How to Recover Attachments from a PST File in Outlook

Email attachments such as documents, images, invoices, and reports are often the most valuable part of Outlook mailbox data. When a PST file becomes corrupted or inaccessible, attachments may not open, disappear, or fail to download.

This guide explains how to recover attachments from a PST file safely, whether the file is accessible, partially damaged, or severely corrupted.

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Why Attachments Become Inaccessible in PST Files

Attachments may become unavailable due to:

• PST file corruption
• Oversized PST exceeding recommended limits
• Interrupted Outlook shutdown
• Hard drive errors
• Broken internal message links

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Scenario 1: PST File Opens but Attachments Won’t Open

If Outlook opens normally but attachments fail to open, the issue may be related to temporary cache files or minor PST inconsistencies.

Steps to Try:

1. Close Outlook completely.
2. Restart the system.
3. Run the Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST).
4. Reopen Outlook and check the attachments again.

If attachments still fail to open, deeper recovery may be required.

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Scenario 2: PST File Is Corrupted and Attachments Are Missing

When the PST file structure is damaged, attachments may not appear within their respective emails. In severe cases, Outlook may not open the file at all.

Microsoft’s Inbox Repair Tool can fix minor corruption, but it cannot always restore embedded attachment data.

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Recover Attachments from a Corrupted PST File

To recover attachments from a damaged or inaccessible PST file, a deep structural scan of the file is required.

The software allows you to:

• Recover attachments from severely corrupted PST files
• Extract embedded files such as PDFs, images, and documents
• Maintain original email structure
• Preview emails and attachments before saving
• Save recovered data into a new healthy PST file

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Steps to Recover Attachments Using Recovery Software

1. Install and launch the recovery software.
2. Select the damaged PST file.
3. Run a deep scan process.
4. Preview recovered mailbox data.
5. Select emails containing required attachments.
6. Save recovered data to a new PST file.

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Preventing Attachment Loss in Outlook

• Archive large mailbox items regularly
• Avoid exceeding PST size limits
• Close Outlook properly before system shutdown
• Maintain regular system backups
• Keep Outlook updated

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Related Outlook Recovery Guides

• How to Recover Permanently Deleted Outlook Emails
• How to Repair Corrupted PST File in Outlook
• Outlook Not Opening PST File: Causes and Solutions
• How to Fix a Damaged PST File Without Using ScanPST
• How to Recover Deleted Outlook Folder

Conclusion

Attachments are critical components of Outlook emails. If they become inaccessible due to PST corruption, begin with built-in repair tools. For severe file damage, advanced PST recovery software provides a reliable way to restore attachments safely without compromising email integrity.