Error Fixed – Hotmail.OST Cannot Be Accessed

Almost every Outlook user has to deal with some Outlook error message. These error messages are quite problematic and make things worse. You become unable to access your mailbox data. One such error is Hotmail .ost cannot be accessed in Outlook. Here, we provide you with various solutions to resolve this issue. So, read the article till the end.

MS Outlook is one of the most popular email clients for its latest functionalities and advanced features. You can send and receive emails from multiple email accounts via this single application. However, for various reasons, you might be unable to check your emails and get the following error code:

What Does the Error Mean?

This error means the Outlook application is unable to access Hotmail email because the OST file is either corrupted or has not been synchronized with the Exchange server. Now, there are many possible reasons for this error message to show. Let us explore the major causes of this issue.

Why Does the ‘Hotmail .ost Cannot be Accessed in Outlook’ Error Message Appear?

There are multiple reasons for getting this error. We will discuss some scenarios that lead to this Outlook error message.

• When the Outlook application is processing some request and you suddenly close it, chances are high that you may encounter an error message.
• Sometimes, MS Office is not installed properly. It will also lead to the Microsoft Outlook OST file cannot be opened.
• Corruption of Outlook OST files is another significant reason for this Outlook issue.
• If you are sharing an Outlook OST file, an interruption in the network disturbs the OST file integrity and leads to this problem while accessing this file.
• Improper synchronization with the Exchange server will also result in Outlook error messages.

These are some of the main reasons that cause the issue. Now, it is time to learn how to fix this problem using different techniques.

How to Fix the Hotmail .ost Cannot Be Opened in Outlook

Based on the root cause of the error message, there are multiple ways you can fix the ‘Hotmail .ost cannot be accessed in Outlook’ issue. We will discuss a few reasons that will surely resolve the error code. You can opt for any suitable technique as per your preference.

#1. Delete your Outlook Profile and Create a New One

The first solution to the ‘Hotmail .ost cannot be opened in Outlook’ error is to delete the existing Outlook profile. After deleting the profile, you have to create a new Outlook profile. This will most probably resolve the Outlook error.

#2. Disable Problematic Add-ins

Add-ins allow you to use additional functionalities in MS Outlook. However, these add-ins sometimes lead to various Outlook error messages. Follow the below steps to turn off faulty add-ins.

• Press Win+R to open the run command.
• Type Outlook /safe in the given field and press Enter.
• Open the MS Outlook application in your system.
• After that, click on the File option at the top menu bar.
• Select the Options tab from the left pane.
• Now, in the Options wizard, choose the Add-ins
• Scroll down to the bottom and click on the Go button.
• You will see all the enabled add-ins. Untick all of them and press the OK button to save the changes.
• Launch the Outlook application in normal mode. Enable Add-ins one by one to find the faulty ones.

#3. Repair MS Office

Sometimes corrupted MS Office also leads to Hotmail.ost cannot be accessed in Outlook. Therefore, you need to repair the damaged MS Office setup to resolve the error message. You can simply repair the file via the Control Panel.

• Click on the Windows search icon and search for the Control Panel.
• Now, select the Uninstall a Program option in the Program
• Choose the Microsoft Office setup and then click on the Change button.
• A Microsoft wizard will appear on the screen. Tick the Quick Repair option and press the Repair button.
• Again, click on the Repair button.
• Wait, until the process has been completed.
• After completing the process, you will see a confirmation message on the screen. Click Close.

#4. Repair Corrupted Outlook Data File

As we mentioned earlier, one of the most prominent reasons for the ‘Hotmail .ost cannot be accessed in Outlook’ issue is the corrupted/damaged Outlook OST files. This single reason causes numerous Outlook problems. Therefore, below we suggest how to use SCANPST.exe to repair the corrupted OST file.

• Open the File Explorer and go to the following location.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16

• Select the exe and launch the application.
• Now, click on the Browse button to choose the desired Outlook data file and hit the Start button.
• Next, click on the Repair button to start the Outlook data file repair.
• At last, you will see a pop-up stating the Repair has been completed. Click OK to close the pop-up.

After adopting any appropriate techniques for the above solution, the ‘Hotmail .ost cannot be accessed’ problem will surely be resolved. The Offline Outlook data file is an offline copy of your email account that you are using via the MS Outlook application. It automatically gets created when MS Outlook synchronizes with the Exchange server.

One major problem with the OST file is that when this file gets corrupted you become unable to access your emails via Outlook. You can recover OST files but, we suggest you convert this offline copy of your mailbox into the Outlook PST file. Moreover, PST files have various advantages over Outlook OST files.

Now, you can convert Outlook OST to PST format via different methods. However, we suggest you adopt the professional solution that is best suited for all users.

Professional Tool to Convert Outlook OST file to PST File Format

CloudMigration OST to PST Converter is the best approach to changing your Outlook OST files into PST file format. Along with that, this application also allows you to change your OST file into numerous other file types without disturbing the file integrity. You will get all the advanced features of this tool. Also, this software is compatible with all versions of Windows OS.

Final Verdict

In this blog, we have provided various solutions to fix the ‘Hotmail.ost cannot be accessed in Outlook’ problem. We discussed what the error message means and the root causes of the problem. We explained multiple effective solutions to resolve the error code. Lastly, we suggest the best way to protect your data. So, I hope this article provides you with all the necessary information that you are looking for.

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