a PST upload for processing. The table summarizes the limits and terms Stellar displayed on its product pages when accessed in 2026; these are vendor-published details, not independent test results, and prices or terms can change.
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| Option | Processing and installation | Published size and price | Preview and output | File availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stellar Repair for Outlook desktop | Stellar says processing is local and requires downloading software. | Stellar advertises no file-size limit. Its desktop product page displayed $79 for Professional when accessed in 2026; treat this as a price snapshot and check the live page. | Stellar says the trial can scan a corrupted PST and preview recoverable mailbox items. The product page lists multiple save formats; check the current edition for exact options. | Not stated on the cited desktop product page. |
| Stellar online repair, free plan | Upload the PST to Stellar’s online service; no software installation is required, according to Stellar. | One file up to 500 MB, according to Stellar. The page does not state a price for this plan. | Stellar describes a browser preview of recovered folder structure and item count, followed by download. | Stellar says repaired files remain available for 24 hours before permanent deletion. |
| Stellar online repair, Premium | Upload the PST to Stellar’s online service; no software installation is required, according to Stellar. | $29.99 per file for files up to 5 GB, according to Stellar. | Stellar describes a browser preview of recovered folder structure and item count, followed by download. | Stellar says repaired files remain available for 48 hours before permanent deletion. |
Details in the table come from Stellar’s desktop product page and online PST repair page. Check those pages for current pricing, limits, retention terms, and edition features before uploading a file or buying software.
Which Stellar option fits your PST?
Choose desktop when local processing or file size matters
Stellar’s desktop description is the relevant one to consider if you prefer not to upload the PST to an online service or your file exceeds the online service’s published 5 GB ceiling. Stellar advertises no desktop file-size limit and says repair happens locally. These are vendor claims, not an independently verified privacy guarantee or repair result. The desktop route requires installing software.
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- Add effects like echo, amplification, noise reduction, normalize, equalizer, envelope, reverb, echo, reverse and more
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Choose online only if the upload and limits suit you
The online service avoids installing an application, but it requires sending the PST to the service. Stellar lists a free option for one file up to 500 MB and a Premium option priced at $29.99 per file for files up to 5 GB. A file larger than 500 MB does not fit the stated free-plan limit; a file over 5 GB exceeds the stated Premium limit.
Consider whether the PST contains sensitive or confidential material before uploading it. Review Stellar’s current service terms and privacy information before proceeding; the product page’s own security claims do not establish an independent privacy assessment.
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Check compatibility before installing
Stellar’s desktop product page lists Outlook 2024, 2021, 2019, 2016, and earlier versions. Confirm the current compatibility information for your Outlook environment and the exact product edition before purchase. The Stellar support compatibility article is dated, so do not rely on it alone as a current support matrix.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Preview recovered content before relying on it
Stellar describes preview features for both routes: the desktop trial can preview recoverable mailbox items, while the online service describes a preview of folder structure and item count before download. Use that opportunity to look for the folders and messages you need before saving or paying where applicable. A visible folder structure or item count is useful for inspection, but it does not prove that every message or attachment is intact.
After saving a repaired file, open it in Outlook and inspect important folders, messages, and attachments. Keep the damaged original until you have finished that check. Neither the product descriptions nor a preview establish a guaranteed recovery outcome.
What if ScanPST cannot repair the PST?
First check that you are working with the intended PST and preserve the original. If Microsoft’s tool does not restore the items you need, Stellar is one possible next step—not a documented guarantee of success. Match its desktop or online route to your file size and comfort with local processing versus upload, then inspect the preview and verify the saved result in Outlook.
There is no comparative success-rate figure established for Stellar desktop versus online repair, and no independent test result here supports saying that either route is more successful. Treat feature, price, privacy, and performance statements on Stellar’s pages as vendor-published information.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
